Anthony,
The Portman style atrium hotels were dazzling in the 70's when energy was still plentiful. They are very eco-unfriendly and I don’t think that earth can support any more of them. Several atrium hotels were built in China in the past decade. Energy cost over there is several times more than here. The hotels kept the air-conditioning at the upper limit of the comfort zone. Some even covered the skylights with tarp altogether in order to cut down heat gain.

The Intercontinental in Pudong (formerly the Asia Thompson) is one. Local officials do not like it because if they go upstairs to a guest’s room (to conduct funny business) they do not want to be seen in open view.