Green Acres
Colora sustainab e
embraces ,sending
money for
\.l?9~'O~~S \~ a \.\'ffi~ ~, ~c..~~~'ffi\c.. \)'\\C~'('\.o\\\'\.~
[PLANET-PROFIT
June 2008, ColoradoBiz published a story profiling Colorado companies embracing sustainable practices. The oulder Outlook Hotel was highlighted for its initiatives toward becoming a "zero waste property." At the time, Colorado's capital was gearing up to host its first Democratic ational Convention since William Jennings Bryan garnered the nomination in 1908. Not only did Denver's August convention successfully launch a nominee who went on to become the first African-American President of the United States, it continues to be lauded as the greenest convention in history. Colorado sustainability advocates boast that the state - now well within striking distance of its highly publicizedcompetitors - is already setting the precedent other regions seek to emulate. The "DNC was a huge turning point," says Janna Six, education and outreach director for the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. She attributes the current ubiquitous push to adapt more sustainable business practices to the momentum of the city and D Cs collaborative green initiatives. The Alliance collaborated with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses to host workshops on waste minimization, energy efficiency and water-saving methods for restaurants, hotels, event planners, printers and small-business owners. Businesses were inspired to implement green business practices that have endured a year after the convention. Just as Colorado's eco-friendly initiatives soared to new heights, one of the worst economic crises in U.S. history hit. Following the year Visit Denver referred to as a "banner year," the travel and tourism industry plunged into one of its worst economic crises on record, with many corporate conferences canceled and workers facing layoffs cutting back on their vacation plans. In Colorado's new economic reality, should city and state government initia-
1
tives continue to encourage and reward costly retrofitting upgrades that municipal and state governments championed prior to October's stock market plunge? If so, will Colorado's newly greened hotels and resorts be able to sustain themselves, not to mention their costly upgrades, until the economy bounces back? "It is difficult to find ways to make investments in a downturn," Gov. Bill Ritter said when ColoradoBiz approached him on the topic. 'The downturn does not preclude investments from being made" because in the "new energy economy," investments are primarily initiated by "high-end places that rely on corporate travel." Green practices currently being adapted and developed will give hotels that maintain them an even more competitive edge over time because, Ritter said, "sustainability is part of our future."
NO TIME LIKE TODAY Bob Trotter, manager of Vai I Valley's newest luxury resort, The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, believes that time is now. Already, about 75 percent of event planners routinely request a list of the hotel's sustainability initiatives prior to booking. Providing that list is not difficult for the Westin Riverfront; it's now vying to be the first Colorado hotel to receive LEED certification. Trotter says some companies selected the hotel for a conference explicitly because of the resort's sustainable practices. Trotter cites Chipotle and Thule as examples of two Colorado-based companies whose dedication to sustainability is such an emphatic part of their mission that the companies' credibility would be on the line were they to patronize a venue that does not address it. Booking at a resort like the Westin therefore helps the company maintain its brand, he said. Westin anticipates receiving Silver level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the second level of a points-based rating system that includes
REPORT]
two higher levels (gold and platinum). The architects and engineers worked with Colorado-based company East West to add features that minimize the building's impact on the environment and the local community. This is present in the design of the building itself, which includes a roof made from recycled tires, energy-efficient lighting and double-paned windows with argon gas filling the void between the two panes. This aids in the insulating ability of the glass as well as absorbing/reducing outside noise. The LEED point system also rewards good stewardship initiatives taken during the construction process. When the hotel's Gypsum-based drywal1 manufacturer refused to drive directly to Avon to deliver the Westin's drywall order on the grounds 't at policy required all deliveries to be routed through Denver, The Westin Riv4 erside agreed to a higher delivery fee to final1y get the Gypsum drywal1 manufacturer to re-route. The environment was spared 2 15 miles' worth of delivery truck fuel emissions, the Gypsum manufacturer