Portland Hotel finds green award attracts convention business
The Doubletree® Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Portland-Lloyd Center announced that the property has earned a Green Seal® GS-33 Lodging Sustainability certification, which has already paid off in new convention business.
The 476-room Doubletree is the first designated in the state and the largest hotel west of the Mississippi to receive the “green hotel” designation, which includes a set of stringent criteria that encourages hotels to adopt environmental standards and practices in their everyday operations.
Doubletree’s efforts to build sustainable practices into its entire operations include installation of energy- and water-efficient fixtures and lighting in guestrooms and public areas . The hotel has also sough unique ways to handle food waste and has practiced environmentally sensitive purchasing policies.
“Several months ago, we began the journey to make a conscious and measurable effort in becoming an eco-business that we hoped could be a model of conservation for our industry throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said Steve Faustick, the hotel’s general manager.
The hotel has instituted a “Green Team” of employees who spearhead the property’s efforts to implement sustainable practices and to keep fellow employees informed of these measures.
“Sustainability rests on the principles that every person must take make use of our earth’s precious resources today without compromising the ability of future generations to enjoy them, as well,” said Doug Brecht, hotel director of operations.
Because of its efforts, the Doubletree has been selected to host the national conference of the Green Meeting Industry Council in February 2007. This event is part of a larger marketing effort by the Portland Oregon Visitors’ Association (POVA) to offer the country’s first comprehensive Green Seal meetings package.
“Our research shows that planners see green meeting services as an advantage, assuming the other factors are equal, “ said POVA’s Tamara Kennedy-Hill. “Portland has the reputation of being a green destination, but we really needed one of our major hotels to be Green Seal certified to set the standard.”
The Doubletree is adjacent to the Lloyd Center Mall and just blocks from the newly expanded Oregon Convention Center.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports