SAN FRANCISCO—Eager to support the growing numbers of businesses wishing to incorporate “green” principles into their corporate meetings, San Francisco’s Hotel Vitale has announced a new initiative that provides innovative green meeting packages to its corporate clientele. The new packages introduce eco-friendly practices into every aspect of meetings and events and align the hotel with the social responsibility practices already in place at many companies.
“Since its inception, Hotel Vitale has been committed to sustainability and to eco-friendly practices, and these meeting packages are a natural extension of that commitment,” said Chip Conley, founder and CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality.
To create the green meeting programs, Hotel Vitale has partnered with Miss Green Jeans, a Bay Area eco-friendly meeting and events company that specializes in helping hotels implement green practices throughout their operations. Hotel Vitale and Miss Green Jeans have established the Green Standard Meeting Program, comprising five unique green meeting packages available at the hotel, each of which can be custom tailored to fit the needs of any group. These full-service, comprehensive meeting options provide every component that a meeting planner might need to create a successful meeting.
Local Elements Emphasized
Program components may include eco-friendly group and individual transportation, local, sustainably-harvested organic food and beverage selections, cutting-edge green technology such as paperless digital writing pads for meeting notes, or, at the end of the day, “green” revitalization treatments at the hotel’s SpaVitale.
As a long time supporter and ardent proponent of organic and sustainable practices, Hotel Vitale’s executive chef Paul Arenstam now extends this awareness and commitment to Hotel Vitale’s Green Meetings program. All of the ingredients and products on the green meetings menu are sourced to the meet the principles of “good, clean and fair”. Organic and seasonal products from the hotel’s neighboring Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market are highlighted throughout the Green Meetings program, giving the menus its unique local flavor. Chef Arenstam applies the same philosophies to Hotel Vitale’s Americano Restaurant.
The green elements of Hotel Vitale’s new packages span the entire meeting process, from the RFP phase to onsite meeting implementation to post-conference follow-up.
“We’re actively working to shift all of our meetings to eco-friendly standards,” said Jennifer Romo, Associate Professional Relations Coordinator at Genentech. “Hotel Vitale has created something that goes a long way towards helping us meet that goal.”
Diverse Collection of Green Amenities
In addition to the meetings themselves, Hotel Vitale offers green amenities that meeting planners can deliver to VIP guests or to an entire group. Eco-meeting amenities focus on hip new product lines, cutting edge electronics, and gadgets that are always eco-friendly. Examples of amenities include a “Message in a Box” recycled note journal, note cards made from recycled jeans, recycled pencils, organic chocolates, and a green initiative impact card presented in a bamboo box. A sample “good morning” amenity includes “Green Days”—organic green tea, reusable tea cup and infuser, locally-produced Eighteen Rabbits granola bars, and peppermint aromatherapy spray. All amenities are created to reflect eco-friendly luxury.
Hotel Vitale will also offer a unique line-up of off-site “Eco-Excursions.” These include group shuttles via hybrid transportation to destinations in and around San Francisco, including trips to organic wineries, creameries and farms, a San Francisco eco-shopping spree, and art tours that end at the Crissy Field Warming Hut, where guests will find a blank canvas and easel, a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, and organic wine tasting and snacks. Everything offered focuses on simplicity, fun and eco-friendly alternatives. Many of these eco-excursions can also be used as team building events.
Eco-friendly features are a standard part of Hotel Vitale’s operations, including guestroom recycling, a linen and towel re-use program, and use of environmentally friendly cleaning products, energy efficient and natural lighting, water conserving showerheads, toilets and sink taps, and local organic products in the mini-bars and bath honor bars.
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