Meeting planners and hotel guests alike continue to support hotels that show a commitment to sustainability, and the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel continues to implement programs that show a commitment to the environment.
The hotel recently achieved a 4 Green Key Rating through the Green Key Eco-Rating Program recognizing the hotel for national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through its wide-ranging policies and practices. The hotel has mature programs in place that involve management, associates, guests, and the public which have shown substantial and measurable results.
“Associates at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel have implemented numerous sustainability practices to help save energy and resources,” states Mike Ehmann, the hotel’s general manager. ”Green initiatives have become very important to both the group meeting and leisure customer as they are a visible way to demonstrate our core values.” Ehmann continued that Starwood’s mission of 30-20-20 is a key priority for the hotel, reflecting a savings of 30% energy and 20% water by 2020. In addition, the hotel front desk agents encourage guests to Make A Green Choice, a program that conserves water, energy and other resources.
Some highlights of the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel’s green initiatives include CFL bulbs in all rooms; occupancy sensors in all offices; digital thermostats in all guest rooms; recycling of all fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, wiring, telephones and electronic equipment; recycling of fryer and cooking oil; on-site water bottling program eliminating the use of plastic bottles and the use of only eco-friendly cleaning solutions and chemicals. In addition, the hotel recently replaced its traditional washing machines with high efficiency tunnel machines that use 1/6 of the water previously used while cutting wash time by more than 50%.
Of special interest to meeting planners is the use of electronic banquet event orders and contacts as well as the installation of electronic reader boards, eliminating significant use of paper.
Sustainability also translates to individual team member support of the community. Hotel associates are planning a blood drive to benefit Children’s Hospital as well as a day volunteering for Habitant for Humanity.