WESTHAMPTON, N.Y.—Three Ducks celebrated its opening on May 21 in Westhampton, N.Y. The boutique hotel, managed by FIRM Hospitality Group, thoughtfully facilitates meaningful guest experiences rooted in nature, authenticity, and discovery. A collaboration between designer-developers Elizabeth Bakhash and Randall Stone of Three Ducks Hospitality, the hotel introduces a lighthearted yet elevated approach to luxury, and a genuine connection to the Westhampton community. With 12 rooms, the property blends upscale amenities, experience-forward design, and a refined yet relaxed atmosphere that captures the ease and charm of the area. The Day’s Rhythm At Three Ducks, the guest experience is thoughtfully designed to follow...

DULUTH, MINN.—As part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability, the environment and fostering a communal appreciation for the outdoors, Loll Designs planted 1,000 trees, half white and half red pine, near Lester Creek Golf Course in Duluth on May 22. This 40-acre area has a rocky soil which is better suited for native pine trees for strong long-term growth versus its current species makeup. Restoring these native trees will help prevent erosion along the creek while adding much-needed biodiversity to the area. The tree planting initiative was done in partnership with the City of Duluth and Rajala Woods, an...

CHICAGO—Commercial design leader Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering is exploring the next level of biophilic design in its latest wallcovering launch: the Renaturation collection by 13&9 Design. Renaturation, named for the concept in which nature reclaims manmade or developed spaces, employs natural fractals for an approach to commercial design deeply grounded in science, design and wellness. The power of fractals, intricate, self-repeating patterns, is core to nature itself and has a proven impact on brain health and healing, improved wellbeing, and enhancing overall cognitive function. The resulting wallcovering collection transcends aesthetics, creating restorative environments with measurable benefits for occupants. Renaturation sprung...

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...