PORTLAND, ORE.—The historic Heathman Hotel, a luxury hotel in Portland, Ore., has received one of the highest environmental honors in the industry: Green Seal Silver Certification. Earned after a lengthy approval process, the certification—which just a select number of hotels across the country have earned—sets strict environmental standards that properties must meet to achieve leadership levels in sustainability, including waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, hazardous substances handling, and environmentally responsible purchasing. Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that uses science-based inspection tools and programs to empower consumers and identify and promote sustainable companies.
“We have a longstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness at The Heathman,” said Chris Erickson, general manager for The Heathman Hotel. “Being conscious of every action we take to reduce our impact on the environment is part of life in Portland, and a huge part of our culture at The Heathman. We’re very proud and honored to receive this great acknowledgment, and I thank all of our staff for working so hard each day to maintain our environmental commitment.”
In celebration of the certification, The Heathman has launched the Travel Oregon Forever Package for its guests, aimed to highlight the hotel’s commitment to environmental awareness and its efforts to help reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. With every package booked, the hotel will donate $100 from the room rate to the Oregon Forever Philanthropy Fund, and for a limited time, match the donation with an additional $100.
“We want to celebrate all things green with this new package, so our guests can feel they are doing their part, while also enjoying their stay in the City of Roses,” said Erickson.
In addition to the Green Seal Silver Certification, The Heathman was the first hotel in downtown Portland to be recognized by the Energy Trust of Oregon for its commitment to the environment, as well as the first downtown hotel to partner with Pacific Power’s renewable energy program. Now, more than 30 percent of all the electricity used by Heathman guests and employees originates from carbon neutral wind energy.
Other Sustainable Initiatives:
• Food composting—The Heathman composts more than 90 percent of food waste generated by hotel guests. The compost is picked up by a waste hauler, turned into organic matter and used in the city park flower beds.
• Green Seal certified cleaning products—The Heathman uses Green Seal certified cleaning products in all guestrooms.
• Recycled soap and shampoo—The Heathman diverts all gently used soap and shampoo from city landfills. The soap and shampoo is treated and recycled through a special process, and then is reused in city and county shelters.
• Transportation—The Heathman subsidizes Tri-Met public transportation passes for 60 percent of its employees each month and was the first hotel to support commissioner Sam Adams’s smart transportation bicycle commuting project by donating roomnights for awareness.
• Winery partnership—In all guestrooms, The Heathman offers wines from Van Duzer vineyards, one of Oregon’s sustainable and eco-friendly wineries located 60 miles from downtown Portland.
• Recycling—The hotel recycles all paper, glass and aluminum cans on a daily basis. More than 80 percent of the hotel’s total waste volume is recycled.
• Local food—The Heathman Restaurant uses fresh, local produce and food whenever possible. The French master chef, Philippe Boulot, is considered by many to be the grandfather of the local food movement in Portland. Boulot changes his menu daily based on the freshest local and sustainable ingredients.
Erickson, who serves on the board for the state of Oregon’s Tourism Commission as well as the Commission’s Sustainability Travel Committee, Oregon Historical Society, and the Metropolitan Exposition and Recreation Commissionn (MERC), says it is a personal passion of his to continue and maximize the hotel’s sustainable efforts while also preserving the natural and cultural uniqueness of its historic property, originally built in 1927.
“We are a city of reducers, reusers, and recyclers in Portland, and I believe this is a way of life that has helped to maintain the beauty of our hotel, while also reducing our industry’s carbon footprint,” he said. “By continuing to go above and beyond, and always thinking green, we can all change the world one tree, and one action at a time.”
Go to The Heathman Hotel.
