SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants garnered California’s most prestigious ecological honor given by the state’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), given to organizations for their notable, voluntary contributions to conserving California’s precious resources. The GEELA award recognizes Kimpton’s pioneering and steadfast green commitment, from its initial environmental efforts in 1985 to the formalization of its innovative EarthCare program in 2005.
“Supporting a sustainable world has long been a core, guiding principle behind our business practices,” said Niki Leondakis, COO, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. “As environmental awareness is increasingly spreading throughout the country, this award acknowledges the many ways that organizations have the power to impact change for the future of our planet.”
Kimpton’s EarthCare program sets standards across all Kimpton properties, from the first companywide in-room recycling program to the introduction of organic foods and beverages into hotel mini bars. More than 40 environmentally-friendly practices encourage the preservation of water, land, air, and energy. These efforts have led to significant accomplishments including more than 962,000 pounds of cardboard recycled, nearly 50,000 gallons of cleaning chemicals replaced with nontoxic alternatives, and more than 253 trees saved using recycled paper in one year in California alone.
Additionally, Kimpton partners with national non-profit The Trust for Public Land to help create and preserve parks in cities across America. Widely known for its pioneering eco actions, in 2006, Kimpton garnered the National GeoTourism Award from National Geographic Traveler and the Travel Industry Association of America.
The GEELA awards were established in 1993. This year’s recipients were selected by a panel of evaluators and the Secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Resources Agency, Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the State and Consumer Services Agency, and the Governor’s Office.
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