Hotels

After five years of design and construction, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe opened last week in the midst of 30 inches of fresh snowfall. What might be a hindrance for some hotel grand openings was a welcome sight for the Ritz-Carlton, which describes the resort as “the finest ski-in, ski-out experience in California if not all the world.”

Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe is the first new resort development in the Lake Tahoe area in decades. Anticipated to be the premier northern California contemporary mountain retreat, the $300 million project, situated mid-mountain in the Northstar-at-Tahoe ski area will feature ski-in, ski-out access with mountain concierge services. Read More »

Kimpton Hotels Earthcare Program

In addition to the (so hilarious, right? Right?) hotel reviews I write here, I’m also a regular contributor to AOL GreenDaily. That means I’m always thinking about the eco-friendly angle, including when I check out hotels.

And let me tell you, in case you don’t spend as much time as I do reading hotel sites, it’s freaking hard to find information about most hotels’ green practices.

With the exception of certain chains like Kimpton, which are loud and proud about their green programs, most hotels bury their sustainability programs at the very bottom of their “about” page — if they even post it all! For the casual, “I just want to compare availability/price/one or two other features and make a reservation already” type of hotel shopper, green hotel info is pretty inaccessible.

At long last, in 2010 AAA will add an eco-designation, indicating that a property is managed sustainably and is eco-friendly. To get the designation, the hotels have to be AAA-approved plus have the stamp of approval from a certified state or national green lodging program. So you will be able to find your green hotel choices fast, and be sure that the green-cred was earned.

Photo: Kimpton Hotels

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.

Halfway through our exciting series, today we’re in California again, checking out the Alpine Meadows Ski Area and nearby hotels.

Like neighboring resort Squaw Valley, the Alpine Meadows ski area has a long snow season, and tons of runs and services. The difference is that it’s less intense and competitive. You’ll find more beginners and families here.

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort

It’s also a very proactive green resort, using biodiesel and supporting local environmental conservation. You can even buy a $2 SkiGreen Tag, a carbon offset program for your skiing! Each tag equates to 150 miles of not driving a car, and takes 140 pounds of CO2 and other greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere. So cool, right?

Again, we’re in the North Lake Tahoe area, which has a gazillion options for hotels. In keeping with the resort’s personality, here are three hotel options: casino, family, and nifty thifty.

If you’re a beginning skier, you’re probably as more interested in the night life as the lift lines. If you want to be able to try your luck with slots, or catch a comedy show after a long (or short) day on the slopes, check out the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Room

The rooms have lake and mountain views, cushy mattresses, robes, tvs, coffee makers — all the comforts of home, plus a maid to clean up after you. Dreamy!

And then there’s the all important fancy spa and 24 hour casino, for pampering and debauchery. If you are in the Regency Club, you get to have breakfast in a private lounge (oooh, fancy like the airport!) which also serves evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

The so-fancy Regency Club

All of this luxury comes at a price — rooms start in the range of $200+/night and go up from there.

If you’re doing a family ski trip, you want a little more space for your kids and all of their messy gear. The Hampton Inn Suites in Truckee isn’t the most elegant place you’ll ever stay, but it’s clean and comfortable.

Expect to see mullets in the lobby and parking lot

You can get a suite with two queens and a pull out sofa (ha! the youngest always gets stuck here!), or a king and sofabed. Robes, 25″ tvs, coffee maker in the room — it’s a rec room away from home. They also provide cribs if you’re crazy/desperate enough to bring a baby on your ski trip.

Big enough for your kids' junk

There’s a pool and an exercise room, if anyone has any energy left after a day skiing. You get a complimentary breakfast, there’s an onsite convenience store (you’ll never run out of beer!), and laundry facilities. A suite will run you $175/night and up.

Cold beer? Yes, please!

If you just want a clean place with a lock on the door and no blood stains on the walls, check out the Carson City Plaza Hotel. It’s a bit of drive, but the price is right: $39/night for a room with a queen bed.

That gloomy sky = snow

Last decorated at the height of “80’s Cabbage Rose Fever”, the rooms are simple, cozy in a heavily floral way, and oh yeah, inexpensive.

So. Much. Lavender. But clean!

Check out the whole Top 10:
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

Photos:

• Alpine Meadows Ski Resort
• Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe
• Hampton Inn and Suites
• Carson City Plaza Hotel

The Orchard Garden Hotel is a beautiful luxury boutique hotel, and any visitor to San Francisco would enjoy spending a night or four there.

The rooms are bright and spacious, and the location is central to everything people want to do on vacation in the city by the Bay. It’s right on Union Square for shopping, the Museum of Modern Art is walking distance, and it’s around the corner from the largest and oldest Chinatown outside of Asia.

Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco, CA

More importantly, for those of us who like to make eco-responsible travel choices, the Orchard Garden Hotel is one of the most elegantly, seriously green hotels you will ever visit, which is why it’s one of my picks for the Top 5 Green Hotels in San Francisco.

