PORTLAND, ORE.—The Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Portland-Lloyd Center announced that the property has created an innovative carbon offset program with The Climate Trust.
This carbon offset program is the latest accomplishment in the Doubletree’s systematic efforts to build sustainable practices into its entire operations. The 476-room Doubletree is the first lodging property in Oregon to be certified with a Green Seal “green hotel” designation.
“Our entire team at the Doubletree Hotel Portland-Lloyd Center clearly understands how our everyday duties throughout our hotel can ultimately have a measurable impact on the world in which we live,” says Steve Faulstick, the hotel’s general manager.
The Doubletree’s carbon offset program examines the hotel’s own carbon footprint from fuel usage and carbon dioxide-producing resources. The hotel already has a well-established commuter incentive program, and has eliminated its Airport Shuttle—an industry standard—in favor of encouraging guests to arrive on the MAX light rail.
“Partnering with The Climate Trust is a big step for us,” says Michael Luehrs, Director of Operations, and the Doubletree’s sustainability coordinator. “Not only can we measure our own carbon footprint, but we are also giving our group meetings and individual guests the tools to offset their own, direct impact on the environment.”
New Hotel Website Created
The Doubletree has established a designated website, www.doubletreeportlandgreen.com, to educate their guests about this program. The site contains information about the carbon offset program, green meeting packages, and the Doubletree’s other sustainability programs. It also hosts a Carbon Calculator, which guests and groups can use to determine the global warming impact of their stay and events. The guests or groups can then make a contribution to The Climate Trust to offset their stay’s carbon footprint.
The donations from the Doubletree groups and individual guests will go towards several Portland-based projects that The Climate Trust has helped fund. These projects reduce the overall carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere through improved transportation and increased energy efficiency in both commercial and residential buildings. Contributing to these projects helps allow guests and groups to make their stays at the Doubletree Lloyd Center carbon neutral.
“The Climate Trust is very excited about this opportunity to help support the Doubletree’s innovative carbon offset program,” says Matthew Tidwell, Offset Portfolio Coordinator with The Climate Trust. “This initiative will allow Doubletree clients to use The Climate Trust’s high quality carbon offsets to address the global warming impact of their travels and activities. Although carbon offsets are not the sole solution, they are an important tool to allow individuals and companies a means to address global warming.”
“As far as we’re aware, this is the first carbon calculator tailored specifically to a hotel,” Luehrs says. “We’re hoping this opportunity will let us all breathe a little easier.”
The Doubletree has been recognized for its stewardship by the City of Portland, and by the Environmental Protection Agency. In its ongoing attempts to grow sustainability, the property has appointed a Green Meeting Specialist, and has designated a staff person to lead efforts towards LEED-EB (Existing Building) certification. In addition, the hotel has a full-time Green Team committee that spearheads the property’s sustainability programs.
The Doubletree launched their Carbon Calculator at the national conference of the Green Meeting Industry Council, which they hosted in the first week of February.
