Populus Hotels is distinguishing itself from other hotel groups in the U.S. with its collection of carbon positive hotels in Denver and Seattle. Carbon positive means the two hotels, through various efforts, are going beyond carbon neutrality by removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than is emitted. Kudos to Urban Villages, a leading developer and environmental steward, for creating the brand. It has done so in collaboration with Aparium Hotel Group, an operator of independent, luxury lifestyle hotels. Each property is a great story of green design, innovation and respect for the local and global environment. “Urban Villages’ mission is to...

ATLANTA—LX Hausys America Inc., an innovative manufacturer of building and decorative materials, introduced new quartz and solid surface designs during a special customer event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. More than 250 guests attended the event, which featured additions to the VIATERA Quartzite and Suprema collections, along with two new colors added to the HIMACS Calacatta Collection. Among the highlights was the debut of Taj Duna, a VIATERA Quartzite Collection color inspired by the timeless elegance of Taj Mahal quartzite. Featuring warm, earthy tones and soft veining, Taj Duna is made with NeoQ technology, LX Hausys’s low-silica innovation that uses up...

SEATTLE—Populus Hotels, a collection of carbon positive hotels that celebrate and protect the natural world, announced that Populus Seattle has secured two thousand tons of certified carbon credits as a part of its evolving, nature-based sustainability strategy. The certified carbon credits serve to offset the property’s embodied carbon footprint, equating to 1,630 mTCO2e*, making Populus Seattle the second carbon positive hotel in the country by its opening on May 22, 2025, in the city’s storied Pioneer Square. For this latest initiative, Populus Seattle worked with King County’s Forest Carbon Program to acquire high integrity, Verra certified forest carbon credits from King County-based projects whose core impacts include supporting land...

KALAMAZOO, MICH.—Landscape Forms, North America’s leading designer and manufacturer of high-design site furniture, structures, and advanced LED lighting, announces the launch of 360 Solar, an innovative off-the-grid solar lighting solution developed in collaboration with Netherlands-based FlexSol Lighting Solutions. 360 Solar represents a major advancement in solar lighting, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology with a refined aesthetic to bring high-performance illumination to virtually any location—without the need for grid power. “360 Solar is the result of a natural synergy between two companies driven by shared passion for innovation and sustainability,” says Lennert van den Berg, CEO of FlexSol Lighting Solutions. “Our cylindrical...

NATIONAL REPORT—As conversations around sustainability grow across industries, hoteliers have to ask: Is this something we should be focusing on? If you’re going for a higher star rating, sustainable operations initiatives may be a lot lower on your priority list than daily room cleanings, providing hair dryers and other star requirements. However, sustainability may be more valuable for your hotel than you realize. It can reduce water and energy consumption and staff workloads, potentially saving you money. Sustainable operations initiatives can also be marketing differentiators, helping you showcase the value of your hotel beyond good star ratings. Below, we look at why sustainable tourism...

NILES, ILL.—The Mitchell Group, a major converter of coated fabrics to upholstery markets around the world, has launched five new cost-effective vinyl products to cater to evolving customer needs: Belmont, Canyon, Ridge, Tallahatchie, and Wrangler. These additions are designed to offer high-performance, stylish, and affordable solutions for all commercial interiors. Each new selection is available from the Mitchell Collection brand and reflects The Mitchell Group’s commitment to quality and innovation: Belmont has an ultra-fine crisscrossed grain pattern. The finish gives the overall appearance of a sanded or suede look. Belmont is available in twelve understated colors. Canyon features a smooth, marine grain pattern...

YUCCA VALLEY, CALIF.—Star Tile presents Kaiyo, its newest handcrafted tile, designed to bring movement, emotion, and mental clarity to interior and exterior environments. Inspired by ocean waves and informed by the principles of neuroscience, Kaiyo is a full-on sensory experience. “Our brains are wired to recognize and respond to natural patterns,” explained Andrea Keller, Co-founder of Star Tile. Rooted in the natural order of the Fibonacci sequence, Kaiyo takes fragments of the spiral it forms and places it within asymmetrical hexagon shapes, sculpted to evoke flowing water, and capture the motion and time of a growing wave in ceramic form....

SUNNYVALE, CALIF.—Treehouse Hotels has officially landed stateside with its first U.S. outpost: Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley, a happiness-inducing hotel that’s part of the playful lifestyle brand created by hospitality innovator Barry Sternlicht, Founder and Chairman of Starwood Hotels. Treehouse Hotels first took root in 2019 with a celebrated location in London’s Marylebone neighborhood and is continuing to grow—with a much-anticipated second U.K. act that just opened in Manchester and even more global locations on the horizon. Now open in Sunnyvale, Calif., the new Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley brings Treehouse Hotel’s trademark blend of whimsy and warmth to America’s innovation capital. A...

SHAWANO, WIS.—NEWH, Inc. (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), the premier association committed to scholarships, advancing education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, announced The Beck Group as the winner of the inaugural Structures of Hospitality Excellence (SOHE) Award. The Beck Group included The Populus Hotel in Denver as one of their recent projects in their SOHE nomination. The Populus Hotel reflects The Beck Group’s abilities and collaboration with ownership to deliver this project, which redefines sustainable hospitality as the first carbon-positive hotel in the United States, setting a new standard for eco-conscious operations and pushing the boundaries of architectural...

SELFOSS, ICELAND—Opened for more than a decade, the ION Adventure Hotel is located just about as far north as one can have a hotel—about an hour outside of Reykjavik, Iceland. The ION Adventure Hotel has many sustainable features and offers front row seating for the majestic Northern Lights. Making it easy to see those lights is the property’s Northern Lights Bar with its 180-degree panoramic windows. The ION Adventure Hotel, which sits on a series of pillars that dramatically jut out of the slopes of Mount Hengill, was once the living residences for the nearby geothermal plant. In 2011, owner...