They say that lightning never strikes in the same place twice, but for insurers, it strikes over 250,000 times per year, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. In fact, the cost of homeowners’ claims for damage due to lightning strikes has increased dramatically — up 20 percent over the last three years. According to a new Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) analysis of homeowners’ insurance data, there were 256,000 lightning claims in 2006, causing about $882 million in insured losses. The I.I.I. puts the average claim for lightning at $3,446. By comparison, in 2004, there were about 278,000 lighting...


JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa is a 516-key property that brings modern luxury with a strong sense of place to Central Florida. The resort is located near Disney World in Orlando Florida and offers 50,000 square feet of meeting spaces. The resort is thoughtfully designed to bring people together, offering warm and inviting social spaces and amenities. The interior design was inspired by local nature and the surrounding Bonnet Creek with its native heritage and craftsmanship. It takes its clue from history in celebrating nature’s soothing color palette, organic textures, and tones. Bold graphic elements are inspired...


I am an electric heat distributor with products from 3 manufacturers available and am interested in adding electric floor heat, snow and ice melt and ice dam prevention products to the projects being built. These are obviously luxury items and items that make hotels, commercial buildings and residences more comfortable and safer to access. IE… tile floors, parking garage entrances, north facing building entrances, roofs over hanging walkways subject to icicle hazards. Tile is a cold but durable and easy to clean product. It is specified in many hotels, commercial buildings and residences. It is always better warm! Adding this...


The annual Interior Design Show (IDS), held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, returned last week, wrapping on Sunday, January 21, after a four-day run. The show featured hundreds of exhibitors, including Metropolitan Floors. The event saw an impressive turnout, with dealers, distributors, architects and design professionals in attendance. For Metropolitan, IDS has been a long-standing tradition. “We’ve been attending IDS for many years,” said Wilf Selfe, vice president, of Eastern Canada, at Metropolitan Floors. “The audience this show brings with architects, builders, and designers is unparalleled. We hope to continue to foster closer relationships with the A&D community, closer...


Ten years ago, Lyndsey and Jeff Glasener had an aha moment. “While on a walk, I told Jeff I wanted to create my own tile line,” saysLyndsey, who, together with husband Jeff, has more than 50 years in the tile/stone industry. Both embraced the idea in thought and action, and soon, Sabine Hill was born. Today, the encaustic cement tile manufacturer is heading toward its 10th anniversary and growing in every aspect. Last year, Sabine merged operations with its partner factory in the Dominican Republic, expanding its offerings from 50 designs to over 400 patterns, added a three-dimensional line and...


We make dreams come true! Montgomery Roth is an award-winning architecture and interior design firm located in Houston, Texas. We specialize in combining form and function to create fresh, sophisticated, and exciting designs for residential and commercial clients. Montgomery Roth is a one-stop-shop as we handle all aspects of the design and build process, including procurement. Reflecting how you want to dwell, work, escape, dine, shop, and play, the Montgomery Roth team utilizes a collaborative process to translate a client’s desire into a vivd reality, elevating everyday life through evolved design. Montgomery Roth’s culture of design innovation is led by...


TPG Hotels & Resorts, one of the nation’s premier hospitality management firms, announced today the appointment of Ben Perelmuter to President & Chief Operating Officer. Perelmuter will oversee the operational performance of TPG’s entire hospitality portfolio. “I am excited and motivated to join the TPG Hotels & Resorts team,” said Ben Perelmuter, President & Chief Operating Officer, TPG Hotels & Resorts. “This entrepreneurial hospitality team is committed to defining the gold standard for management services in the hospitality industry. We plan to firmly establish TPG Hotels & Resorts as the market leader for third-party management services, and I look forward...