By by Costas Christ
A look at today's most eco-savvy stays.
It’s safe to say that we have truly hit a tipping point when Las Vegas emerges as an environmental trailblazer. Consider the newly opened CityCenter, a 67- acre, $8.5 billion complex housing hotels, a shopping and entertainment district, a residential area, and convention space on a grand scale, even by Vegas standards. Its public areas also contain one of the largest corporate art collections in the world, including Maya Lin’s 133- foot interpretation of the Colorado River, made entirely from reclaimed, rather than newly mined (and environmentally damaging), silver.
During the center’s construction, 94 percent of building waste was recycled, keeping thousands of tons of steel, concrete, paper, and plastic out of landfills. A fleet of custom-built limousines transfers guests; fueled by clean-burning compressed natural gas, they generate significantly fewer emissions than standard vehicles. And CityCenter offers nonsmoking slots and gaming tables, a rarity in cigar- and cigarette-filled Vegas, with special floor-to-ceiling ventilation to protect guests from secondhand smoke.
The 47-story, 392-room Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, which opened last December in CityCenter, is among six ultramodern buildings that have earned LEED Gold Certification, putting Vegas on the map as home to one of the world’s largest sustainably designed destinations.
While the Mandarin welcomes guests with its trademark refinement, it also boasts an innovative light-reflective roof that, along with other measures, helps keep the building cool in summer and reduces the amount of energy used, exceeding national efficiency standards by more than 30 percent. Improved water technology, including specially designed showers and faucets, saves an estimated 4.1 million gallons of freshwater annually – a major conservation achievement in Nevada’s desert climate, where the water table has been drying up during the last decade. Use of nontoxic paints, sealants, adhesives, and carpets might not sound like a big deal, but few hotels go so far as to use building materials that are free of carcinogens and other harmful chemicals, meaning healthier indoor spaces.
Doubles from $225, including breakfast and a $100 spa credit.
While Vegas is heading toward a greener future, elsewhere around the world, a new breed of hotels and resorts is marrying high-quality services with more environmentally friendly practices. One day there will be no need to compile a list of sustainable hotels – they will all be sustainable, because having a positive impact on the planet is also a measure of five-star status. Until then, the following places are helping to get there sooner rather than later.
Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, Australia
Not many people know that Emirates airlines has a hotel and resort division, which is spearheading one of the most successful conservation-through-tourism programs in the world. You’ll find it on full display at Wolgan Valley, Emirates’ newly opened 40-suite resort three hour’s drive from Sydney. Bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the location is so rich in natural history that, on a trip to Australia in 1836, Charles Darwin documented its unique geography, along with native fauna and flora. Today, kangaroos, wombats, and wallabies thrive here, but the real natural wonder is the Wollemi pine. This 200-million-year-old tree species, known previously only through fossil records and presumed extinct, was rediscovered in the Blue Mountains in 1994 – a feat akin to finding a dinosaur alive today.
As part of its conservation commitment, Wolgan has established a Wollemi pine grove on its 4,000-acre private nature reserve. Guests can explore on horseback, mountain bike, or by foot, or just relax at the resort’s Timeless Spa, with an 82-foot infinity pool overlooking the valley. Because of Australia’s arid climate and low-lying coastline, global warming is a national concern; Wolgan is the first resort to achieve carbon-neutral certification, aligned with the Australian government’s new National Carbon Offset Standard. With a maximum of 90 guests, the entire resort can be reserved for green meetings and private parties. And since this is Australia after all, expect one of the best wine lists found anywhere down under. Doubles from $1,762, including all meals, nonalcoholic beverages, and select regional alcoholic beverages. Two on-site nature-based activities per day are also included.
The Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington, D.C.
That the Obamas chose the Hay-Adams as their residence before moving in to the White House is a good enough reference for most people looking for a place to stay in the nation’s capital. So guests at this historic landmark property – named after John Hay, Abraham Lincoln’s personal assistant, and author Henry Adams, a descendant of John Quincy Adams, whose homes once stood here – can be forgiven for not realizing that it’s also one of the greenest hotels in the world. The Hay-Adams prefers to discreetly deliver its services to guests and the environment. Its “100 steps to sustainability” program includes refitting with energy-saving appliances, reducing and recycling waste, and sourcing supplies locally, such as organic eggs and produce from area farms served up at The Lafayette, the hotel’s restaurant, which has a high-profile following.
