Hotels

Up until now, there were all kinds of hotels in Istanbul, from 5-star luxury to cheap hotels, and from family-friendly to hip and trendy. But there were no green, eco-friendly hotels. Until, that is, The President Hotel got itself a Green Star Certificate from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The President Hotel, Istanbul

The President, a Best Western hotel, is only the second hotel in all of Turkey to acquire the coveted Green Star status. The first Green Star hotel in Turkey was the Calista Hotel in Belek, Antalya, which got the certification earlier this year.

And what did The President have to do to get the Green Star? Well, for starters, their electricity consumption is down 18%, water usage down 40%, and monthly detergent use has dropped 300kg.

The hotel says it spent $5 million retooling the facilities and equipment to reduce consumption. Or maybe they threw all the washing machines out the window.

By ramping up their recycling, they’re now saving 103 trees/year from being chopped down and 26,000 sq meters of soil from being soiled. A running tally of the hotel’s eco-friendly savings is maintained here – 219 tons of CO2 emissions saved so far.

In addition to a Green Star hotel, BW The President is also a Four Star hotel, overlooking the Marmara Sea with a sweeping view of Istanbul’s skyline and the minarets, not to mention that it is within walking distance of the city’s historic attractions including the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and The Grand Bazaar.

Photo courtesy BW The President Hotel

Info: 25 Tiyatro Caddesi Mimarhayrettin, İstanbul, Turkey; (0212) 516 6980; www.thepresidenthotel.com/

Sustainable travel is now in the first stages of yet another revolution – moving from eco-friendly green hotels to completely carbon neutral hotels.

The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana

Airlines already allow passengers to purchase carbon credits equivalent to their share of carbon usage for the flight. Some private air charters include it as part of the service, so that their clients don’t have to do anything. It was only a matter of time before hotels started adopting this system.

The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana, is being touted as the first carbon neutral property in the United States. The resort implements all the usual green practices – earth-friendly cleaning products, electric vehicles on the grounds, organic food and sustainable produce in the restaurant, energy efficient lights, providing guests the option to re-use linens, and so on.

But in addition to all this, Paws Up also has a partnership with Missoula’s ClearSky Climate Solutions. They did an audit to calculate their energy consumption, and now they’re making sure to leave a ”zero carbon paw-print” by investing in Montana forestry and rangeland projects that are certified carbon offset providers.

But it’s not like this is something completely new. In fact, the US is actually behind on this one. Denmark’s Brochner Hotel chain claims to be the world’s first carbon neutral hotel chain, with 4 carbon neutral hotels in Copenhagen. URBN Hotels in Shanghai boasts of China’s first carbon-neutral hotel. The Mayland Seaside Hotel under construction in Guangzhou is incorporating a fuel cell power generator that would run on clean natural gas, making it the world’s first completely carbon-neutral hotel, which doesn’t have to compensate by buying carbon credits.  

Even Greenland has it’s own carbon neutral hotel under construction, just south of Ilulissat Icefjord, which is to be completely powered by alternative energy. 

Hotels have long been cashing in on eco-friendliness, touting everything from energy-efficient light bulbs to dual-flush toilets. Some of them really do care, and go out of their way to get LEED certification. But that still leaves at least some impact on the environment everytime you stay at a hotel.

Guests should not have to worry about how green a hotel really is – or isn’t. The time has now come for every hotel to start offering a completely carbon neutral experience. And guests shouldn’t have to pay extra for it. Properties like The Resort at Paws Up who are ahead of the curve will benefit from the positive publicity.

The best part of it is that once a hotel goes carbon neutral, it will be forced to become more energy-efficient and implement environmentally friendly practices, in order to reduce the bill for purchasing the required carbon credits. It’s good business, good for the environment and guests enjoy a guilt-free stay.

As much as I love to hear about — and stay at — boutique hotels that have robust green programs, real change in the industry is driven by the giants, like Hyatt Hotels. For this reason, it’s thrilling to hear that they’ve made serious corporate-level commitment to green practices, even encouraging their employees to take their eco-learnings home and use them there!

Hyatt Hotels has several goals for their proprietary worldwide training program, starting with helping employees understand and reduce their environmental impact. They’ll be working on four key areas, which match up to the company’s bigger environmental program:

• minimize carbon emissions and other harmful pollutants
• waste
• energy consumption
• water consumption

Hyatt is looking at this program as a shift (an improvement? I sure think so) to their company culture. They started training on Earth Day, which has a nice symbol ring to it, and they’re doing the training at every full-service hotel. It’s pretty impressive that they’re putting that much money into the program!