got more money for a 29.9-rpile delivery than it would have gotten for making the policy-mandated 245-mile delivery, and The Westin Riverside scored additional points toward LEED certification. The Westin also earned points toward its LEED certification by making the Riverfront Express Gondola used to transport Westin guests to the mountaintop of Beaver Creek ski resort also available to residents of the city of Avon at no cost. As cars are not permitted in the gondola area, the snow surrounding the area stays clean. At the town's request, the hotel fed the drainpipe used for melted snow directly into the marshland foundation it was built on, thereby helping to replenish the natural horticulture of the adjacent riverbank. Five acres of the hotel's 19-acre property have also been available to the public in the form of parklands with a bike path, connecting guests and townspeople to riverside towns all
the way to Vail and beyond. )) COBIZMAG.COM
I
COLORAOOBIZ
I
SEPTEMBER
2009
[551
[PLANET-PROFIT
REPORT]
The Westin Riverfront Resort & So" ",,,--e:: ::::'-:5 toward its LEED certification by making the Ri'Je:-7-::-: :: '.::-"'ss C;J~dola used to transport Westin guests to the mounte.r tc c z: ::",,,.e- Creek ski resort also available to residents of t~e ::: :: :-.::- 3: no cost. The hotel fed the drainpipe used for r-s :e:: 3-:::. ::'-e::::y into the marshland foundation it was out c- :-e-",::: +e.pinq to replenish the natural horticultc-e ::: :- e s c s :"'-: rverbank.
~, '-~
Trotter estimates the hotel's sustainable features increased the manufacturing cost by 5 percent. The Starwood Co. and East West expect to recoup this investment in five to 10 years. Although the Westin Riverfront is well on its way to becoming Colorado's first LEEDcertified hotel, it's not unique in its efforts to capitalize on the opportunity for greenbranding. The Cheyenne Mountain Resort was just awarded Silver Tier certification by the International Association of Conference Centers after a retrofitting process. Like its neighboring hotels, the Colorado Springs Marriott and the Broadmoor, the C\\.e.',!~"\\"\\~ M()\l'i\\o.\'i\ R.~
embraces ,sending
money for
\.l?9~'O~~S \~ a \.\'ffi~ ~, ~c..~~~'ffi\c.. \)'\\C~'('\.o\\\'\.~
[PLANET-PROFIT
June 2008, ColoradoBiz published a story profiling Colorado companies embracing sustainable practices. The oulder Outlook Hotel was highlighted for its initiatives toward becoming a "zero waste property." At the time, Colorado's capital was gearing up to host its first Democratic ational Convention since William Jennings Bryan garnered the nomination in 1908. Not only did Denver's August convention successfully launch a nominee who went on to become the first African-American President of the United States, it continues to be lauded as the greenest convention in history. Colorado sustainability advocates boast that the state - now well within striking distance of its highly publicizedcompetitors - is already setting the precedent other regions seek to emulate. The "DNC was a huge turning point," says Janna Six, education and outreach director for the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. She attributes the current ubiquitous push to adapt more sustainable business practices to the momentum of the city and D Cs collaborative green initiatives. The Alliance collaborated with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses to host workshops on waste minimization, energy efficiency and water-saving methods for restaurants, hotels, event planners, printers and small-business owners. Businesses were inspired to implement green business practices that have endured a year after the convention. Just as Colorado's eco-friendly initiatives soared to new heights, one of the worst economic crises in U.S. history hit. Following the year Visit Denver referred to as a "banner year," the travel and tourism industry plunged into one of its worst economic crises on record, with many corporate conferences canceled and workers facing layoffs cutting back on their vacation plans. In Colorado's new economic reality, should city and state government initia-
1
tives continue to encourage and reward costly retrofitting upgrades that municipal and state governments championed prior to October's stock market plunge? If so, will Colorado's newly greened hotels and resorts be able to sustain themselves, not to mention their costly upgrades, until the economy bounces back? "It is difficult to find ways to make investments in a downturn," Gov. Bill Ritter said when ColoradoBiz approached him on the topic. 'The downturn does not preclude investments from being made" because in the "new energy economy," investments are primarily initiated by "high-end places that rely on corporate travel." Green practices currently being adapted and developed will give hotels that maintain them an even more competitive edge over time because, Ritter said, "sustainability is part of our future."
