It has been more than 10 years now since the first 1 Hotels property opened in Miami Beach. Today there are 15 1 Hotels properties open—10 in North America, two in Europe, and three in Asia Pacific. Four more of the luxury lifestyle hotels are on the way—in the U.S., Mexico, France and Greece. This past week I posted news about the new 1 Hotel Copenhagen.
The opening of a new 1 Hotel always catches my attention. 1 Hotels are owned and operated by Starwood Hotels, which is a sustainable hotel management company led by Barry Sternlicht and an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group.
Sternlicht’s thinking behind 1 Hotels: “I wanted to capture the beauty of nature in a hotel and commit to safeguarding it as best as I can, a responsibility that I believe we all share,” he says. “It’s 1 world. But 1 is more than a hotel, it’s a philosophy and a platform for change.”
Bringing the Outside In
Each 1 Hotel is uniquely designed with nature in mind with the aim of bringing the outside in. The architecture, landscaping and decor all showcase the art in nature. Energy management is a focus, as is water conservation and waste minimization. Distinguished chefs craft culinary adventures utilizing herbs from on-site gardens and produce from neighboring farms, with inspiration from the local culture.
As part of the guest loyalty program, Mission, guests choose their mission—Oceanic Global, for example—and then benefits are paid forward to the cause. The more guests stay, the greater their impact. When travelers join Mission, a tree is planted in their honor.
All 1 Hotels are minimum LEED or BREEAM certified or certification is underway. To date 46,612 tons of CO2 has been offset.
1 Hotels has partnered for its 1 Less Thing initiative, where guests are asked to leave behind gently used clothing that’s donated to Housing Works to distribute to those in need.
Lush Greenery Appears Throughout
At 1 Hotel Copenhagen, interiors feature handcrafted Danish furnishings, sculptural lighting, and layered textures that reflect the organic beauty of the local landscape. Lush greenery appears throughout—from trees rising in the atrium to terraces framed with vegetation to pocket gardens—creating an environment that is alive and distinctly of place.
The hotel’s outdoor terraces are designed as green sanctuaries filled with wildflowers and seasonal herbs like peppermint, marjoram, thyme, and lavender. A dramatic living wall brings a lush, biophilic element to the façade, offering a connection to nature while adding greenery to the cityscape. An onsite bee hotel sheds light on the importance of urban pollinators and the role they play in local ecosystems.
Reinforcing 1 Hotels’ commitment to sourcing sustainably and locally, the minibars are stocked with Rebæl sodas, Gro cold-pressed juices, True Gum, and Bornholm Pære Snaps—showcasing Denmark’s innovative and low-impact culinary scene.
Art Installations by Local Creatives
Art plays a vital role throughout the hotel, with installations by local creatives like Sara Martinsen (whose work repurposes discarded and natural materials) and Tine Otto (known for hand-spun and naturally dyed yarns).
At Goodthings Shop—1 Hotel Copenhagen’s curated retail space—guests can browse a collection of sustainably made goods that reflect the city’s creative spirit. The selection includes pieces from artisan makers, women-led businesses, and eco-conscious brands.
The hotel’s team members also support the local community through year-round volunteer work. From a city clean-up walk to a team bake sale to raise money for breast cancer research, these efforts underscore 1 Hotel Copenhagen’s commitment to giving back.
Your property need not be a luxury hotel to explore and adopt some of the many best practices of 1 Hotels. Do a search on our website on “1 Hotels.” You will find a lot of worthwhile information to sift through.
Have you stayed at or visited a 1 Hotel? I would love to hear about your experience. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
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