There are several Hyatts in San Francisco, and I’m a big fan of all of them.

The Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf is a great location for folks who love a touristy, vacation feel. There are tons of restaurants around, loud attractions for the kids, and several places to buy a San Francisco “How the heck can it be so cold in July” Memorial Sweatshirt.

You're in the thick of SF Touristville

The rooms at the Fisherman’s Wharf Hyatt are spacious and modern, and I can personally attest to the excellent room service, which on one occasion involved a delightful afternoon of french fries and white wine. Good times!

Modern and pretty rooms!

The Grand Hyatt San Francisco in Union Square has one of my favorite bars in the city. Located on the 20-somethingth floor, guests are treated to views of the city while listening to a live piano performance and nibbling on the yummie bar menu.

The best hotel bar in SF

You get those same amazing views from the rooms, which are relatively luxe — it’s definitely a business class hotel, to be paid for by corporate expense accounts.

The views! The views!

Speaking of views, it’s hard to beat the ones you get from the rooms at the third Hyatt in San Francisco, the Hyatt Regency at the Embarcadero. The Ferry Building, the Bay Bridge, and the city skyline all take your breath away.

Room at the Embarcadero Hyatt

Inside you have the customary classy Hyatt rooms, plus the incredible open atrium lobby. Mel Brooks fans will recognize the elevators from his classic film High Anxiety.

See the signature mosaic-style floor?!

It’s great to hear that the already pretty terrific Hyatt has joined the green revolution. As long as they keep french fries on the room service menu, and sliders at the bar, it sounds like they are better than ever.

Hey, it’s Earth Day! Let’s talk about green hotels!

One way you can tell if a hotel is eco-friendly if they are LEED-certified. People usually think of this as something that you get on new construction, confirming that the design and construction process was done in an environmentally sensitive way. What you may not know is that it’s also possible to upgrade an existing building to LEED standards, and receive an LEED EB certification.

A property can earn credits for an LEED EB certification in the areas of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. In a way, it’s even better than a straight up LEED certification (which is already pretty amazing) because it confirms that the property is actually performing up to environmental standards, above and beyond the design.

So far there are only two hotels in the U.S. which have managed to take an existing property and achieve this badge of honor, both in California: The Ambrose in Santa Monica, and the Orchard Hotel in San Francisco.

The Ambrose earned their LEED-EB certification in July 2008. It’s a gorgeous “sustainable boutique” hotel, with an an Arts & Crafts inspired design. Located near Wilshire, it’s a five minute drive to Venice Beach and that crazy boardwalk.

Arts & Crafts meets Green at The Ambrose

Guests at The Ambrose enjoy complimentary organic continental breakfast and you can rent a hybrid car on-site. Hybrid vehicles also get “preferred” parking!

Green and luxury go together!

Their green practices include water conservation, non-toxic housekeeping products and methods, and a waste reduction program.

The Orchard Hotel in San Francisco just received their LEED-EB certification this month. Like sister property, The Orchard Garden Hotel, which was the first hotel in California to be LEED certified, this is a boutique hotel, set in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood, with a heart of green.

Orchard Hotel is urban outside, green inside

Cable cars and shopping are just steps away from the front door of The Orchard, while inside the rooms offer an oasis of environmentally-friendly luxury. Rooms have recycled textiles, are cleaned with organic, citrus-based cleaning products, and all of the paper products — even the toilet paper! — is recycled.

Chemical-free luxury

Now that these trailblazers have demonstrated that you can have a profitable luxury hotel that is uber-green, expect — or even demand! — to see more properties with LEED and LEED EB ratings. It’s the hotel trend of the future!

The Top 10 Green Ski Resorts Hotel Report is a look at where to stay if you visit one of the top 10 green ski resorts selected by the non-profit group Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition,

Robert Redford, Sundance Resort, Utah

Sundance Resort is pretty famous because of the celebrity connections — Robert Redford and the Sundance Film Festival. It’s also renown for a dedication to environmental stewardship and preservation, so it’s no surprise it made the Top Ten Green Ski Resorts list.