The hotel was built from the ground up in 2006, using the standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council.  In 2007, the Orchard Garden hotel was the first hotel in California, the third hotel in the US, and just the fourth in the world, to earn LEED certification.

This is a legitimately environmentally-responsible property, and their efforts go far beyond in-room recycling, which they obviously have. For example, the key card activated energy management system.

When you enter the room, you put your key card in a holder by the door. This turns on the lights and air systems. When you leave, you take the key and everything gets turned off, except for one outlet. That way you effortlessly conserve energy, and you’re still able to charge electronics while you’re eating dinner or sight-seeing. This system is common in Europe and Asia, but it’s just catching on here, which is a mystery to me — it saves so much energy that the system paid for itself in two years.

If you’re as geeky about eco-friendly building and certification as I am, you can read more about the Orchard Garden’s green efforts on the hotel’s website. They’re very proud of their green-cred, and make all of the information freely available. Here’s my favorite stat: they diverted 77% of the construction waste out of landfill!

Terrace Suite at the Orchard Garden Hotel

The thing I like best about the Orchard Garden Hotel is that the environmentally-friendly practices make it a very nice place to stay.

I already mentioned the great lighting — 80% of the space is lit by daylight, even though it’s downtown and surrounded by tall office buildings. They use chemical-free cleaning products and all of the linens are machine washable Egyptian cotton, which means your bedspread isn’t leeching drying cleaning chemicals into the bed.

The furniture is made of FSC-certified maple, and the interesting art on the walls (very cool photography, no sad watercolors here) was created by local artists. When you put it all together, the rooms are pretty, comfortable and relaxing.

The bar at Roots Restaurant, Orchard Garden Hotel

Even in restaurant-crazy San Franscisco, what hotel is complete without a tasty restaurant? The Roots Restaurant — with a full bar, extra points — is off the lobby of the hotel. In keeping with the green philosophy, they serve local, organic dishes. Don’t miss the truffle oil french fries. You’re on vacation, live a little!

Magical Rooftop Deck, Orchard Garden Hotel

All of the rooms in the Orchard Garden Hotel are a good size, and you have access to a beautiful shared roof deck, with views of the City. In addition to the standard room with a queen sized bed, you can choose from a junior suite, with a little more space to spread out, or the deluxe terrace suite, which gets you a private section of roof deck.  There are always specials and packages, including AAA member rates.  On the site you can find rates that start around $150/night and go up.

Gorilla, San Francisco Zoo, CA

I was catching up on my “you better see the gorillas and dolphins now because they’ll be gone in 11.2 years” green reading and found a great post on Planet Green with 10 easy ways to make your hotel stay green.

Some of them are practical and smart, and some of them defeat the whole purpose of staying in a hotel, at least for me.

On the practical (okay, fine, I mean convenient) side, you should:

• Turn off the lights on your way out — this should be automatic, wherever you are
• Turn down the heat or air conditioning before you leave for the day  — the empty room doesn’t need to be warm or chilled, right?
• Unplug everything when you leave the room — it drives my husband crazy when I do this at home, but I know I’m right and now Planet Green agrees

And in the “but that’s why I like hotels” column we have:

• Bring your own towel — it saves them from having to wash one, but hey, I’ll still have to wash it!
• Bring your own shampoo and conditioner — I already do this, just in case the hotel doesn’t have any, or it’s icky, but I love breaking out the little bottles and trying new products
• skip the mini-bar — oh sure, it’s easy to say that when you’re sober and not dying for cashews and a diet Coke … let’s see your green willpower at 2 a.m.!

Sigh. Despite my protests, I know Planet Green is right. Check out all 10 of the tips — if we all at least make an effort, the impact of our traveling would be significantly reduced, and probably buy us a few more years with the gorillas and dolphins.

And if you’re really feeling your eco-tourist mojo (i.e. you don’t mind getting on the phone and sounding sort of … fussy …. ) try out some of the Planet Green “Nine Questions When You’re Booking a Green Hotel“.

Photo: luckycatphotography

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

It finally rained in San Francisco, which means snow in the Sierra. Since people who love to ski and snowboard also usually love the environment, I was curious about the green credentials of some of the big resorts. I was excited to find a really well researched list of the Top 10 Green Ski Resorts in the West.

The list is put out by non-profit group Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition. The organization works to keep environmental concerns at the forefront of ski area managers. They use a heavy-duty weighted criteria to grades resorts, reviewing everything from how well the resort stays within the existing footprint, to preserves environmentally sensitive areas, to energy conservation practices.

Of course, since I’m not a snow bunny –  I’d rather hang out by the fireplace in the hotel lobby and sip a hot toddy or three — I decided to check out the hotel situation at these ten resorts, which are spread across California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Utah.  Over the next week I’ll tell you about the resorts and give you budget, moderate and luxury hotel options in the area.

Starting at the top, the greenest ski resort of 2008/2009 is...Aspen Mountain Ski Resort in Aspen, Colorado.

Aspen Mountain has some of the craziest steep powder in Aspen. They don’t have any “easy” trails. It’s for hardcore downhill skiers and snow boarders, a.k.a. dudes who shred.

