Making it Green

Lately it seems more hoteliers and corporate brands are making sure their policies and procedures are in alignment with their guest’s demands for sustainable design and practices.

Some brands have taken the idea of green to the next level by developing a whole new brand around the concept of “Green”.

The Hotel Terra, located in Jackson Hole Wyoming is an exciting example of how a hotel can take sustainable design and materials and deliver a world class luxury experience.  The concept is getting rave reviews as Hotel Terra was recently named to both the Condé Nast “2008 Hot Hotels” list and Travel and Leisures’ “It list 2008”.

Hotel Terra opened its doors to the world January 29, 2007, and is one of only a handful of hotels to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED certification. The LEED Green Building Rating System was developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the nationally accepted standard for green buildings. LEED provides innovative strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor air quality. These efforts are designed to promote both minimal environmental impact and the health and well being of the inhabitants.

"We don't necessarily feel that one green hotel in Wyoming is going to radically change the world, but we do believe it leads by example, and it also becomes part of a solution and part of a better way to do things," said Samantha Denny, Corporate Marketing Director for Terra Resort Group.  “The goal at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole was to combine the exceptional amenities and services expected from luxury hotels, with environmentally sustainable building and operating practices in a way that hasn’t been attempted before.”

This balance of a green focus paired with a luxurious experience touches all aspects of the design and operation of the hotel.  Examples of eco-friendly choices at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole are listed below:

Structure - Hotel Terra incorporated 100% recycled "Eco Shake" roof shingles, made from old tires, over 80% of the steel used in the building is recycled steel, Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) carpets and pads, sealants, paint, and adhesives, more than 90% of the hotel interiors capture natural daylight and have access to outdoor views, Energy Star approved, extremely efficient windows, with Low E, a highly reflective coating that protects interiors from infrared light, keeping heat inside in the winter, out in the summer. In addition the use of low flow water fixtures reduces the water consumption by as much as 34%.

Products - Use of organic materials like organic cotton for the all linens and towels, 100% organic Spa products , and 100% natural bed mattresses all contribute to the overall message of sustainability and eco-friendly luxury.

Technology -  Hotel Terra has taken conscious steps to utilize technologies to deliver some eco-positive outcomes and enable others.  The converged IP network deployed by Guest-Tek at Hotel Terra has reduced the materials and waste associated with installing and supporting multiple networks. 

In addition to the HD Video-on-demand and HD IPTV that puts the ‘WOW’ in the guest experience, this converged network also supports other applications such as networked temperature controls in each room.. “By using to Guest-Tek’s OneView™ network we are able to run various monitoring applications like HVAC systems to monitor and regulate in room temperatures over the same physical network requiring a single CAT5 cable,” said Ryan Zalta, Director of Internet Technology for Terra Resort Group.  “Ensuring heat and air conditioning run only when guests are in the room significantly lowers energy consumption.”

The interactive menu provided with the OneView Media solution provides additional benefit in that it allows the hotel to move away from the traditional in-room hotel binder.  The menu system can provide all the information and content of the old binder but can engage the guest more fully with hi-resolution images and still reduce paper waste generated by reprints and changes to binder materials.

“In the future we intend to expand the material and information within the menu system to showcase our environmental operations to our guests and educate them on how they can help us to further reduce our impact on the environment around the hotel,” said Ms. Denny.

As the end result, guests walking into Hotel Terra do not notice any difference in the quality of the service or the amenities which in itself is the message. It is possible to create a luxury eco-hotel without a compromise on either side…

Bravo to Terra Resort Group for their leadership and innovation and example to show the hospitality marketplace it is possible to make it green.

To learn more about the Hotel Terra and their environmental impact – www.hotelterrajacksonhole.com