Guests at the resort can enjoy down hill and cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. You can attend a variety of nature programs, including a class about green practices, a clinic on nature photography, and a privately guided snowshoe tour. I wonder if Mr. Redford is ever the guide — I’m sure lots of ladies wish he would!

Ski at Sundance Resort, Utah

You can shop at the General Store, which is filled with “green” treasures from the Sundance catalog — actually the store inspired the catalog, but now most people think it’s the other way around. You can also get ski gear at the Mountain Outfitters store, or visit the gallery and take home an artistic memento of your visit.

Owl Bar, Sundance Resort, Utah

The restaurants are just as appealing. You can choose from the elegant Tree Room, to the more casual Foundry Grill that looks up at the 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos, to the Owl Bar (or in Utah lingo, “a private club for members” i.e. you can get alcohol there) which boasts the actual bar from the joint where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid planned all those heists!

With all of these attractions, why would you want to stay anywhere besides at the resort?

Room range from:

Standard: $359/night, or Studio: $379/night

Standard room, Sundance Resort, Utah

• 450 square feet
• queen-sized bed
• coffee maker
• In addition to the above, a studio also has a fireplace and mini-fridge

Sundance Suites: $399/night

Sundance suite, Sundance Resort, Utah

• 700 square feet
• queen-sized bed
• fireplace
• patio
• small sitting area
• kitchenette

Mountain Suites: $399/night

Mountain suite, Sundance Resort, Utah

• 900 square feet
• Queen-sized bed in Master bedroom
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Living and dining area
• Fireplace
• Patio or deck

Mountain Lofts: $559/night

Mountain loft, Sundance Resort, Utah

Same as the Mountain Suites, but with the option of a King sized bed, plus a loft area for sleeping — kids love that!

If that’s not enough for you, there’s the option of moving up to a house which starts at $1359/night.

All photos courtesy of Sundance Resort

The Top Ten Green Ski Resorts

Aspen Mountain Ski Resort – Colorado
Buttermilk Mountain Ski Resort – Colorado
Sundance Resort – Utah
Park City Mountain Resort – Utah
Squaw Valley USA – California
Alpine Meadows Ski Area – California
Aspen Highlands Ski Resort – Colorado
Bogus Basin Mountain Resort – Idaho
Mount Bachelor Ski Area – Oregon
Telluride Ski Resort – Colorado

Boston, MA

Boston is a great place to visit, full of history and year-round activities for singles, couples and families.

For the green traveler, it’s also a city that offers many choices of hotels. A terrific public transportation system, the “T”, makes it easy to get around, so you can stay in one part of Boston, or even the suburbs, and still avoid the legendary — or should I say infamous — Boston drivers!

Each of these hotels promotes their “Green Claim to Fame”, putting them on my Top 5 Green Hotels in Boston list:

Seaport Hotel
One Seaport Lane
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 800.440.3318, Fax: 617.385.4001, Concierge: 617.385.4500, Reservations: 800.262.0680

Green Claim to Fame

The Seaport Boston is all about being green. They make every possible aspect of their organization sustainable and environmentally friendly. Their green practices include:

• Electrolyzed water system for cleaning – avoids the use of toxic chemicals
• Ozone laundry system – reduces the amount of detergent they use
• Recycling goals – the hotel has an annual recycling rate of 44%, and provides in-room recycling bins
• Space age composting – food and prep waste is managed using the BioX Decomposing System that converts organic waste to liquid
• Energy offsets – Seaport purchased enough renewable energy credits to offset all of the electricity used in the guest rooms, lobbies and elevators in 2008.

The Irving House at Harvard
24 Irving Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
phone: 617-547-4600, toll free: 877-547-4600, fax: 617-576-2814

Green Claim to Fame

• Just over the bridge in Cambridge, MA, the Irving House is close to activity-filled Harvard Square, and the Harvard “T” stop, which guests are encouraged to use for transportation.
• The hotel also provides discounted public transit passes to their employees, and has a spot for storing and locking bikes.
• The hotel has a strong “buy local” philosophy, so travelers are supporting the entire community when they stay at the Irving House.
• Their guest amenities, including eco-friendly brands of shampoo, soap and lotions, are in dispensers rather than wasteful individual packaging. They also buy everything possible in bulk to reduce waste.
• Recycling, composting and reusing items is standard operating procedures, and they have energy saving lightbulbs in all of the light fixtures that can accommodate them.
• Guests can opt to reuse sheets and towels, and the laundry detergent is phosphate-free.
• They received the EPA Energy Star label in 2006.

