CINCINNATI—Finalists have been announced for the 39th annual Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, the industry’s oldest and most prestigious awards program for hospitality interiors, sponsored by Boutique Design magazine. The 2019 Gold Key judges selected these standout projects from a highly competitive field of more than 430 submissions from design firms around the world. Winners in 23 categories, as well as the Judges’ So Cool award winner and the Designer of the Year, will be honored at the Gold Key Awards Gala to be held November 11 at Cipriani Midtown in Manhattan. The gala is presented in...

CALHOUN, GA.—Mohawk Industries, a major full-line supplier of floor coverings and a leading supplier of wood flooring in the United States, has joined the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Responsible Procurement Program (RPP). The RPP is a joint initiative between leading environmental groups and industry manufacturers committed to producing and promoting wood floors that come only from environmentally and socially responsible sources, improving forest sustainability for future generations. The program is unique from all other forest certification programs in that it encompasses all the manufacturer’s raw materials. “NWFA is pleased to welcome Mohawk Industries to the Responsible Procurement Program,” says NWFA...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Informa Connect announced that Former President Barack Obama will speak at the Wednesday keynote of the 2019 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. This year’s conference will take place November 19 to 22 in Atlanta at the LEED Gold Georgia World Congress Center. Registration is now open. “USGBC is deeply honored that President Obama has accepted our invitation to speak at Greenbuild 2019,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC. “President Obama is a global leader and a longtime friend of the green building community. While in office, his administration negotiated the landmark Paris Climate Accords, expanded the impact of our field...

ATLANTA—LG Hausys’s HI-MACS solid surface is introducing three new colors to its Strato collection. Inspired by the alluring dance of light and shadow found in nature, each new color features wavy horizontal patterns that bring a sense of serenity and visual curiosity. The wavy pattern effect can be breathtaking as it moves both horizontally (lengthwise) and vertically in two planes while elegantly sliding through and across the surface. LG Hausys pioneered the wavy effect using a patent-pending manufacturing process unique to the industry. Ranging in hues from creams to dramatic grays, the new colors meet the latest design trends taking...

POKHARA, NEPAL—Swiss International Hotel Sarowar, an upscale, 96-room hotel in Pokhara, Nepal, offers stunning views of the Himalayan Ranges and the famous Phewa Lake. What is most impressive about this property is its eco-efficiency—the attention to green design and sustainability from below ground to the rooftop. Swiss International Hotel Sarowar opened at the beginning of this year. The hotel is powered by the sun, heated and cooled using geothermal technology and sells its digested combination of human and food waste as organic manure at the local market. Swiss International Hotel Sarowar sits 2,655 feet above sea level. Its design incorporates...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News welcomes The Mitchell Group to its Green Product & Service Directory. The Mitchell Group is a major converter of PU, PVC, and Silicone coated fabrics to various upholstery markets around the world. Its capabilities to decorate product include release paper, embossing, post-processing, and two-stage printing effects. The company’s corporate offices are located outside of Chicago in Niles, Ill., with a 100,000 square foot distribution and customer service center located in Pontotoc, Miss. Its trading company is located in Shanghai, China, and manages exports as well as all China-to-China business. For more information call (877) 647-7301,...

The Mitchell Group Major Converter of PU, PVC, & Silicone Coated Fabrics The Mitchell Group is a major converter of PU, PVC, and Silicone coated fabrics to various upholstery markets around the world. Our capabilities to decorate product include release paper, embossing, post-processing, and two-stage printing effects. The company’s corporate offices are located outside of Chicago in Niles, Ill., with a 100,000 square foot distribution and customer service center located in Pontotoc, Miss. Our trading company is located in Shanghai, China, and manages exports as well as all China-to-China business. For more information call (877) 647-7301, or e-mail info@mitchellfauxleathers.com, or...

I learned this past week that about 18 to 20 percent of a building’s energy footprint is from windows and that part of their job is to help manage infrared rays, UV rays and visible light. Many of you may have known that already. Did you know that most of the sun’s heat comes in the form of visible light? That is why closing curtains and shades when guestrooms are vacant can certainly help some with heating and AC. Blocking UV light can help reduce the fading of carpeting, furniture and artwork. Walk the floor of HITEC and you...

NATIONAL REPORT—Critical to the energy efficiency of any building is the quality of the window itself—its ability to insulate from infrared heat, potentially harmful UV rays, visible light, and cold air. Joseph Harary, President and CEO, Director, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary for Research Frontiers, says 18 to 20 percent of a building’s energy footprint is from windows. Fortunately for hotel owners, advancements in window design have made them highly effective insulators. Just as window design has improved significantly, so too have technologies that make the inner part of the window and the outside of the window contributors to energy...

NATIONAL REPORT—When people think of hotels, they envision either luxury vacation destinations or necessary places to rest while traveling on business. However, hotels represent a far more vital force in the economy of the locations they serve. Obviously, hotels draw tourist traffic which goes on to patronize local businesses, but they can do much more. Some hotels lead the way when it comes to sustainable innovation. Others take charge of balancing the needs of local merchants with those of the tourists they serve. Here are five ways hotels can work to boost their local economy. 1. Bringing Jobs to the Area One...