Home Green Hotel Focus Sheraton Suites Tampa Incorporates ‘Make a Green Choice’ Program

Sheraton Suites Tampa Incorporates ‘Make a Green Choice’ Program

1439
0
SHARE

TAMPA, FLA.—The Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore is completing a multimillion-dollar renovation project for which it has devoted significant resources to improving environmental efficiencies across the board. As part of its eco-initiative, hotel management has launched the “Make a Green Choice” (MAGC) program. Through this project, the Sheraton aims to improve housekeeping sustainability and productivity. Participating guests can decline housekeeping service for a day, and in exchange for helping the Sheraton conserve natural resources, they receive a $5 gift card for use at the hotel restaurant or 500 Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Points.

“The new management team, Davidson Hotel Company, is committed to engaging all guests as well as employees to actively support sustainability efforts,” said Ray Zepp, general manager at the Sheraton. “This new program helps to reward those that make a ‘green’ decision, no matter how small it seems.”

Zepp believes the MAGC program is a wise business move, as it will result in fewer rooms needing to be cleaned. That means they will not only save on labor costs, but also on water, energy and chemical expenses. Furthermore, it should increase loyalty and drive more guests to the hotel’s new restaurant.

Focus on Indoor Landscaping

In addition, the Sheraton, which is centered on an eight-story tropical atrium, is focusing on indoor landscaping to increase the building’s sustainability. The large garden that makes up most of the atrium floor is being refurbished as part of the hotel’s renovation. The show pieces contained in the atrium include the largest indoor screw pine in Florida, as well as Canary Island Date Palms, which are rarely seen in interior landscaping due to their large size. Many of the plants, especially the large palms, have been growing there since the hotel was built in 1986.

The attractive indoor plants serve another purpose. In various ways, the garden lowers the hotel’s demand on the water supply, improves the indoor air quality, reduces excess noise, and more.

“Our hotel is known for the large, open atrium that you see the minute you walk in here,” Zepp said. “While not many people know that our indoor garden increases our property’s sustainability, what better way to immediately communicate ‘green’ than a tropical landscape?”

Numerous Items Recycled

The hotel does not omit the seemingly small details in its green initiative. It has a robust recycling program, in which they recycle paper, cans, plastic, batteries, light bulbs, and copy toner cartridges; lights are monitored and turned off when not needed; and the water flow has been lowered in both the showers and sink faucets. The hotel has also eliminated the need for a garbage disposal.

Taking the time to make these improvements in increasing its sustainability proved worthwhile last year. The state of Florida awarded the Sheraton a One Palm Certification in 2008. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, “the voluntary state initiative provides the lodging industry with technical assistance, encouraging hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving ‘green’ practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources.”

“As a major business in the area, we are more than happy to do our part in maintaining a focus on going green in this community,” Zepp said. “We are excited about the renovated hotel and look forward to maintaining and increasing our environmentally friendly property.”

Go to the Sheraton Suites Tampa Airport Westshore.

LEAVE A REPLY