TOP 10 SUSTAINABLE HOTELS IN THE U.S.

(1)VENTANA INN AND SPA

       LOCATION: Big Sur, California

GREEN PERKS: Ventana Inn & Spa is a personal favorite of ours because, not only does it offer the ultimate relaxation getaway, but their environmental initiatives are some of the country’s best. Green initiatives include: a property-wide recycling program that accepts over 15 types of recyclables, a ban on the use of styrofoam, an initiative to recycle old terrycloth and linens for housekeeping staff to use as rags, a hotel water system that’s designed to recycle wastewater, and a commitment to print all marketing and in-room materials on recycled paper. If that’s not enough, Ventana also uses fair-trade organic coffee and tea, and the Restaurant at Ventana serves local, sustainably-sourced organic produce, seafood and meat. During the cooler months, you can cozy up next to a fire in the privacy of your room using Goodwood Easy-Lighting Firelog Bags, which are made from 100% renewable resources and reduce woodsmoke emissions by half. In the warmer months, you won’t have to feel bad about cooling down in the AC because all HVAC/Refrigeration fluids are reclaimed, reused and recycled.

(2)AMAN US DESTINATIONS: AMANGANI + AMANGIRI

       LOCATIONS: Jackson, Wyoming + Canyon Point, Utah

GREEN PERKS: AMAN has two destinations in the United States: AMANGANI, in Jackson, Wyoming, and AMANGIRI, in Canyon Point, Utah. Both resorts are designed to frame their natural settings and were constructed using natural building materials, like sandstone and timber. In an effort to minimize their environmental impact, both resorts have implemented energy saving and recycling programs. The farm-to-table restaurants source the best local ingredients from neighboring sustainable farms.  Another reason to visit their Wyoming location is that it’s located near Yellowstone National Park - the last remaining fully in-tact ecosystem in the lower 48 States.

(3)SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT

        LOCATION: Sundance, Utah 

GREEN PERKS: Sundance Mountain Resort has some of the most impressive environmental initiatives we’ve seen. Topping the list is their purchase of enough Renewable Energy Credits to offset 100% of the resort’s power usage, eliminating an estimated 1,378 tons of Carbon Dioxide emissions from the atmosphere each year. In an effort to conserve water and plastic, the resort doesn’t offer bottled water in guest rooms because all water throughout the resort comes from nearby mountain-fed springs. If you’re looking to throw an event, the property has tons of function space, including the Redford Conference Center that was colored using 70 pounds of coffee grounds and coffee instead of a conventional wood stain. Their Green Building Policy guides all new development and remodeling of the Resort, ensuring that everything is up to their high eco standards and guests can easily join the movement by recycling paper, glass and plastic in their rooms. We’re in awe of Sundance founder, Robert Redford’s, respect and commitment to the environment.

(4) 1 HOTEL

        LOCATIONS: Miami Beach, Florida + New York, New York

GREEN PERKS: 1 Hotels works hard to incorporate green initiatives into every aspect of their hospitality experience. From the organic cotton staff uniforms to the fresh food that’s sustainably-sourced from local farmers and fisherman, 1 Hotel keeps the environment in mind when making decisions across the board. All hotel rooms are equipped with the highest-grade water filters, an eco-friendly Ipura Dry Cleaning Machine and a Hemp-blend Keetsa mattress top that ensures a healthy, more restful sleep.

(5) ZION LODGE 

       LOCATION: Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah 

GREEN PERKS: The Zion lodge is located in the Zion National Park, a stunning nature preserve that is the perfect playground for any adventurer or explorer. The Zion Lodge developed and installed a water-cooling system for walk-in refrigeration units in its Red Rock Grill kitchen, that has cut their water usage by about one million gallons annually and also earned them a Top Product of the Year Award in the Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards. In 2010, the hotel underwent a sustainability overhaul, remodeling all rooms to meet updated efficiency standards that resulted in 5.4% less electricity used per year and, 31,034 fewer lbs of Carbon Dioxide emitted annually. Zion Lodge partnered with the National Park Service to eliminate the sale of bottled water on hotel property - but, don’t worry - they offer fresh spring water from Zion National Park, free of charge. Eliminating bottled water immediately reduced more than 60,000 single-use plastic bottles from the Lodge’s waste stream. We’re impressed!

