A Host of Green Hotels from Coast to Coast

By: Trevor Hanks, Managing Partner

Hotels are near and dear to our hearts because they are at the heart of every program. From serving as a home base for your attendees to hosting critical components of your event, your hotel will undoubtedly set the stage for what’s in store. Since they play such a big role, it’s crucial to find one that’s the right fit—especially if you’re looking for green hotels that align with your values. And no, I don’t just mean square footage-wise. To make an impact and crush your event goals, you’ll want to find a hotel whose values align with your own. Since we know sustainability is a huge focus for our clients (and for us!), we’re on the lookout for those who go above and beyond to ensure eco-friendly measures in their everyday and event operations. So, get ready to jet-set from coast to coast, and let us boast about some of our hotel partners who are setting a new standard for sustainability!

Eco-Friendly Hotels Doing the Most on the East Coast

New York City

1 Hotel Central Park – You can’t always judge a book by its cover, but this hotel’s commitment to green initiatives is front and center, with 36,000 ivy plants draping the facade. These plants are more than just a pretty face; they reduce the building’s surface temperature in the summer, insulate it in the winter, and reduce greenhouse gases in any weather. In addition to being LEED® Certified, this one-of-a-kind hotel has built a culture of sustainability by prioritizing environmental stewardship and water conservation making it one of the premiere green hotels.

The Pierre, New York – The Pierre has been awarded the EarthCheck Platinum Certification—the tourism industry’s most rigorous and scientifically accurate certification program. This certification reflects the hotel’s commitment to sustainable development policies, waste management, water and energy utilization, recycling, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The Crosby Street Hotel – In 2011, the Crosby Street Hotel became the first hotel in New York to attain GOLD Standard status under the LEED® rating system. The hotel and its management company, Firmdale Hotels, are firmly committed to implementing forward-thinking sustainability strategies that will serve guests and the globe now and in the future.

Superb Southern Sustainability

Nashville

The Westin Nashville – Located in the heart of Music City, we’re happy to sing the praises of this Green Key Global-certified hotel. As one of Nashville’s top green hotels, sustainability takes center stage here with energy-efficient lighting, water-saving technologies, and waste-reduction programs. The hotel also offers locally sourced and sustainable catering options and guest rooms outfitted with eco-friendly amenities, such as water conservation fixtures and green cleaning products.

Omni Nashville Hotel – Sustainable design was built into this hotel’s foundation during its construction. Since then, it has earned LEED® Silver certification for incorporating energy-efficient systems, water conservation, and sustainable building materials. This property continues its green legacy with a comprehensive recycling program and waste reduction efforts. Their catering offerings include farm-to-table dining featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Kimpton Aertson Hotel – This unique boutique hotel is LEED® Gold certified, focusing on energy-efficient systems, low-flow plumbing, and eco-friendly building materials. They use eco-conscious cleaning products, waste diversion programs, and composting. For event catering, they prioritize sustainable food sourcing, offering local and organic food. They encourage guests to minimize environmental impact through green programs like bicycle rentals and reusable water bottles.

The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel – This modern gem focuses on the property’s energy-efficient lighting and climate control systems. Sustainable materials are used in the hotel’s design and daily operations. They offer green meeting options, emphasizing waste reduction and locally sourced, sustainable catering. Their team is committed to minimizing food waste by partnering with local farmers for fresh ingredients.

Renaissance Nashville Hotel – This stylish haven is committed to energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction with sustainable practices in place. They encourage sustainable catering with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Green meeting packages are available to reduce the carbon footprint of conferences and events.

Who Does Green Best in the Southwest?

Las Vegas

Venetian | Palazzo – The Venetian Resort puts CSR at the forefront of everything they do, and sustainable practices are one of its core values. Renewable energy sources power 100% of the electricity used. At The Palazzo Resort, approximately 25 million gallons of groundwater are recycled and used for irrigation, street cleaners, and cooling towers, reducing the resort’s reliance on municipal water. The Venetian diverts more than 20,000 pounds of food and material waste from the landfill every month through repurposing and community donations.

Wynn | Encore – These green hotels at Wynn Resorts don’t gamble on sustainability. They are targeting Net-Zero Operations by 2050, reducing or offsetting all carbon dioxide their operations produce. By 2030, they are pledging to stop and reverse year-over-year growth of CO2 and increase their supply of renewable energy to at least 50% of total consumption! Wynn Resorts installed 23 Megawatts of solar power capacity in the United States, which offsets 100% of the energy consumed in the 560,000 square feet of convention space in Las Vegas and up to 75% of the peak power demands of the entire 10-million-square-foot Las Vegas resort. 

Arizona

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa – This luxury desert oasis is one of the top green hotels in Phoenix. They’ve partnered with the Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association Green Certification to reduce their environmental impact by: establishing a Green Task Force to develop and execute earth-friendly practices, prioritizing environmentally responsible and recycled materials, offering organic and sustainable local foods, and working with suppliers committed to environmental responsibility. As part of their ongoing dedication to sustainability, they have also been a proud supporter of the 1% for the Planet initiative since 2018, contributing a portion of their revenue to environmental causes.

Arizona Biltmore – As part of its commitment to “clean the world,” this hotel has implemented a number of green measures. They are minimizing landfill waste through a comprehensive waste management program, installing EV charging stations, implementing a commingled recycling and composting program, installing a number of energy-efficient guestroom features, and more.

360DG recently hosted an event at this resort called the Modern Desert Dweller. We used dried florals rather than fresh ones and repurposed the centerpieces for the group’s lunch the following day. This decor was divinely on theme and minimized event waste.

The Phoenician – This Scottsdale icon is taking sustainability in stride. To produce clean, reliable power for the resort, they’ve recently installed 568-kilowatt(kW) solar energy panels with NRG®. Their guestrooms and accommodations feature many eco-friendly aspects like temperature control and energy-efficient lighting. For catering, they offer a local, sustainable menu to minimize waste. They have a number of operational green initiatives in place as well.

The Stuff of Green West Coast Dreams

California

The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage – This luxury resort has several key sustainability initiatives to help preserve the natural oasis it calls home. Their water conservation efforts include a state-of-the-art water management system. The hotel recycles all food waste, which, once composted, is used to enrich the Coachella Valley fields, reducing landfill waste and supporting local agriculture. In addition to providing EV charging stations, the hotel also features a sophisticated building automation system to optimize energy use.

The JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa – The resort recycles discarded glass and cardboard throughout its facilities and partners with organizations like Chef’s to End Hunger and Recycled City to deliver safe food waste to the United Food Bank of Mesa while composting the rest. They recycle fryer oil to create biofuel, and their 1.5-acre garden supplies herbs, vegetables, and fruits to the resort’s restaurants, promoting local sourcing. The resort has reduced printing and paper by 80% by switching to digital menus. Their spa also puts sustainability into practice by using eco-friendly skincare lines and a non-chlorinated saltwater pool. Speaking of water, they have installed bottle refilling stations throughout the property to reduce plastic waste.

The Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells – This resort certainly hasn’t been sleeping on sustainability, with many of its efforts reaching back over 20 years. Since 2003, the resort has utilized energy-saving lighting systems to reduce its carbon footprint. In 2004, the resort partnered with a green landscaper to manage its 23-acre property, focusing on sustainable practices. For natural pest control, they employ a falconer who uses hawks and falcons to manage the blackbird population around the pool and restaurant patio, reducing the need for chemical deterrents. The resort has implemented a comprehensive recycling program to minimize landfill contributions, including food waste recycling. They also have EV charging stations to encourage the use of eco-friendly transportation.

La Quinta Resort & Club – La Quinta is dedicated to going green and has implemented a number of eco-friendly initiatives, including recycling and waste reduction efforts, water conservation policies, and energy-saving lighting systems. In 2004, their Citrus Golf Course was the first in the area to achieve certification through the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program. In their spa, they apply water conservation practices and reduce plastic usage.

I hope this coast-to-coast tour of green hotels has you seeing green in the best possible way! If you’re looking to plan meetings and events that maximize memorable moments while reducing environmental impacts, we’d love to help. Reach out to us, and let’s start saving the world, one program at a time.