MIAMI—SH Hotels & Resorts, the sustainable brand management company founded by Starwood Capital Group Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht, announced the first Treehouse Hotel to open in the U.S. in Sunnyvale, Calif., in the high-tech heart of Silicon Valley, in late 2023. The free-spirited, environmentally conscious lifestyle brand creatively captures the carefree comfort, freedom, nostalgia, and fun of childhood. Every Treehouse Hotel is founded on the adventurous ideas that inspire a child to build their “treehouse” and hang with real and imaginary friends. Treehouse Sunnyvale will fuse the creativity, innovation, and adventure of the dynamic Silicon Valley with the brand’s...

SOLON, OHIO—Tarkett North America, a leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, announces the hiring of Omoleye Simmons as Vice President of Design for the company’s commercial business. “This new position was created as part of Tarkett’s commitment to leading the industry in design and delivering on our promise to offer beautiful, on-trend flooring solutions for any space,” said Paul Young, Senior Vice President, Product, Innovation, Design & Sustainability, Tarkett North America. “We’re excited to welcome Omoleye to our team and look forward to seeing her vision come to life.” An accomplished designer, Simmons spent the better part...

BETHESDA, MD.—After six years of planning, design, and construction, Marriott International has opened its global headquarters in downtown Bethesda, Md. The 21-story, 785,000-square-foot, LEEDv4 Gold-certified building is the new workplace for corporate associates, supporting over 8,100 hotels in 139 countries and territories around the world. “We are thrilled to be welcoming associates to our new headquarters,” said Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International. “The campus has been designed to better connect our global workforce in support of our hotels and teams around the world. Empowering associates and accelerating innovation were our key priorities and central in every decision we made to...

MUMBAI, INDIA—As Green Travel begins to set its foot in the Indian hospitality sector, eco-conscious, urban travelers looking to escape from city lights can now holiday at India’s first carbon-neutral resort—The Machan, Lonavala. Known for its exclusive line of treehouses, surrounded by lush green forests, also home to many endemic species, the company is setting new standards for sustainable stays and aims to put India on the global green map. Talking about the importance of being a Carbon Neutral organization, Varun Hooja, Partner at The Machan said, “Green travel is not just a disruptive trend but a reality for our planet. The ill-effects of climate change are known to everyone. This is why the world is setting targets for itself and...

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Global design company, West Elm, a member of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, announced the launch of a new collaboration with designer, Mara Hoffman. The new Mara Hoffman Collection for West Elm features 28 items that celebrate both brands’ shared passion for design, sustainability, and responsible production processes. The new assortment spans multiple categories for West Elm including furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, and textiles. The pieces in the collection are grounded in warm neutral tones and feature high contrast black and whites executed on textured fabrications. As part of both brands’ commitment to...

SOLON, OHIO—A worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, Tarkett North America announces a new carbon strategy that will ultimately make real changes in how the company makes its floors, reducing impact rather than offsetting it. Earlier this year, Tarkett announced its Climate Roadmap for 2030, which includes a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent across its entire value chain by 2030—in full alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement objective to limit global warming to 1.5°C. To provide full visibility into these efforts, Tarkett has been evaluated and assessed by the independent organization Science Based...

ATLANTA—The 2022 Building Performance Analysis Conference and SimBuild will bring attention to carbon reduction strategies through the application of simulation and modeling over the entire building life cycle. Co-sponsored by ASHRAE and IBPSA-USA, the conference will take place September 14 to 16 in Chicago and will also be offered virtually. The theme of the conference, “Better Buildings, Less Carbon: Supporting the Transition to a Clean and Just Climate,” focuses on research and methodology for minimizing operational carbon in buildings. “The recent changes in the world energy markets and evolving regulations continue to increase demand for improved performance of our building stock,” said Conference Vice Chair John Bynum. “The...

What role does hemp play in the hospitality industry? A lot more than you can imagine, it turns out. According to Brittanica, hemp, also called industrial hemp, is grown for its soft woody fiber or edible seeds. Hemp is grown in temperate zones as an annual cultivated from seed and can reach a height of up to 16 feet. Hemp cultivation for fiber was recorded in China as early as 2800 BC. Hemp is strong and durable and fast growing like bamboo. About two months after planting, hemp is ready for harvest. Hemp grows without the need of harmful herbicides and pesticides; hemp is...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Vinyl Sustainability Council (VSC), a self-funded business council advancing sustainability in the vinyl industry, is raising the awareness of the council’s +Vantage Vinyl-verified companies by launching a collaboration with ecomedes. An online database for construction professionals seeking sustainable building materials, ecomedes seeks to optimize product procurement for architects, engineers, and contractors who must achieve certain sustainability benchmarks in their construction projects. Thanks to the new collaboration, companies that have achieved +Vantage Vinyl verification via the VSC are now listed on ecomedes. “The +Vantage Vinyl verification program provides specifiers with the assurance that qualified companies have met the environmental, social and...

COSTA RICA—Managed by Aqua-Aston Hospitality, Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton, a premier eco-resort is now open. Located beside two of Costa Rica’s most prized natural jewels—Corcovado National Park and the Pacific Ocean’s Golfo Dulce—Botánika Osa Peninsula is set across 21 acres of lush flora and fauna. The resort provides travelers an unspoiled rainforest escape with well-appointed residence accommodations, upscale dining outlets, a 100-seat event space, along with rainforest-inspired experiences at the resort’s Clubhouse, neighboring Crocodile Bay Marina and the new Botánika Science and Nature Center. Activity guides curate unforgettable recreation experiences and excursions throughout the Osa Peninsula. Guests...