(6) MONTAGE DEER VALLEY

        LOCATION: Park City, Utah

GREEN PERKS: Montage Deer Valley is a picturesque mountain retreat that looks like something out of a postcard. While they don’t boast about all of their good deeds and environmental stewardship, Montage Deer Valley is the first LEED certified resort in the state of Utah. Montage established an executive-level position to create, integrate and manage all aspects of sustainability initiatives, and a management-level Environmental Working Group that oversees the implementation of “green” operating principles that include: water-quality management practices, waste management, energy management, and green housekeeping initiatives. Montage Deer Valley is one of our top 10 sustainable hotels in the US because they’re home to the largest spa in the state of Utah and offer a variety of fun activities, from skiing to golf to mountain biking and even bowling.

(7) BARDESONO

       LOCATION: Yountville, California 

GREEN PERKS: At Bardessono, you won’t have to sacrifice luxury for sustainability. They have worked hard to make sure the two can co-exist seamlessly. Bardessono’s main eco-initiative is reducing their energy use throughout the property. Rooms are strategically designed to benefit from natural light with their 200 square feet windows. The sleek solar panels that cover the hotel roof supply about one-half of the hotel’s total energy consumption. Salvaged Monterey Cypress trees, Redwood, Walnut, and California Bay trees were used in the construction of the hotel. Even Tufa limestone from the original Bardessono family house that once occupied the property was incorporated into the hotel’s building design and aesthetic. Most impressive of all - Bardessono is one of only three hotels in the entire United States that boasts a LEED Platinum certification.

(8) PROXIMITY HOTEL 

        LOCATION: Greensboro, North Carolina

GREEN PERKS: With over 70+ sustainable practices and Leed Platinum certification, Proximity hotel is a leader in the green hotel initiative. The building is designed to reduce energy and water consumption by using solar panels on the rooftops, high-efficiency Kohler plumbing systems, and geothermal energy for the restaurant’s refrigeration system - just to name a few. Even the elevator is specially designed to use less energy. If you’re looking to explore the Greensboro area, you can ditch your car and use the hotel’s complimentary bicycles during your stay. These efforts are just some examples that have helped the Proximity hotel use over 39% less energy than any other traditional hotel.

(9) INN BY THE SEA

        LOCATION: Cape Elizabeth, Maine

GREEN PERKS: Located on the beautiful Maine coast, the Inn by the Sea focuses on environmental initiatives that also make their guest’s stay as luxurious as possible. Guest rooms are stocked with natural, American-made products that are not only packaged in recycled containers but are also displayed on recycled trays. The flooring in the gym is made from recycled rubber and the Spa walls are made from recycled sheetrock. These details not only demonstrate the hotel’s commitment to sustainability, they also reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint. Our favorite initiative at the Inn by the Sea has to be the linens program, that helps fund habitat restoration for the endangered native cottontail bunnies. If you’re not relaxing in a Garden Suite, join a garden tour to explore the hotel’s 5 acres of indigenous seaside gardens that provide the surrounding natural wildlife with food and habitat.

Click here to learn more about the garden.

(10) ALLISON INN 

         LOCATION: Newberg, Oregon

GREEN PERKS: The Allison Inn’s focus on sustainability is derived in large part from the owner’s dedication to creating an environmentally responsible experience to be enjoyed by all guests and generations to come. The 35 acre property was transformed from a former Christmas tree farm into a lush retreat by planting over 70,000 plants and 1,000 trees on the property. The use of Solar roofs generate energy, while 10,000 sq. ft. of green sedum planted rooftops helps to slow down storm water runoff. Even the 5-acre low impact vineyard on the property is eco-friendly - it utilizes Integrated Pest Management and is managed by a certified vintner. If you’re looking to relax in the Allison’s therapeutic spa, you can enjoy the spa’s locally-sourced amenities.