10 eco-friendly yet stylish hotels in America
It may have started with a recycling bin in a guest room or a "please conserve water" sign, but these hotels in the top 10 most popular U.S. destinations according to the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI) are ramping up their conservation efforts in innovative ways. Hotels.com is highlighting them in honor of Earth Day 2013 to be sure guests think about reducing their carbon footprints without skipping a moment of vacation time.
"Eco-friendly efforts don't have to end at home," said Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. "Savvy travelers are seeking accommodations where they can have a comfortable stay while conserving the Earth's valuable resources. The hotels that made our Top 10 list wisely use our natural resources, but certainly don't cut corners on style."
1. Las Vegas: The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino
This deluxe resort is LEED certified and designed to reuse waste energy, reduce environmental impact and, in some sections, operate as self-sustaining. Guests of one of the more famous casinos on the strip can enjoy a luxurious and stylish stay without guilt.
2. New York City : ink48 hotel, a Kimpton Hotel
ink48 hotel not only offers eco-conscious amenities but also engrains green living into its business practices and staff mindsets through its EarthCare program. Program members frequently brainstorm new ways to care for the planet by applying simple practices, such as printing collateral with soy-based inks and implementing water-efficient products in each of the rooms.
3. Orlando: Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
Roll up at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in a hybrid vehicle and receive complimentary valet parking. This "Excellent" Hotels.com Guest Rated hotel also utilizes motion sensors and timed light switches in offices and storage rooms and uses organic foods whenever possible.
4. Los Angeles: The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites
This was LA's first hotel to reach the environmental standards set by Green Seal, going to great lengths to create the ultimate urban oasis and be its own "city within a city." The hotel utilizes biodegradable washing and laundry detergent, participates in composting, and collaborates with environmentally responsible vendors, among many other eco-friendly practices.
5. Chicago: Hotel Felix Chicago
Chicago may be number 5 on the HPI Top Domestic Cities list, but it is number one in the green hotel initiative. As the first hotel in Chicago with a Silver LEED certification, The Hotel Felix epitomizes these sustainable values. Even the artwork at this hotel is sustainable by using found and reclaimed materials like the sculpture, "Loren the Doorman," which consists of pipes, a bucket, a drill bit and an umbrella stand.
6. San Diego: L'Auberge Del Mar
The luxury villa calls its sustainable initiatives DESTINATION EARTH. It all began in its food and beverage department with free range meats and organic produce. Not to mention the meeting spaces, spas and even key cards have gone green.
7. W Hotel San Francisco
At the San Francisco W Hotel outpost, guests are encouraged to "stay green, glamorous and global," a phrase that portrays the need for sustainable practices without sacrificing valuable relaxation time. It is one of seven hotels in North America with a Silver LEED-EB certification.
8. Washington, D.C.: Savoy Suites Hotel
The boutique hotel in the heart of Georgetown kick started its eco-friendly hotel initiative in 2006 with employee and guest awareness campaigns and a recycling program. Today, the property has expanded its green campaign by instituting 100 percent green cleaning products and detergents, 100 percent eco-friendly bath amenities for guests, and wind power through a partnership with World Energy Solution, Inc.
9. Houston: The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
Hotel grounds and the golf course are naturally landscaped with native plants, trees and shrubs. The land surrounding the property remains in its naturally forested state, requiring no fertilization or watering. The hotel also recycles extensively and kitchen grease is collected and used for making biofuel.
10. San Antonio: JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
Receiving an "Outstanding" Hotels.com Guest Rating, this luxury resort in scenic Texas Hill Country receives approximately 70 percent of its power through Windtricity, the city of San Antonio's green energy program. The fountains on-site use recycled water and the two championship golf courses adjoined to the property conserve precious water in this arid region.
You can easily search for more Green/Sustainable hotels on Hotels.com.
