Travelers heading to the High Point Market have yet another new alternative when it comes to accommodations: the 147-room luxury Proximity Hotel, just opened in Greensboro, NC.

The Proximity Hotel is the newest project by Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels, owners of the AAA Four Diamond O. Henry Hotel, also located in Greensboro. Like the O. Henry, the Proximity showcases the work of local artisans and architectural influences throughout its décor. Guest rooms and suites are oversized, and each includes multiple 50-square-foot windows, custom furnishings and high-definition televisions, with Italian linens, Egyptian cotton sheets and plush down pillows adorning the beds. The new hotel also features 7,000 square feet of private event space, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness studio, and a “guest living room” on each floor.

As luxurious as it is, the property is quickly gaining fame for more than hospitality. Built to use 40 percent less energy and 30 percent less water than comparable establishments, the Proximity Hotel’s sustainable design and construction follow the guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)® Green Building Rating system, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Indeed, the Proximity Hotel aspires to be the first hotel in the United States to achieve a Platinum Certification (the highest LEED® certification). With its ultra-efficient materials and building technology, installation of North America’s first Otis Gen2 elevator (generating electricity as it descends), restoration of 700 linear feet of stream and 100 solar rooftop panels, the Proximity is poised to become one of the most environmentally progressive hotels in the United States.

Many of the Proximity’s sustainable practices are not outwardly noticeable to guests, but blend with modern luxury throughout the property. Oversized windows provide abundant natural light and fresh air to enhance the custom-designed furnishings, original art, and innovative design and architecture. A striking, “floating” front desk made of a 12-foot steel cantilever sculpture greets visitors entering the hotel, and other notable features awaiting guests include 22-foot-high windows overlooking the Bluebell Garden, a 28-foot mohair sofa and an interior balcony commanding an impressive view of the Social Lobby.

The Print Works Bistro, Proximity’s restaurant, follows the sustainable theme through with, among other things, sensor-controlled ventilation for the kitchen, geo-thermal energy for the refrigeration equipment and reclaimed walnut tabletops. Three walls of operable windows overlook the gardens in the dining room with outdoor dining available on the terrace by the restored stream. In keeping with the eco-savvy practices of the ownership, the menu focuses on fresh, local foods.

The hotel and restaurant are named after the Proximity Manufacturing Cotton Mill (built in 1896) and Proximity Print Works Mill (1912) which are central to Greensboro’s rich textile history. For more information, visit www.proximityhotel.com or call 336-379-8200.

By Shannon Kennedy, High Point Market Authority