AUSTIN, TEXAS—The expansion of the Hyatt Regency Austin’s already progressive green initiatives and forward-leaning sustainability practices have led to increased amounts of waste diversion, new conservation measures throughout the hotel and designation of GreenLeader status by the popular travel site, TripAdvisor.
For years, Hyatt Regency Austin has been a green leader in the Austin hospitality industry, from its daily hotel operations, to its restaurant, Southwest Bistro, Marker 10 bar and coffee shop. The hotel was the very first in Austin to have its own compost pulper, and has regularly donated barely used shampoos and soaps to charity since 2011, a practice that is now standard in the industry.
In 2013, the hotel proactively went even further with its green efforts across the board, with single stream recycling and an eco-friendly laundry cleaning process that conserves both water and energy. The hotel also planted an on-site herb garden which is incorporated into the landscaping for aesthetics and for culinary use. In 2014, the hotel made recycling bins standard in all 448 guestrooms and the results are compelling; the diversion of recycled materials went up 34 percent from 2013 to 2014.
Accommodate Electric Vehicles
The Hyatt Regency Austin also installed electric car charging stations on-property back in 2013 as a basic amenity for guests, including one double-charger unit for all electric cars and three Tesla-specific chargers.
Other voluntary efforts include participation by the hotel in a host of local and global environmental initiatives, such as the “Lights Out program” for reduction of electricity usage, Earth Hour, Earth Day, National Trails Day and America Recycles Day, among others. Guests also have the opportunity to get actively involved in conservation efforts, thanks to updated guestroom books with green practices information, a reader board and information on the Hyatt Austin website.
The Hyatt Regency Austin’s efforts are in line with Hyatt’s global corporate responsibility platform, Hyatt Thrive, designed to help make local communities places where their associates are proud to work, their guests want to visit, their neighbors want to live, and owners want to invest. It reflects the company’s belief that no one better understands a community’s most pressing issues—and their solutions—than those who live and work there.
The Beginning of a Journey
General Manager Michael Murphy and his team view the Hyatt Regency Austin’s progress as merely a beginning, rather than a goal achieved. “Our initiatives are ongoing as we support the City of Austin in its Zero Waste goals to create a more sustainable environment,” Murphy says. “In doing so, we hope to inspire our guests and others to do the same. We are continually looking for ways through which to divert waste and reduce our carbon footprint throughout our property and in our daily routines.”
Earlier this year, the hotel opened its new Zilker Ballroom, now the third largest hotel event space in Austin, at 14,136 square feet. Great care was taken to incorporate a host of green measures, with recycling bins and signage, LED energy-saving lightbulbs, use of natural lighting and more. Similar energy-saving measures are currently being incorporated with a complete renovation of the hotel’s 448 guestrooms, to be completed by year-end.
The culmination of green efforts throughout the hotel led to its designation late last year of GreenLeader status, by TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders program. TripAdvisor, one of the world’s largest and most respected travel sites, administers a GreenLeaders Program which identifies and recognizes hotels and bed and breakfasts that are committed to environmentally sustainable practices. Standards include recycling efforts, energy efficiency, such as Energy Star guestroom appliances and windows, waste composting, leftover materials donated or re-used, and use of organic, local food and beverages among several others.
The GreenLeader program not only provides direct recognition for green efforts, but also allows consumers to readily identify them with a GreenLeader icon next to their name on the TripAdvisor site. The Hyatt Regency Austin also received 4 out of 5 points possible in another Global hotel green rating program, Green Key.
Go to the Hyatt Regency Austin.
