10 Unique Ways Hotels Are Getting Greener

July 9, 2019

We’ve reported a lot recently on green convention centers, from LEED status to sustainability efforts in 2019. However, let’s not forget hotels, which are also doing their part to make meetings and conferences more eco-friendly. Take a look at some of the latest initiatives from hotels across North America and beyond.

The Setai, Miami Beach in Florida has partnered with Danish water company Iskilde to introduce completely compostable plant-based water bottles for guests. The hotel is the first in the U.S. to pioneer this product.Atlantis

 

Demonstrating its commitment to protecting the natural forest around its grounds, Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in the U.K. has launched a new project to help increase the population of owls at the hotel by building new owl nesting boxes.

Down in the Bahamas, Atlantis, Paradise Island has become a leader in water and wildlife protection. Through its extensive Blue Project Foundation, it funds coral reef research and restoration, as well as marine mammal rehabilitation and releases. Groups can easily incorporate sustainability initiatives through BPF while meeting at the resort.

You might not think of happy hour as a means to promote sustainability, but Freehand Hotels (located in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York) have found a way to do exactly that. In each of the four properties, the Broken Shaker bar incorporates a zero-waste cocktail concept by using compostable straws, biodegradable garnishes and environmentally safe materials for packaging.

At Hotel Drisco in San Francisco, housekeeping staff employes an ultragreen technique for cleaning guest rooms that uses water instead of chemicals. It sounds strange, but it really works: The Lotus Pro Cleaning System converts plain tap water into an all-natural, commercial-grade cleaner that’s infused with ozone. 

1 Hotel

1 Hotel South Beach in Florida is driving home eco-friendly ethos by having Tesla S Electric cars as its house vehicles, which are available for complimentary use by guests within a 3-mile radius of the property. Guest rooms here also feature unique hemp blend-filled mattresses topped with hypoallergenic organic linens.

Think casinos can’t be sustainable? Think again. Harrah’s Resort Southern California was the first Southern California casino to go solar, and it went big: It has more than 4,000 solar panels across 5.5 acres. It uses solar energy to heat its large pool and guest room showers, and the panels have saved roughly $300,000 in energy costs annually, too.

The Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami employs many green programs, including hosting quarterly beach cleanups, and even has an in-house Green Team. In addition, even the chairs you use for meetings here are sustainable: More than 65 percent of the furniture at the property has been made from recycled or rapidly renewable materials, or was locally produced. 

In Nashville, The Hermitage Hotel has a long-standing partnership with Land Trust For Tennessee and makes regular donations to the organization, which supports land conservation and historic preservation. In addition, the hotel has its own garden on the Land Trust’s Glen Leven Farm, where it grows vegetables and fruits for use in seasonal dishes at the hotel’s Capitol Grille restaurant.

Puntacana

Puntacana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic is dedicated to sustainability, and one way it demonstrates this is through operating Ojos Indigenas Ecological Reserve. Groups can tour and volunteer in this protected 1,500-acre area of lowland subtropical forest, which includes a bird-watching tower for the preservation of the endangered Ridgway’s Hawk.

 

What other unusual ways have you seen hotels implementing green programs? Share with us on Twitter, @tsnn_com_us.

 

 

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact