SEATTLE—1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, announces the opening of 1 Hotel Seattle, a new sanctuary of sustainability and sophisticated design in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Set in the South Lake Union neighborhood—home to some of Seattle’s most innovative tech companies—this nature-inspired retreat combines sustainable luxury, hyper-local culinary experiences, and the rugged elegance of the region’s landscapes. “Seattle is a city where nature and innovation coexist beautifully—and that’s exactly what we aimed to capture with this property,” says Barry Sternlicht, Founder of 1 Hotels and Chairman of Starwood Hotels. “This city...

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS.—Excel Dryer, Inc. was recognized as a winner of the 2024 Product Innovation Awards (PIA), published by Architectural Products. The award spotlights colorful, art-covered XLERATOR Hand Dryers with Electrostatic HEPA (eHEPA) Filtration that were installed in the Artists For Humanity (AFH) facility in Boston. “This was such a special project for us,” said Joshua Griffing, Excel Dryer Director of Marketing and International Sales. “We were able to transform a normally utilitarian space into a bright, uplifting showcase for teen art. We’re honored Architectural Products found it worthy of this award.” Architectural Products created the Product Innovation Awards to celebrate the outstanding use...

SHENZHEN, CHINA—CIMC Modular Building Systems (MBS), a global leader in modular construction, has signed an agreement to deliver the Earth Riyadh Hotel in Saudi Arabia. As the company’s first hospitality project in the region, this milestone reinforces CIMC MBS’s commitment to advancing sustainable building practices and offering innovative solutions to the global hospitality sector. Earth Hotels, a conscious and design-forward hospitality group built for the modern, mindful traveler, is setting the stage for its bold new openings across Saudi Arabia and Europe. The Earth Riyadh Hotel is a three-story, four-star boutique property with a total floor area of 11,000 square meters, scheduled for completion in...

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....