CHICAGO—The InterContinental Chicago is offering eco-conscious travelers one of the greenest hotel stays in the city of Chicago. On October 16, the historic hotel, housed in a building built in 1929, received the Green Seal Silver certification for superior eco-friendly initiatives and highly efficient energy use. The InterContinental was one of only five hotels in Chicago to receive the certification, and the only “big 10” hotel—the 10 largest hotels in the city by capacity—to be honored. The InterContinental Chicago is also the first hotel in the city of Chicago to hold certifications from both Green Seal and Energy Star, as well as StayGreen recognition from the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, highlighting the outstanding commitment the property has made to environmental responsibility.
“I could not be prouder about the Green Seal certification,” InterContinental Chicago general manager Edward Andrews said. “This honor reflects the coordinated efforts of every member of our team for many months, and especially the commitment of our Green Team, spearheaded by our director of engineering, Steve Karwoski. All honors aside, we are deeply proud of the progress we’ve made toward minimizing our carbon footprint, and we will continue to dedicate ourselves to finding new ways to be greener and kinder to our planet.”
Green Seal certification is awarded by Green Seal, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to “providing science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace.” The InterContinental Chicago has been awarded the Silver certification, indicating that it has met a stringent set of standards for energy conservation and environmental and social sensitivity in its operations. Just a few of the more than 30 earth-friendly practices the hotel has adopted include establishing a recycling program, donating guestroom amenities to local shelters, and installing low-water-usage toilets and showerheads and motion-sensor controlled thermostats in all guestrooms to minimize energy waste.
Another newsworthy green initiative at the InterContinental Chicago has been the property’s recent partnership with L&N Farm, located approximately 60 miles from Chicago, in Bristol, Wisconsin. Owner Larry Fitzgerald has worked in close collaboration with InterContinental Chicago executive chef Hans Lentz to provide custom-grown produce exclusively for the hotel and its contemporary American restaurant, Zest. This partnership, originated in summer 2008, helps the hotel decrease carbon emissions from long-haul trucking and distribution chains and guarantees its guests the utmost freshness and seasonality. In 2009, the InterContinental Chicago will receive produce from the farm from June through October.
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