ENGLEWOOD, COLO.—Destination Hotels & Resorts, a hotel and resort management company, announced it has selected the Green Key Eco-Rating Program (Green Key) as the green certification of choice for its 30-plus properties. The announcement followed an extensive due diligence process whereby the Destination Hotels & Resorts sustainability task force reviewed several programs before selecting Green Key.
Prior to making its selection, Destination Hotels & Resorts piloted the program at the Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavilion in Washington, D.C. The Embassy Suites, which had previously implemented a number of green operating practices as part of the Destination Hotels & Resorts’ Destination Earth program, completed the 150-question online self-assessment and earned a 4-Key Rating.
“The pilot helped confirm that Green Key complements our ongoing sustainability initiatives,” explained Mark Hickey, senior vice president of operations for Destination. “Green Key validates the various operational elements of Destination Earth, recognizes our individual properties for their efforts to date and provides each one with a roadmap for future improvements moving forward.”
Multiple Marketing Benefits
In addition to taking the online self assessment and receiving a key rating and plaque, member properties are issued a comprehensive performance report that includes recommendations, best practices and potential areas for improvement and savings. For marketing purposes, members are listed on the www.greenkeyglobal.com website and also are recognized through Green Key’s network of marketing partners, including AAA, Travelocity and Expedia. The Green Key process also includes random, on-site verification audits to validate property ratings.
“We are excited to welcome Destination to Green Key, as it signifies another step in our growth in the United States,” said Tony Pollard, managing director of Green Key Global. “The mix of resort and urban center properties in the Destination portfolio is an affirmation of the flexibility of the Green Key program and its applicability across the product and service sector.”
In addition to the 4-Key Rating already achieved by the Embassy Suites, the Inverness Hotel and Conference Center (Englewood, Colo.) and Stowe Mountain Lodge (Stowe, Vt.) have also earned 4 Keys. The Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center (Tempe, Ariz.) and L’Auberge del Mar (San Diego) are both in the process of completing the self-assessment. Destination anticipates that all of its hotel and resort properties will be Green Key certified by mid-2011, joining Sofitel Luxury Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels, MGM Resorts International and Motel 6 in committing their U.S. portfolio to Green Key.
