RIYADH—The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has announced the signing of nine hotel management agreements with international hotel brands to operate resorts in the first phase of development at The Red Sea Project. The agreements were unveiled on Day 2 of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2021, with the collection of hospitality brands set to operate nine of the 16 properties currently under development in the first phase and collectively feature more than 1,700 hotel keys of the total 3,000 planned for Phase One. These include EDITION Hotels and St Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International; Fairmont Hotel & Resorts, Raffles Hotels & Resorts and SLS...

NEW YORK—Prioritizing material innovation, sustainability, cleanability, and stain-resistant technology, Supreen marries cutting-edge woven and coated technology with a proprietary silicone blend to create a complete liquid-barrier textile, reactively repelling liquids and preventing future stains—all without compromising softness, upholstery capability, or the environment. This performance fabric will make its debut at six premier textile booths at BDNY, November 14 to 15, 2021. Combining groundbreaking stain resistance with bleach cleanability and impressive breathability, Supreen exceeds industry standards when it comes to cleanliness, durability, and aesthetics. What Makes Supreen Stand Out? It’s completely liquid-proof. Supreen’s liquid-proof barrier technology makes it impenetrable, protecting it...

From Walgreens to Target to the doctor’s office…It is safe to say that hemp has made a comeback here in the United States. What most people don’t know is that hemp is far more than your run of a mill CBD concoction. It’s food, fiber, fuel and more. For us here at Anact, we believe that hemp is the future of sustainable textiles due to its performance and sustainable attributes. Here’s why we are excited for the hospitality industry to pave the way in re-introducing this powerful textile. It’s hard to find a negative when it comes to hemp and...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently announced that it has surpassed one billion square feet of LEED commercial green building space recertified under LEED. LEED recertification is an important effort to measure energy, water, waste, and transportation performance, as well as the human experience of LEED projects. Recertification enables owners to protect their sustainability investments over time. This LEED milestone was celebrated at the annual Greenbuild conference, which was held in San Diego. Over the last year, the green building industry has reached several milestones indicating that green building continues to be an important topic as it provides a foundation...

BANGKOK—Within just a few hours of the United States, Belize is known for its warm and turquoise water, incredible snorkeling and diving, and active and vibrant culture. Guests and residents at Six Senses Belize will experience something out of this world as the team has worked tirelessly to strike the perfect balance between vivacious beach life and small-scale, secluded island bliss so that residents can enjoy either or both, any time they wish. The resort and residences are uniquely set across two areas. The sun-drenched stretch of secret beachfront on Ambergris Caye, the most sought-after destination in Belize, offers an...

NEW YORK—Those attending HX: The Hotel Experience or Boutique Design New York (BDNY) who are looking for educational sessions related to green design or operations will have to attend BDNY this year. HX, as of October 25, has just three educational sessions listed on its website and none of them have green topics. Both shows will be held November 14 to 15 at the Javits Center in New York. HX currently has fewer than 50 exhibitors listed on its website and BDNY in the hundreds—proof that the pandemic is still impacting the willingness of businesses to exhibit and travel. Here...

When Choice Hotels International announced earlier this week that its future headquarters would be housed in a LEED Gold-targeted building, it was part of a trend followed by others in the hotel industry. Choice’s new offices in North Bethesda, Md. are expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2023. More than three years ago, Marriott International broke ground on its new headquarters in Bethesda, Md. Set to open next year, it is also designed to LEED Gold standards, allowing an abundance of natural light, while providing new opportunities for flexible, collaborative workspaces. The campus will also offer Marriott...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors, announced it has executed a lease for a new corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, Md. The new headquarters will occupy over 105,000 square feet of office space in the mixed-use development of Pike & Rose. The building is being developed by owner Federal Realty Investment Trust and Choice is expected to begin working there in the fourth quarter of 2023. “Between this new building in North Bethesda and our state-of-the-art technology center in Scottsdale, Arizona, which opened this month, we’re thrilled to offer our associates best-in-class places to work,” said Patrick Pacious, President...

NEW ALBANY, IND.—Versa Wallcovering, the flagship brand of Versa Designed Surfaces, has launched two new designs in its collection of PVC-free commercial wallcoverings. BAREGE is a polished design that pairs a nature-inspired texture with a graphic overlay. The new transitional grass cloth emboss has an innovative level of detail and tactile form perfect for indoor spaces in the hospitality, healthcare, retail, and corporate markets. Barege’s modern/rustic palette coordinates with Barege Texture which brings this highly useable delicate line work to the forefront in 16 colorways. The PVC-free collection provides specifiers choice in material without compromising the quality and durability of the product. The...

The CEO of leading sustainability solutions company Green Places, Alex Lassiter, recently sat down with Eric Corey Freed, an award-winning architect, author, and global speaker, to ask him a few questions about the importance of building sustainably. They touched on: what makes a building sustainable, costs involved with building sustainably, scaling green building programs, common obstacles, financial considerations, and the importance of broad adoption. His insights are important for the green building sector overall—including hotels. A big thank you to Green Places for allowing me to share this insightful Q&A article. (You can also see it here in its...