On a recent visit, while I was eating my dinner of pan-roasted duck breast with pecan bread pudding, former Secretary of State James Baker walked in, followed by Condoleezza Rice. Perhaps they had no idea that in 2009, the 144-room hotel became the very first to receive Sustainable Travel International’s Luxury Eco Certification, one of the most rigorous and comprehensive standards for green practices and social responsibility. An extensive independent audit was carried out over six months that evaluated the hotel’s operating policies, energy and water conservation, recycling, and community benefit programs, among many other criteria. The Hay-Adams passed with flying colors – multiple shades of green, that is. Doubles from $495, including breakfast and a $75 food and beverage credit. Mayakobá, Mexico When developers broke ground in the 1990s along the Riviera Maya on what would become home to Fairmont Mayakobá and Rosewood Mayakobá, they dug a series of canals in the Yucatán’s spring-fed limestone karst – raising environmentalist’s eyebrows. Today, the crystal-clear canals linking these two flagship hotels are considered a conservation success. Jaguars have reappeared among the canals’ native vegetation, jaguarundis – smaller members of the wildcat family – live near its mangroves, and endangered leatherback turtles nest on the hotels’ beaches, one of the last stretches of sand along the tourism-developed Riviera Maya where these rare sea turtles have returned to lay their eggs. Romantic small wooden boats take guests through the canals with a naturalist guide to hidden locations like the “bird spa” – a tiny rock outcrop in a cenote where, on any given day, multiple waterbird species come to sun themselves and snack on small fish darting below. Aboveground, an 18-hole PGA Tournament golf course is carpeted with paspalum grass, which can be irrigated with salt water, saving precious freshwater supplies. Landscaping around the Fairmont focuses on native plant species instead of the exotic ornamentals common at most Riviera Maya hotels, thus reducing the use of harsh chemicals and fertilizers. Fairmont doubles from $197; Rosewood doubles from $590.
Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, Los Angeles
Think Michael Pollan meets Top Chef. In the California cuisine epicenter of L.A., 26-yearold rising-star chef Joshua Hasho creates Michelin-recommended, farm-to-table fare based on a simple premise: Sustainable food is good for the earth and good for your palate. His locally caught sea bass sautéed in shallot butter with broccolini, one of several signature dishes, has landed The Ritz- Carlton’s Jer-ne Restaurant among the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s 304 rooms, which overlook L.A.’s hidden sanctuary, the harbor of Marina del Rey, complement its planet-friendly dining with green living, from a certified nontoxic laundry system right down to recycling laundry water for hotel plants.
It’s tempting to kick back inside your room with the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors wide open and just watch life sail by (literally) in the harbor below, but a new program now offers guests an additional way to experience the area and stay in shape. A bike butler helps customize cycling for leisure or workout and then guides you along miles of sunny bike trails, stretching from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, that start right outside the hotel. And the hotel’s Give Back Getaways program supports different environmental causes, such as the recently completed Ballona Wetlands project, where staff and guests joined hands to protect nature by removing invasive plants from the natural wetland habitat.
Think Michael Pollan meets . In the California cuisine epicenter of L.A., 26-yearold rising-star chef Joshua Hasho creates Michelin-recommended, farm-to-table fare based on a simple premise: Sustainable food is good for the earth and good for your palate. His locally caught sea bass sautéed in shallot butter with broccolini, one of several signature dishes, has landed The Ritz- Carlton’s Jer-ne Restaurant among the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s 304 rooms, which overlook L.A.’s hidden sanctuary, the harbor of Marina del Rey, complement its planet-friendly dining with green living, from a certified nontoxic laundry system right down to recycling laundry water for hotel plants. It’s tempting to kick back inside your room with the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors wide open and just watch life sail by (literally) in the harbor below, but a new program now offers guests an additional way to experience the area and stay in shape. A bike butler helps customize cycling for leisure or workout and then guides you along miles of sunny bike trails, stretching from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, that start right outside the hotel. And the hotel’s Give Back Getaways program supports different environmental causes, such as the recently completed Ballona Wetlands project, where staff and guests joined hands to protect nature by removing invasive plants from the natural wetland habitat. Think Michael Pollan meets . In the California cuisine epicenter of L.A., 26-yearold rising-star chef Joshua Hasho creates Michelin-recommended, farm-to-table fare based on a simple premise: Sustainable food is good for the earth and good for your palate. His locally caught sea bass sautéed in shallot butter with broccolini, one of several signature dishes, has landed The Ritz- Carlton’s Jer-ne Restaurant among the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s 304 rooms, which overlook L.A.’s hidden sanctuary, the harbor of Marina del Rey, complement its planet-friendly dining with green living, from a certified nontoxic laundry system right down to recycling laundry water for hotel plants. It’s tempting to kick back inside your room with the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors wide open and just watch life sail by (literally) in the harbor below, but a new program now offers guests an additional way to experience the area and stay in shape. A bike butler helps customize cycling for leisure or workout and then guides you along miles of sunny bike trails, stretching from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, that start right outside the hotel. And the hotel’s Give Back Getaways program supports different environmental causes, such as the recently completed Ballona Wetlands project, where staff and guests joined hands to protect nature by removing invasive plants from the natural wetland habitat. Think Michael Pollan meets . In the California cuisine epicenter of L.A., 26-yearold rising-star chef Joshua Hasho creates Michelin-recommended, farm-to-table fare based on a simple premise: Sustainable food is good for the earth and good for your palate. His locally caught sea bass sautéed in shallot butter with broccolini, one of several signature dishes, has landed The Ritz- Carlton’s Jer-ne Restaurant among the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s 304 rooms, which overlook L.A.’s hidden sanctuary, the harbor of Marina del Rey, complement its planet-friendly dining with green living, from a certified nontoxic laundry system right down to recycling laundry water for hotel plants. It’s tempting to kick back inside your room with the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors wide open and just watch life sail by (literally) in the harbor below, but a new program now offers guests an additional way to experience the area and stay in shape. A bike butler helps customize cycling for leisure or workout and then guides you along miles of sunny bike trails, stretching from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, that start right outside the hotel. And the hotel’s Give Back Getaways program supports different environmental causes, such as the recently completed Ballona Wetlands project, where staff and guests joined hands to protect nature by removing invasive plants from the natural wetland habitat. Doubles from $499, including breakfast and bicycle rentals for two, once during stay.
