As global warming and the climate crisis become top of mind for many travelers, finding eco-friendly hotels is becoming a more significant factor in corporate travel decisions. You’re doing your part to help the environment by staying at one of these sustainable resorts. In this spotlight episode, Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth present their top hotel picks with a Silver LEED Certification and above. They discuss how these admirable establishments are built to save money, reduce carbon emissions, and provide a healthier environment for both workers and guests.
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Watch the episode here
Where To Find The Best Eco-Friendly Hotels In The US
Many travelers prefer to stay in eco-friendly hotels and sustainable resorts, a choice mainly influenced by the worsening global warming and climate change. If you want to determine which establishments are doing their part in saving the planet, checking their LEED Certification rating is a good idea.
In this spotlight episode, Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth present the top eco-friendly hotels in the United States that possess a Silver LEED Certification and above. These ones go the extra mile in reducing carbon emissions and providing a healthier environment to both workers and guests.
1 Hotel
All of 1 Hotel’s properties have been 100% carbon neutral since 2018. Their West Hollywood location has an ENERGY STAR Score of 95, one of the highest ratings in the LA metro area. Meanwhile, their Brooklyn establishment lies only 600 feet from the Atlantic Ocean, making their sustainability efforts a necessary undertaking.
1 Hotel’s Sustainability Efforts
- Organic garden – They grow their own produce, saving tremendous costs on transportation and mitigating climate changes. This also ensures that the food they serve is cooked using locally sourced ingredients.
- Sustainable furnishing – 1 Hotel’s Brooklyn branch features furnishes made of reclaimed wood, organic cotton, and sustainably sourced linens.
- Dark Sky hosts monthly candle-lit events to raise awareness about light pollution.
The Virgin Hotel Chicago
A boutique in the Chicago Loop, the Virgin Hotel is a Richard Branson company with a Gold LEED Certification. They are not there yet but always striving for net zero carbon and waste.
Virgin Hotel’s Sustainability Efforts
- Walking tourism – They promote urban walks and hikes in and around the city while promoting sustainability. This is a huge thing in Chicago that offers a long list of exploration options.
- Eco-friendly structure – The hotel has a green roof for better storm and water management.
- Green housekeeping – They use recyclable shampoo bottles instead of disposable plastic to help minimize waste.
Viceroy Hotel
Travel Leisure has rated this exquisite establishment in Snowmass as the number one location under the Colorado resorts category. It is surrounded by breathtaking views and boasts some of the country’s best biking and hiking trails.
Viceroy Hotel’s Sustainability Efforts
- Low-flow water fixtures – The resort is 30% more efficient than the design standard and contributes to the annual savings of 1.35 million gallons of water. This is a big thing in Colorado, where water shortage is a major issue.
- Green housekeeping – Just like the Virgin Hotel, they use recyclable bottles for their shampoos and conditioners that are refilled and resealed.
- Green meetings – They bring clients into their property and extend their sustainability solutions to them through events.
Cavallo Point
This extravagant hotel is found at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It is a repurposed army base built in 1866, situated on 75,000 acres of a national park. Cavallo Point has received over two dozen awards for its unparalleled luxury and notable acts of sustainability.
Cavallo Point’s Sustainability Efforts
- Eco-friendly structure – The hotel uses shredded blue jeans as wall insulation instead of prefabricated installation. This offers a comfortable atmosphere during warm and cold climates.
- Repurposed structure – 75% of the hotel’s original structure was retained. Only recycled materials and rapidly renewable resources were utilized when its facilities were repurposed.
There are only some of the best eco-friendly hotels in the US that you can stay in for your next trip. You can simply check their websites if interested in their LEED Certification score. You can try reaching out to them if not posted on their official accounts.