The Lenox Hotel
61 Exeter Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-2699
Phone: 617.536.5300, Fax: 617.267.1237, Reservations: 800.225.7676, Reservation Fax: 617.236.0351

Green Claim to Fame

The Saunders Hotel Group, which owns the Lenox Hotel, is known as an ecotourism pioneer. The Lenox Hotel is the flagship of their environmentally friendly efforts, and has bragging rights to several environmental firsts including endorsing the Ceres Principles of Sustainability and offering Climate Neutral Rooms.

Environmental programs include:

• Environmentally friendly, healthy cleaning products
• Hybrid car service for hotel guests
• Over 4,800 super efficient lights installed
• Vendor misers on all beverage machines
• ENERGY STAR office equipment
• Natural, essential oil air freshener
• No-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints
• Double paned low E windows reduce energy, drafts and noise
• State of the art insulation installed for the 100th anniversary renovation
• Waterless urinals annually save 180,000 gallons of water
• Purchase of renewable, wind energy to offset 100% of the Global Warming impact of the hotel’s electricity use

element Lexington by Westin
727 Marrett Road – B · Lexington, Massachusetts 02421
Phone: (781) 761-1750

Green Claim to Fame

Even though Lexington is a suburb outside of Boston, this Starwood Resort is so green it deserves a spot on the list. The element Lexington also offers good rates and a convenient location for an extended stay in the area.

• Energy efficient – Every appliance is Energy Star rated, and the buildings are constructed to LEED standards
• Recycling practices – floors feature 100% recycled carpeting, art is mounted on a base made from recycled tires, and every room has recycling for paper, plastic and glass
• Low waste – they use silverware and glassware, and they use a dispenser system for bath amenities rather than sample size bottles.
• Environmentally friendly – water-efficient faucets and fixtures and low VOC paints, carpets, and furniture

The Onyx Hotel

155 Portland Street, Boston, MA 02114
Reservations: 866-660-6699, Hotel: 617-557-9955, Fax: 617-557-0005

Green Claim to Fame

Once again a hotel from the Kimpton Group, with their Earthcare Program, makes the list. The Onyx is a model for eco-friendly business practices in Boston. Some notable green programs include:

• “Green Warrior Package” discount for guests arriving in a hybrid vehicle
• Paperless guest check-in/out service and property-wide printing on recycled paper
• Efficient lighting and water fixtures throughout the hotel
• Linen and towel reuse program, which dramatically reduces water and energy use
• Guest and employee dry-cleaning service with Green Earth, which uses eco-friendly methods and products
• Rooms and linens cleaned with eco-certified cleaning supplies
• Donation of unused and partially used amenities to community programs
• Organic coffee and tea, and snacks and beverages in our in-room honor bars, plus ceramic mugs available to minimize use of paper cups, and Styrofoam cups eliminated altogether
• In-room recycling bins make guestroom recycling stylishly convenient and comprehensive recycling program for cups, clothes hangers, batteries, electronics

Even though Boston is filled with history, your hotel can be entirely 21st century, and environmentally friendly!

Photo Credit: B Tal on flickr

The Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, FL

When most people think of Hollywood, they picture movie stars in California. However, on the other side of the country, Florida has a Hollywood of its own, and the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa is one of its celebrities.

For one thing, it’s a striking building, and recently had a green makeover. In the spring of 2007, this AAA Four Diamond resort began implementing eco-friendly practices, including water-conserving toilets, paperless check-in and check-out, recycling programs for the guests to use, as well as using recycled materials for construction. But, a pretty exterior and a green focus isn’t enough for most folks to spend from $200 to $600 on a room, right? No problem, because there are plenty more reasons to visit this hotel.

For one, Hollywood itself is located in South Florida, which means you have warm weather most days of the year. And it’s good thing — not only is the Diplomat right on the beach, but it also has several outdoor pools, including one with a see-through glass bottom (which you can check out now on their Dip Cam) with a waterfall leading to the lagoon-style pool below. With poolside cabanas, cold towel service, and a poolside bar and grill, you might not want to go back to your room.

The view from the 33rd floor

You might want to leave the beach chair, however, to play a little golf at the Diplomat Country Club Golf Course (South Florida’s only 5-star rated golf course), or relax with a service at the spa. Of course, you’ll need to grab a bite to eat, too, and depending on your mood, you can choose from any of nine different dining options.