NO TIME LIKE TODAY Bob Trotter, manager of Vai I Valley's newest luxury resort, The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, believes that time is now. Already, about 75 percent of event planners routinely request a list of the hotel's sustainability initiatives prior to booking. Providing that list is not difficult for the Westin Riverfront; it's now vying to be the first Colorado hotel to receive LEED certification. Trotter says some companies selected the hotel for a conference explicitly because of the resort's sustainable practices. Trotter cites Chipotle and Thule as examples of two Colorado-based companies whose dedication to sustainability is such an emphatic part of their mission that the companies' credibility would be on the line were they to patronize a venue that does not address it. Booking at a resort like the Westin therefore helps the company maintain its brand, he said. Westin anticipates receiving Silver level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the second level of a points-based rating system that includes
REPORT]
two higher levels (gold and platinum). The architects and engineers worked with Colorado-based company East West to add features that minimize the building's impact on the environment and the local community. This is present in the design of the building itself, which includes a roof made from recycled tires, energy-efficient lighting and double-paned windows with argon gas filling the void between the two panes. This aids in the insulating ability of the glass as well as absorbing/reducing outside noise. The LEED point system also rewards good stewardship initiatives taken during the construction process. When the hotel's Gypsum-based drywal1 manufacturer refused to drive directly to Avon to deliver the Westin's drywall order on the grounds 't at policy required all deliveries to be routed through Denver, The Westin Riv4 erside agreed to a higher delivery fee to final1y get the Gypsum drywal1 manufacturer to re-route. The environment was spared 2 15 miles' worth of delivery truck fuel emissions, the Gypsum manufacturer got more money for a 29.9-rpile delivery than it would have gotten for making the policy-mandated 245-mile delivery, and The Westin Riverside scored additional points toward LEED certification. The Westin also earned points toward its LEED certification by making the Riverfront Express Gondola used to transport Westin guests to the mountaintop of Beaver Creek ski resort also available to residents of the city of Avon at no cost. As cars are not permitted in the gondola area, the snow surrounding the area stays clean. At the town's request, the hotel fed the drainpipe used for melted snow directly into the marshland foundation it was built on, thereby helping to replenish the natural horticulture of the adjacent riverbank. Five acres of the hotel's 19-acre property have also been available to the public in the form of parklands with a bike path, connecting guests and townspeople to riverside towns all
the way to Vail and beyond. )) COBIZMAG.COM
I
COLORAOOBIZ
I
SEPTEMBER
2009
[551
[PLANET-PROFIT
REPORT]
The Westin Riverfront Resort & So" ",,,--e:: ::::'-:5 toward its LEED certification by making the Ri'Je:-7-::-: :: '.::-"'ss C;J~dola used to transport Westin guests to the mounte.r tc c z: ::",,,.e- Creek ski resort also available to residents of t~e ::: :: :-.::- 3: no cost. The hotel fed the drainpipe used for r-s :e:: 3-:::. ::'-e::::y into the marshland foundation it was out c- :-e-",::: +e.pinq to replenish the natural horticultc-e ::: :- e s c s :"'-: rverbank.
~, '-~
Trotter estimates the hotel's sustainable features increased the manufacturing cost by 5 percent. The Starwood Co. and East West expect to recoup this investment in five to 10 years. Although the Westin Riverfront is well on its way to becoming Colorado's first LEEDcertified hotel, it's not unique in its efforts to capitalize on the opportunity for greenbranding. The Cheyenne Mountain Resort was just awarded Silver Tier certification by the International Association of Conference Centers after a retrofitting process. Like its neighboring hotels, the Colorado Springs Marriott and the Broadmoor, the C\\.e.',!~"\\"\\~ M()\l'i\\o.\'i\ R.~
