Element Hotels: The Place to Stay for the Environmentally Friendly

For those who really are environmentally conscious travelers, there are so many choices where hotels are concerned. Once upon a time it was thought that all first rate hotels were a monument to the depletion of natural resources and the "greener" hotels were lacking in amenities and comfort and were generally to be found Spartan and off the beaten track ... not so in the 21^st century.

But once travelers started voicing their displeasure at the massive consumption of energy and resources manifest in hotels (especially in large cities) it then became the responsibility of management to confront the obstacle and to start making their hotels appeal to the green enthusiasts without losing any of the luster that hotels like to bestow upon their guests.

Now let's take a look at the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, who incidentally only last year opened a hotel in Lexington, MA under the Element brand. Two years ago Element Hotels announced that it intended to be the first major brand to mandate all its hotels pursue the U.S. Green Building Council's "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) certification.

LEED was established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is an internationally recognized certification awarded for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

By receiving this certification Element Hotels is a hotel brand that can really boast of being ecologically sound whilst still being aesthetically pleasing.

But has all this been profitable? The answer is a resounding yes. Although being rigidly environmentally conscious, Element Hotels has also show a profit.

Element Hotels are proving that building green from the ground up is affordable and allows its guests to be "green" whilst enjoying smart urban living whether they are traveling for pleasure or business.

As well as the successful venture in Massachusetts, Element has also opened hotels in Houston and Dallas Texas, Hanover, MD and Summerlin, NV. These sister hotels are expected to receive their LEED certification in the near future. Plus, Element Hotels are looking to open more than 20 hotels across the USA and Canada over the next two years.

Each hotel that Element opens had cleverly designed green features which are aesthetically appealing and they do not compromise on comfort or style. Every room is green from the floor up and feature 100% recycled carpets, the wall art is mounted on bases that are constructed from recycled tires and the low volatile organic compound paints improve indoor air quality.

The guestrooms have multi-purpose furniture, flat screen TV's, desks, and closets. The bathrooms boast oversized, low flow rain showerheads. And for those who like to cook, each room comes with a fully equipped kitchen; of course, all appliances are energy-efficient.

Rates are reasonable starting at $119 per night and in some cases this also includes a breakfast plus a cheese and wine reception held during the evening in the lobby.

So, you can enjoy eco-friendly accommodation that is comfy, stylish and reasonably priced.

Source: Recommend