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...

SEDONA, ARIZ.—Travelers from around the world will have a new reason to visit the soaring, majestic red rocks of Sedona, Ariz. when Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel opens in late 2020 as the first of its kind in North America. Developed, owned and managed by Two Sister Bosses, a Sedona family-owned and -operated company, Ambiente is uniquely designed to blend in with the surrounding geological wonderland and gives guests the opportunity to experience and embrace the natural beauty that surrounds them in what USA Today named among the “Most Beautiful Places in America”. Ambiente is comprised of 40 cubed-shaped, guest Atriums that...

NEW YORK—Barry Sternlicht, 1 Hotels founder and CEO & Chairman of Starwood Capital Group, announced plans for its newest property, 1 Hotel Toronto, inspired by Canada’s natural beauty, the vibrant character of King Street West and the Toronto marketplace. The hotel is being developed in partnership with Mohari Hospitality, a global real estate investment company and owner of the building which is currently operated as the Thompson Toronto. The downtown property will undergo an extensive transformation into a relaxing luxury sustainable 1 retreat. 1 Hotels brings its sustainable vision to life by incorporating nature in its design and culinary collaborations,...

SOUTH CASCO, MAINE—Migis Lodge opened in June in South Casco, Maine. The property is powered by solar energy. The century-old vacation destination—a lodge and 35 cottages on Sebago Lake—is offsetting 95 percent of its annual electrical power needs with a 912-paneled solar array. To conserve the pine forest on the 125-acre property, Revision Energy designed an off-site solution in a former gravel pit. “Migis Lodge is committed to the environment and sustainability,” said Jed Porta, General Manager for Migis Lodge and Managing Partner for Migis Hotel Group, a family-run, Maine-based hotel management company. “Our guests will have one more reason to enjoy...

LOS ANGELES, CA.—The Élan Hotel—a recently renovated boutique property located in the heart of West Hollywood—has partnered with AllerWell Travel—a division of the Wellness Hospitality Association International—to implement eight allergy-friendly guestrooms within the hotel. The only AllerWell Certified hotel, the Élan is the first property in the nation to offer AllerWell accommodations. AllerWell rooms eliminate more than 95 percent of the room allergens that trigger most allergy symptoms, and as more travelers look toward allergy-friendly accommodations, AllerWell and the Élan Hotel aim to make allergy-friendly rooms as common as smoke-free rooms. The three central components installed in all AllerWell rooms include: Hypoallergenic Bedding—Hypoallergenic...

RALEIGH, N.C.—Almost seven months since opening in Raleigh’s Glenwood South district, business at Revisn has been great and the aparthotel has been at full capacity, says Dicky Walia, CEO and Managing Director of Welcome Holdings which developed the “green” Revisn brand. Large corporations are renting the residences. According to Welcome Holdings, Revisn combines the “spacious comfort and relaxing convenience of a luxury executive apartment residence with the hospitality of a boutique hotel.” What Revisn also does is provide guests with a low-carbon experience thanks to its high-tech approach to power generation and heating and cooling. Atop the 48-unit building is...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Last week, Element by Westin, part of Marriott International, announced the opening of Element Melbourne Richmond. Owned and developed by TRC (Aust), the hotel marks the debut of the Element brand in Australia and with it, the longer-stay brand’s signature eco-conscious ethos and commitment to helping healthy, active guests maintain a balanced lifestyle while traveling. “The launch of Element Melbourne Richmond marks a significant milestone for Marriott International, as the first of its kind in Australia,” said Mike Fulkerson, Vice President, Brand & Marketing, Asia-Pacific, Marriott International. “A recognized industry leader in the longer-stay eco space, Element Hotels promotes...

ATLANTA—Noble Investment Group announced they have broken ground on the Element by Westin Nashville. Located in the renowned West End neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, the hotel will be the brand’s debut in Nashville and will open in 2020. The upscale, lifestyle hotel will be a part of the vibrant 19-acre mixed-use development, oneC1TY. Anchored by Vanderbilt University, three major medical centers and foremost health care providers, significant corporate headquarters and Nashville’s famous Music Row, the hotel will be prominently located in one of the fastest growing markets in the United States. The Element by Westin Nashville will be LEED certified and...

SILVER SPRING, MD.—With 13 years of building to LEED standards under its belt, it is no surprise that The Duffie Companies’ first hotel project would be a LEED one. With the Home2 Suites by Hilton Silver Spring (Md.), however, The Duffie Companies has gone far beyond basic LEED certification; the hotel is on the way to becoming one of just seven LEED Platinum hotels or resorts in North America. Unique to the hotel is its location, says Shane Pollin, Director of Development for The Duffie Companies. “This community has no other hotels nearby,” he says. The property is located on...

SINGAPORE—Come 2023, a new resort experience will open to guests at Mandai, bringing them closer to nature through a biophilic design that integrates the buildings with their natural surroundings. The design of the new Mandai resort will be helmed by local architectural firm, WOW Architects. Speaking on the appointment of WOW Architects, Mike Barclay, Group CEO of Mandai Park Holdings (MPH) said, “WOW Architects’ concept demonstrated the best design response to our brief, one that will bring our guests closer to nature. We have brought together the strengths of two homegrown brands, WOW Architects and Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts....