MONTEREY, CALIF.—The Portola Hotel & Spa partnered with the Monterey Regional Airport to celebrate Earth Day. Today, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Portola Hotel & Spa staff were stationed at the Monterey Regional Airport Baggage Claim area to give away reusable bags made of 100 percent recycled materials. The phrase “I used to be a plastic bottle” was printed across the reusable bags as a friendly reminder of the utility that comes with recycling. Portola Hotel & Spa will also be giving out reusable bags to guests checking into the property on Earth Day while supplies last.
“Portola Hotel & Spa deeply values sustainability,” said Janine Chicourrat, General Manager of the Portola Hotel & Spa. “Earth Day is the perfect opportunity to remind individuals of the importance of our environment and how we can all make a difference.”
Portola Hotel & Spa’s giveaway is an extension of their onsite eco-friendly practices, as well as a show of support for Monterey’s Single Use Plastic Carryout Bag Ban. The effort of this ban seeks to help the City of Monterey reach its GHG (greenhouse gas emissions) reduction target as required under the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. The ban prohibits all Monterey retail stores from providing customers with single-use plastic carryout (shopping) bags.
Property is Certified LEED Silver
The hotel shows additional support for The City of Monterey’s commitment to promoting a sustainable future with their pledge of building “green”. Portola Hotel & Spa currently holds the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Silver LEED certification for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance and has been selected as the first participant in the LEED recertification process.
Some of Portola Hotel & Spa’s existing eco-friendly efforts include:
• Almost 20 percent of the hotel’s employees commute using alternative forms of transportation including biking, walking, and public transit.
• Native and adaptive plants that are drought-tolerant and provide habitat are placed throughout the property.
• In order to eliminate the hotel’s contribution to ozone depletion, all refrigerants containing CFCs have been phased out.
• Portola Hotel has purchased Renewable Energy Credits equivalent to 100 percent of yearly energy, which supports renewable energy generation off-site.
• At least 25 percent of food purchases are local or sustainable.
• Portola Hotel is diverting approximately 78 percent of waste from landfills and conducts an annual waste audit to identify areas that can be further approved. To ensure a healthy and productive environment for the Portola Hotel staff and guests, an annual survey on occupant comfort and general cleanliness is conducted.
A large part of Monterey’s appeal is the pristine beauty of its coastline and Portola Hotel & Spa takes an active interest in preserving it. In addition to the green choices the hotel makes on-site, Portola Hotel & Spa hosts four beach cleanups a year through their partnership with Save Our Shores, which is a nonprofit marine conservation organization whose mission is caring for the marine environment through ocean awareness, advocacy, and citizen action. Their next beach cleanup is slated for July 6 at 3:30 p.m.
Go to the Portola Hotel & Spa.
