SAN FRANCISCO—On Thursday, August 26, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants CEO Mike Depatie, president and COO Niki Leondakis and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that all of Kimpton’s 10 Bay Area hotels have been awarded the GS-33 Green Seal Silver certification in their pursuit for environmental responsibility. With 41 of its 50 hotels in 22 major metropolitan cities having already received certification, Kimpton is on the verge of becoming the first lifestyle boutique hotel company in the United States to attain 100 percent Green Seal certification at the Silver level or higher.
On August 26, Kimpton invited San Francisco locals to “Glow Green” by trading in a standard light bulb for a new Philips Marathon Energy Saving bulb at any of its 10 certified hotels. Those exchanging bulbs were rewarded with organic sweet treats from Kara’s Cupcakes, which was driving its “Karavan” around town throughout the day. The first 1,000 people who were able to track down the “Karavan” via Twitter and Facebook received complimentary cupcakes.
“We are so proud of our San Francisco hotels for achieving such an important and ambitious goal,” Kimpton’s Depatie said. “This certification reaffirms for our guests and each hotel in our collection the impact our shared contribution makes on individual communities and the planet overall.”
A Competitive Marketing Advantage
“Tourism and hospitality is the number one industry in San Francisco, and companies like Kimpton are creating vital jobs and revitalizing our local economy,” said Mayor Newsom. “Going green provides a competitive marketing advantage in the age of the green economy, and Kimpton is taking a bold step forward with attaining 100 percent Green Seal certification.”
The San Francisco properties that have achieved the Green Seal certification include: Argonaut Hotel, Cypress, Harbor Court, Monaco San Francisco, Triton, Palomar San Francisco, Prescott, Serrano, Sir Francis Drake and Tuscan Inn. This accolade is an important achievement for Kimpton since the company is headquartered in San Francisco, a city that has long been at the forefront in the promotion of environmental stewardship.
Green Seal certification is a significant third-party validation of Kimpton’s more than 100 environmentally responsible operational practices under the company’s EarthCare program, and allows Kimpton to more effectively measure its nationwide reductions in waste, energy and water consumption. To qualify for GS-33 Green Seal certification, a hotel must demonstrate sustainable practices in the following areas: waste minimization, reuse and recycling; energy efficiency, conservation and management; management of fresh water resources; waste water management; hazardous substances; and environmentally sensitive purchasing.
Kimpton’s EarthCare initiatives date back to the company’s inception in 1981 and include several industry firsts such as in-room recycling bins and the use of non-toxic cleaners nationwide. Diners at Kimpton restaurants have access to sustainably produced wine selections on menus, can take advantage of in-house purified water through a national partnership with Natura, and enjoy sustainable seafood dishes in accordance with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. Kimpton is a partner of Trust for Public Land and The Nature Conservancy to support its “Plant a Billion Trees” campaign.
Go to Kimpton and Green Seal.