So, you’ve got great weather, incredible luxury, and eco-friendliness, all in one hotel. Sounds like a pretty swell winter getaway to me.

Photo credits: seaview99 and cranrob

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco is a town with a well known reputation for being “green” — from fleets of Prius taxis to every kind of organic, natural and free-range fare –  the eco-traveler is right at home in the City by the Bay.

This extends to the selection of hotels as well. There are so many that it’s almost impossible to pick just five, so for each of the hotels here I included a “Green Claim to Fame” that earned them a place on this top picks list.

The Orchard Garden Hotel
466 Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94108
Toll Free: 888-717-2881, Phone: 415-399-9807, Fax: 415-393-9917
The Orchard Hotel
665 Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94108
Toll Free: 1-888-717-2881,  Phone: 415-362-8878,  Fax: 415-362-8088

Green Claim to Fame
The Orchard Hotel and sister-property the Orchard Garden Hotel set the standard for green hotels – literally. The Orchard properties were the first in California to receive LEED certification, and just the fourth in the world.

One of the many environmentally friendly innovations you’ll find these hotels is a guest room key card system that reduces electricity consumption by an estimated 20%. When a guest enters the room, he or she activate the light and heating systems by inserting the key card into a wall unit. When the key is removed, the systems automatically shut off.

In addition to deluxe green accommodations, guests at the hotel can arrange for eco-friendly services like airport transfers in Toyota Prius Hybrids, receive discounts on rental bikes and eco-tours, and peruse copies of the Greenopia Guide, “the urban dweller’s guide to ‘green’ living.”

Hotel Triton
342 Grant Avenue at Bush Street, San Francisco, CA  94104
Reservations: 800-800-1299, Hotel: 415-394-0500, Fax: 415-394-0555

Green Claim to Fame
The Hotel Triton is a member of the Kimpton Family of Hotels, all of which adhere to the strict “EarthCare“   environmental practices. Additionally, the Triton was one of the earliest green hotels, opening the “Eco 7th Floor” in 1994. All of the room on this floor have water saving devices, water filtration systems, and air filtration/purifiers. The hotel recycles 60% of its waste, has recycling receptacles in all guest rooms, and all of their cleaning products are non-toxic and environmentally safe. They also offer 25% off valet parking for hybrid certified vehicles.

W San Francisco
181 3rd Street · San Francisco, California 94103
Phone: 415-777-5300

Green Claim to Fame
Although the W Hotel doesn’t do a lot of eco-promotion on their website, the San Francisco property is leading the way for the Starwood Chain to become greener. They are piloting in-room recycling bins on 6 floors, recycling 71% of waste, and exploring the installation of six wind turbines on the roof.

Hotel Carlton
1075 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94109
Reservations: 1-800-922-7586, Phone: 415-673-0242, Fax: 415-673-4904

Green Claim to Fame
The Hotel Carlton is the only hotel in San Francisco that can boast of having 105 solar panels on the roof. The property was recently certified as a Green Business by the City of San Francisco. It is also an environmentally responsible and carbon neutral hotel, partnering with Carbonfund.org. Their Green Environmental Policy Statement is posted on the website, and it highlights their extensive efforts to recycle, conserve and reduce toxic materials.

Best Western Tuscan Inn
425 N Point Street US San Francisco, California, 94133-1405, United States
Phone: 415-561-1100

Green Claim to Fame
You might not think the world’s largest hotel chain would be all that green, and admittedly the Best Western Tuscan Inn is not the greenest hotel in the city, but the combination of a fabulous location on Fisherman’s Wharf and environmentally friendly practices like in room recycling, organic food, composting, water conservation protocols, and their efforts to educate guests and staff earn them a place on this list.

A Guide to Green Hotels in San Francisco
Even if you don’t pick one of the hotels on this list for your next visit, you can be reasonably sure that almost every hotel in San Francisco is relatively green.

The city follows an aggressive recycling program, has a ban on plastic bags, and you won’t find Styrofoam take out containers anywhere — they’ve been banned too. Most hotels have water saving practices like only changing sheets and towels when you request them. And even if you don’t see a recycling bin in your room, it’s a pretty safe bet that the cleaning staff will get your cans to a blue bin.

Enjoy your trip, and remember that you bring your environmental citizenship with you when you travel, so make your choices wisely!

Photo credit: Lucky Cat Photography