Hotels continue to go green

W San Francisco became the hotel in the country to earn LEED certification on an existing building among major hotel brands. It earned the silver-level recognition in March. As part of its meetings program, the hotel serves organic food and beverage and hosts carbon-neutral events through a partnership with LiveNeutral grassroots organization dedicated to curbing climate change.

Tysons Corner Marriott in Vienna, Va., planted a garden at the Northern Virginia Ronald McDonald House in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The hotel’s “Spirit to Preserve” program aims to make the hotel eco-friendly in all operations aspects, including its meetings where you can request organic flowers, pens made from recycled materials and paperless billing.

Hotel Andaluz, a historic hotel in downtown Albuquerque, received this year’s New Mexico Achievement Award from the New Mexico Recycling Coalition for its efforts to go green during its recent $30 million renovation. The hotel added low-flow toilets, LED interior lighting, bamboo furniture and a 73-panel solar thermal system on the roof.

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, N.C., added two beehives to its living rooftop garden that will produce fresh honey to be used at the hotel. The chef already uses organic herbs and vegetables from the roof in his menus. The hotel is the first LEED-built hotel in the city.

Marriott International announced earlier this month that within five years, 300 of its 3,300 hotels worldwide would receive LEED certification, up from just 40 today.

Kimpton Hotels, based in San Francisco, announced late last month that it plans to earn Green Seal certification for all of its 50 American hotels, become the first boutique hotel company in the country to do so.