And what about the hotels? Aspen has tons of lodging options, including:

Budget: Mountain Chalet

Budget Room at the Mountain Chalet

It’s a simple place, but it offers laundry, locker room, internet access, sauna and steam rooms, and a heated outdoor pool. It’s heavy on the social areas, so a good choice for the hostel-type of crowd.  A “budget room” has two queen beds or two single beds, a TV and small fridge, but no A/C, and costs $105-$240/night, depending on when in the season you go. Serious ski bums just looking for a place to crash can get a bunk for $70 to $85/night.

Moderate: Aspen Mountain Lodge

Four-story fireplace at the Aspen Mountain Lodge

This traditional lodge has 38 rooms, over four floors. The rooms themselves are about average — wet bar and refrigerator, cable TV with VCR, direct dial phones, a CD stereo, bathrobes, a coffee maker, and internet access. The big appeal is the 40 foot high river-rock fireplace in the atrium. Winter rates for a standard room range from $146 to $276/night.

Luxury: Mountain House Lodge

A standard room at the Aspen Lodge

If you’re willing to spend a little more so you can enjoy relaxing in the privacy of your own room, take a look at the Mountain House Lodge. A standard room includes two queen bed, cable t.v., refrigerator and a phone. Most rooms also have decks, and are big enough for a sitting area. Winter rates range from $189-$299/night.

Bixby Bridge along Highway 1

Valentine’s Day is coming and what better place to escape to but the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California. This luxurious hideaway is found along a ridge high above the Pacific Ocean and perfect for that quiet and romantic getaway.

The entrance and 98 acre property is hidden or rather tucked out of sight along the western edge of Highway 1 just south of the village and near Pfeiffer State Park.

Big Sur has been attracting creative types to its wild landscape and isolated location for decades, starting with authors Henry Miller, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack Kerouac.

Looking northwest from our room

After Highway 1 was completed in 1937 the area was sought after by Orson Wells and his wife Rita Hayworth, who bought a cabin here in 1944. And one of my favorite Beach Boys album is Holland which features the song “California Saga/Big Sur”, written by Mike Love – it is the best.

Wide open views

Romantics as well as those looking for a peaceful retreat come to this area every year, and with the Santa Lucia Mountain Range dropping almost directly into the Pacific Ocean, secluded bays and unpredictable surf – Big Sur is the perfect secluded location.

The Post Ranch Inn has earned its reputation with the 2008 Traveler’s Choice Award for Best Romantic Hotel in the United States and the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 Gold List for World’s Best 700 Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines. And if that isn’t enough to convince you that this beautiful place is worth a visit, they were named one of the top “Ten Greenest Accommodations in the World” by Trip Advisor.

Private deck for condor watching

When I stayed here, the first thing I noticed was how secluded the property was away from the highway then how well organized it was. We parked our car below, on a lower part of the property and then were driven up to the registration. After checking in we were taken to our beautiful room overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The amenities are very high end and just enough to make you feel pampered rather than overwhelmed and uncomfortable. I loved touches like the little iron tea kettle in the mini-refrigerator, filled with cream for your coffee or tea. The rooms are furnished with fireplaces and a big fluffy beds that have a clerestory window above for star gazing.

I loved the way our Coast rooms were set along the ridge so that you may be close to your neighbor but when you go out onto your deck, you cannot see anyone near by – all you can see is the sunset, maybe a California Condor fly overhead (there are several pairs that live in the area), or possibly whales on their biannual migration north or south.

Sierra Mar Restaurant

During our stay I got up every morning and walked across the property down towards the pool, to the yurt for a yoga session – where we were never more than six guests, that was luxury.

Afterward there was still plenty of time to slowly walk back up the hillside for the free and delicious buffet breakfast in the restaurant. As a guest you will get preferential treatment for all of your meal reservations at their gorgeous Sierra Mar Restaurant – which showcases organic and seasonal foods.

A wonderful surprise treat you will find are the lovely sculptures situated throughout the property, sometimes in unexpected places.

Inside the Sierra Mar Restaurant

And did I mention the rooms do not have a television? This makes the experience even better and very special. Soak up the impressive landscape and views, meditate or read a little, snuggle up with that special someone, walk the uninhabited beaches near by – or if you prefer book some time at the spa.

Big Sur is special place in California and in the United States. Its fragile ecosystem was tested last year when the Basin Complex Fire forced a two week evacuation of the area just before the 4th of July holidays. However, this resilient area is again thriving and ready for visitors whether to stay in this luxurious hideaway or to enjoy the local parks and beaches.

Beautiful sculpture

If you are looking for a unique place to escape to that will rejuvenate you during this unsettled time or a wonderful and romantic getaway for that special Valentine’s Day this year – the Post Ranch Inn is it.

Now I realize this isn’t for everyone but I consider the higher price tag an investment in my well being and spirit – there is something about Big Sur and this part of the California coast that speaks to the artist in me.

Photo credits to sfcphotography

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