AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND—IHG’s colorful voco brand is coming to New Zealand in mid-2021, following the signing of a franchise agreement between IHG and Pro-invest. voco Auckland City Centre will incorporate all the elements of the voco life, including 200 guestrooms that are designed around the “Me Time” concept with premium beds for a quality sleep experience, superior showers, innovative lighting and user-friendly technology. Beyond guestrooms, the hotel will feature an all-day restaurant and bar, and guest gym. Located in the very heart of Auckland’s center, at the corner of Albert and Wyndham Street, voco Auckland City Centre will not only look...

DEPOE BAY, ORE.—Soul Community Planet (SCP), a Holistic Hospitality company providing fair-priced lodging centered on the values of personal wellness, social good and the environment, announced the newly renovated SCP Depoe Bay has opened. Located near many of Oregon’s top surf breaks, most picturesque shorelines and best fishing, the new lodge features bohemian-style guestrooms, a communal coworking space, fitness and yoga studio, and Provisions market. “Each SCP venue uniquely embodies the values of Soul, Community and Planet,” said Soul Community Planet Co-Founder and CEO Ken Cruse. “SCP Depoe Bay has been renovated into an intimate surf lodge—ideal for coastal adventure-seekers...

CALHOUN, GA.—Owls have captured the imagination of humankind for centuries. Designed by Jason F. McLennan in collaboration with Mohawk Group, the Owls collection reinterprets the essence of these North American birds of prey through color and patterning. Inspired by their plumage, this distinctive, yet versatile commercial carpet plank features mottled shades of black, brown, tan and grey that take flight in contract interiors. A stylized visual and simple texture create intriguing, coordinating combinations across two 12" x 36" patterns: Feather and Flight. “When Mohawk Group approached me to do a sequel to Lichen, we had to think about what would have a...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As cities and states continue to work toward climate action goals, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced its list of Top 10 States for LEED green building. For the first time since 2011, Colorado took the top spot on the list, which ranks states based on the number of LEED certified square feet per person. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world with more than 100,000 projects engaged. This year’s top states are home to more than 105 million people, including more than 80,000 LEED green...

ATLANTA—Interface Hospitality announces the launch of its latest carpet collection, Guest Rooms, designed for the hospitality segment. The collection was created based on how texture, pattern and color impact a person’s experience with a space and has 19 versatile patterns in square and plank styles. Assembled into color palettes that evoke the four distinct shades of nature—Painted Light, Windswept Terrain, Winter Chill and Morning Haze—these carpet styles create a home away from home for guests through the integration of diverse textures, patterns and custom colors. The carpet can be installed in a variety of ways—wall-to-wall, in combination with other...

CALHOUN, GA.—This year at The International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas, Mohawk is showcasing the company’s dedication to a more sustainable future through innovative manufacturing processes, product design and strategies around positive environmental and social impact. A feature display within the company’s award-winning presence at booth 5803 highlights inspiring sustainability efforts and stories for attendees. As the largest recycler of plastic bottles in North America, Mohawk has made a corporate commitment to support the work of The Ocean Cleanup. The Netherlands-based nonprofit organization is developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Mohawk unveiled an interactive art installation...

TURKU, FINLAND—In preparations to host the 2022 World Cup, Qetaifan Projects, a Katara Hospitality owned company signed a memorandum of understanding with ADMARES; the world leader in alternative real estate with pioneering construction methods. Qetaifan Projects continues its series of local and international partnerships that would add to Qetaifan Island North and serve the tourism, hospitality, and entertainment sectors in Qatar. The Memorandum of Understanding includes the construction and operation of 16 floating hotels on the shores of Qetaifan Island North to provide accommodation for the masses within the fan villages during the 2022 World Cup. The hotels have...

JAMES, MO.—Prock Operations, Inc. announces the hire of David Mitchum as the new President of Operations for the Quarzo Collection and Salvador Hernandez as the National Sales Manager. Together, they bring decades of experience with leading countertop and specialty surface manufacturers and suppliers. Mitchum was previously president and general manager of U.S. Marble, a subsidiary of Clio Holdings. As President of Operations for the Quarzo Collection division, he will be responsible for oversight of division direction, sales growth, customer development, and ensuring product excellence. Hernandez was previously national commercial sales manager for U.S. Marble. As National Sales Manager for the Quarzo...

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—The Beverly Hilton announced a top-to-bottom hotel renovation, to be completed in April 2020, which will reintroduce the Los Angeles landmark to a new generation of leisure travelers, corporate guests and entertainment industry events. The sweeping transformation will encompass all 566 guestrooms, including nine private luxury suites, indoor-outdoor event spaces and meeting rooms, and all public spaces including the lobby and signature restaurant, CIRCA 55. Supporting Hilton in redefining sustainable travel by cutting its environmental footprint in half and doubling investment in social impact projects by 2030, the hotel renovation will bring new environmentally-conscious innovations to The Beverly...

NEW YORK CITY—The WELL Conference, a rich, experiential event for those committed to improving the health and well-being of people through better buildings, communities and organizations, announces that registration is now open for this inaugural event taking place March 29 to April 1, 2020 at the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, Ariz. Attendees can register online at thewellconference.com. A first-of-its-kind wellness gathering, The WELL Conference is a curation of information and inspiration from thought leaders, experts and innovators representing multiple sectors of the wellness movement. Registrants may choose from several options to meet various interests, budgets and time considerations. Those wishing to attend are...