Not many people know that Emirates airlines has a hotel and resort division, which is spearheading one of the most successful conservation-through-tourism programs in the world. You’ll find it on full display at Wolgan Valley, Emirates’ newly opened 40-suite resort three hour’s drive from Sydney. Bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the location is so rich in natural history that, on a trip to Australia in 1836, Charles Darwin documented its unique geography, along with native fauna and flora. Today, kangaroos, wombats, and wallabies thrive here, but the real natural wonder is the Wollemi pine. This 200-million-year-old tree species, known previously only through fossil records and presumed extinct, was rediscovered in the Blue Mountains in 1994 – a feat akin to finding a dinosaur alive today. As part of its conservation commitment, Wolgan has established a Wollemi pine grove on its 4,000-acre private nature reserve. Guests can explore on horseback, mountain bike, or by foot, or just relax at the resort’s Timeless Spa, with an 82-foot infinity pool overlooking the valley. Because of Australia’s arid climate and low-lying coastline, global warming is a national concern; Wolgan is the first resort to achieve carbon-neutral certification, aligned with the Australian government’s new National Carbon Offset Standard. With a maximum of 90 guests, the entire resort can be reserved for green meetings and private parties. And since this is Australia after all, expect one of the best wine lists found anywhere down under. Think Michael Pollan meets . In the California cuisine epicenter of L.A., 26-yearold rising-star chef Joshua Hasho creates Michelin-recommended, farm-to-table fare based on a simple premise: Sustainable food is good for the earth and good for your palate. His locally caught sea bass sautéed in shallot butter with broccolini, one of several signature dishes, has landed The Ritz- Carlton’s Jer-ne Restaurant among the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s 304 rooms, which overlook L.A.’s hidden sanctuary, the harbor of Marina del Rey, complement its planet-friendly dining with green living, from a certified nontoxic laundry system right down to recycling laundry water for hotel plants. It’s tempting to kick back inside your room with the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors wide open and just watch life sail by (literally) in the harbor below, but a new program now offers guests an additional way to experience the area and stay in shape. A bike butler helps customize cycling for leisure or workout and then guides you along miles of sunny bike trails, stretching from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, that start right outside the hotel. And the hotel’s Give Back Getaways program supports different environmental causes, such as the recently completed Ballona Wetlands project, where staff and guests joined hands to protect nature by removing invasive plants from the natural wetland habitat. Think Michael Pollan meets . In the California cuisine epicenter of L.A., 26-yearold rising-star chef Joshua Hasho creates Michelin-recommended, farm-to-table fare based on a simple premise: Sustainable food is good for the earth and good for your palate. His locally caught sea bass sautéed in shallot butter with broccolini, one of several signature dishes, has landed The Ritz- Carlton’s Jer-ne Restaurant among the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s 304 rooms, which overlook L.A.’s hidden sanctuary, the harbor of Marina del Rey, complement its planet-friendly dining with green living, from a certified nontoxic laundry system right down to recycling laundry water for hotel plants. It’s tempting to kick back inside your room with the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors wide open and just watch life sail by (literally) in the harbor below, but a new program now offers guests an additional way to experience the area and stay in shape. A bike butler helps customize cycling for leisure or workout and then guides you along miles of sunny bike trails, stretching from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, that start right outside the hotel. And the hotel’s Give Back Getaways program supports different environmental causes, such as the recently completed Ballona Wetlands project, where staff and guests joined hands to protect nature by removing invasive plants from the natural wetland habitat. Think Michael Pollan meets . In the California cuisine epicenter of L.A., 26-yearold rising-star chef Joshua Hasho creates Michelin-recommended, farm-to-table fare based on a simple premise: Sustainable food is good for the earth and good for your palate. His locally caught sea bass sautéed in shallot butter with broccolini, one of several signature dishes, has landed The Ritz- Carlton’s Jer-ne Restaurant among the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s 304 rooms, which overlook L.A.’s hidden sanctuary, the harbor of Marina del Rey, complement its planet-friendly dining with green living, from a certified nontoxic laundry system right down to recycling laundry water for hotel plants. It’s tempting to kick back inside your room with the floor-to-ceiling balcony doors wide open and just watch life sail by (literally) in the harbor below, but a new program now offers guests an additional way to experience the area and stay in shape. A bike butler helps customize cycling for leisure or workout and then guides you along miles of sunny bike trails, stretching from Venice Beach to Santa Monica, that start right outside the hotel. And the hotel’s Give Back Getaways program supports different environmental causes, such as the recently completed Ballona Wetlands project, where staff and guests joined hands to protect nature by removing invasive plants from the natural wetland habitat.