Name: Christal White
Title: Eco-concierge
Hotel: 70 Park Avenue Hotel
Number of years with Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group: 2 years
Work experience prior to current position: Christal worked as a concierge for other hotel groups prior to joining Kimpton.
Primary responsibilities: “Educating guests about environmental responsibility through encouragement and by example.”
What she likes most about her work: “The fact that I work for such a supportive company that is driven to make changes on behalf of the planet. Being able to share my interests with so many like-minded people.”
NEW YORK—If not for Hurricane Katrina, Christal White may not have ever earned the title of eco-concierge. Just prior to Katrina, she was working at the Hotel Monaco, a Kimpton hotel in New Orleans. She was forced to evacuate a day before the storm hit. The home that she had just purchased was destroyed. With Kimpton’s help, she transferred to New York’s 70 Park Avenue Hotel. It was there where she got involved in Kimpton’s EarthCare program—so much so, in fact, that she earned the title of eco-concierge.
There is a good chance that White is the only concierge on the planet with that title. She also wears the hat of Eco Champion, a Kimpton designation for those employees leading environmental efforts at its hotels.
“As an Eco Champion, I get to help develop green standards and practices,” White says.
In addition to her routine concierge tasks, White does her part to help guests choose environmentally friendly options at the hotel or throughout New York City.
“My focus and passion lies in getting people to use public transportation,” she says. “I also encourage them to walk. It is usually easy to get people to travel in a more environmentally responsible fashion.”
Green Guest Activities
During Earth Day week, White helped organize pedicabs for guests and also helped set up goodie bags that included organic items. For a bachelorette party, she planned a visit to an organic spa as well as hybrid vehicle transportation.
“We go the extra mile to provide a sustainable guest experience,” White says.
Throughout the hotel, phone books have been eliminated. If a guest needs number assistance, the concierge provides it. Other initiatives at the 70 Park Avenue include:
• A towel and linen reuse program;
• Low-flow showerheads and toilets and aerators to save water;
• 100 percent recycled content paper for lavatories and offices;
• Eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products; and
• Organic and Fair Trade items in honor bars.
“Most of the changes we make are not noticeable by guests,” White says.
Energy-efficient lighting is used in the back of the house and motion sensors turn those lights off when nobody is present. Each employee was given a reusable water bottle to cut down on the volume of disposable water bottle waste. The 205-room property is in the process of transitioning to compact fluorescents and LED lighting for front-of-the-house areas.
Kitchen grease from the Silverleaf Tavern is picked up and converted into biodiesel fuel, organic wines and spirits are served, food items are purchased from local sources when possible, and linens from guestrooms are donated to charities such as women’s shelters.
“It is an exciting time to be part of the hotel business,” White says. “I love to share my ideas with people and bring new ones to the table. It is very encouraging that people are seeking out greener paths.”
As it did on so many others, Katrina left a life-long imprint on the world’s first eco-concierge.
“Katrina showed me how important this life journey really is,” she says.
Go to the 70 Park Avenue Hotel.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
