In the early days of Green Lodging News there was quite a bit of discussion about the need for just one nationwide green lodging certification/rating program—perhaps even one that could be run by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. Some of the thought was that there were just too many programs to choose from—confusing for the industry and confusing for travelers. Well, here we are many years later and quite a bit of shuffling has taken place among the various programs. There are still quite a few to choose from but one that has truly blossomed and grown is the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, including hotels, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. LEED is for all building types and all building phases including new construction, interior fit outs, operations and maintenance and core and shell. LEED Zero is for projects with net zero goals in carbon and/or resources. Projects pursuing LEED certification...

KALAMAZOO, MICH.—Landscape Forms announced the acquisition of Duluth, Minn.-based Loll Designs. “We’ve been working together for several years co-developing new solutions to enhance the enjoyment of outdoor spaces. Coming together in a more formal way feels like a natural evolution in an already very successful relationship,” says Landscape Forms CEO Marjorie Simmons. “Our tenets as a company are design, culture and craft, and in Loll Designs we’ve discovered a like-minded organization. We’re  aligned with each other, and share a mission. It’s very exciting to consider what this combined team can accomplish.” Loll Designs is an award-winning designer and manufacturer of spirited,...

Read our tips for eco-friendly decorating, from engineered wood flooring to getting creative with some old or tired furnishings. What Are Some Eco-Friendly Ways to Improve Your Hotel? Hotel expenses can be large and any penny that can be saved is something that can go a long way. Customers to hotels are also becoming more and more interested in what their environmental footprint is and are looking more to hotels that are committed in making a difference. What more can hotels do in this front? Here are some suggestions. Natural Products Firstly, we recommend investing in products which are natural as opposed to...

In this, my last column of 2020, I would like to thank Green Lodging News readers, advertisers, guest columnists, public relations representatives, and others for their support during this unprecedented year. This year, to be able to say your business survived, is an accomplishment. My heart goes out to all of you who lost your business or jobs in 2020. My wish for everyone in our industry is for a much healthier and safer 2021. No matter what my website article tracking data says, COVID-19 was of course the story of the year in 2020—how our industry was hurt by...

SAN DIEGO—CALI, the omni-channel sustainable building products company, is launching a new collection of cork flooring—CALI cork. The fresh, four-sku line-up ushers in an improved generation of cork while remaining true to the material’s renewable and planet-safe roots. A high resistance finish and water-resistant construction make CALI cork a more durable upgrade from the cork planks of yesteryear. Plus, a 15-year residential and five-year commercial warranty make this collection an attractive option for storefronts and fitness studios. VIDEO: See and learn more about CALI cork. Cork is naturally renewable; the material is trimmed from the bark of the cork oak tree and regenerates without harming the plant or surrounding environment. The cork in this flooring is also recycled, demonstrating cork’s ability to be reprocessed over and over for different uses. Customers looking to purchase responsibly and opt...

In next week’s column I will be highlighting the 10 most read Green Lodging News articles of 2020. It will be interesting to see how many had to do with COVID-19. While the article I just posted on Hotel Marcel may not make it because of its posting late in the year, it certainly deserves consideration as one of the most important hotel stories of both this year and 2021. Be sure to read the article. Hotel Marcel is the project of architect Bruce Becker, Founder and Director of Becker + Becker, Westport, Conn. Becker purchased the New Haven, Conn. building...

NEW HAVEN, CONN.—When the Hotel Marcel opens next summer in New Haven, Conn., it will be a shining example of sustainability and what every hotel could and should be. The 165-room boutique hotel will be the result of the renovated Armstrong Rubber Company Building, aka Pirelli Building, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1967. It will be run by 100 percent solar power, meet net-zero energy standards, and will target LEED Platinum certification. There will be many other bells and whistles that will make the building highly efficient. Hotel Marcel is the project of Bruce Becker, Founder and Director of...

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—Serge Ferrari introduces Batyline Elios. This fabric delivers the same technical properties that have made the Batyline range a success for over three decades, including dimensional stability, easy maintenance, and resistance to UV, mold, tearing and fading. However, Batyline Elios goes a step further with its distinctive and patented weave that provides the same soft look and feel as indoor textiles. Available in 10 colors, Batyline Elios is highly flexible and ideal for any outdoor upholstered seating, including sofas, chairs, garden furniture and cushions. In performance testing, the fabric withstood more than 600,000 double rubs (ASTM D4157 Wyzenbeek)...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last month concluded the annual Greenbuild Conference & Expo, presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and owned and operated by Informa Connect. Throughout this year’s virtual event, USGBC delivered key updates intended to help push the industry closer to a regenerative future as outlined through LEED Positive, while prioritizing solutions that promote social equity, resilience and health across communities. “The world today is facing intersecting crises that cannot be resolved with fragmented solutions, but require integrated, equitable practices and an industrywide commitment to standardizing those practices,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO of USGBC, Green Business Certification...