What’s green, has wheels and is known for excellent customer service? The staff of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, of course. This year, as part of its “Sustainable Summer” initiative, 52 employees participated in Carpool, Bike or Hike to Work Day. On June 22, “more than 422 [driving] miles were saved by the colleagues of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa,” says Regional Director of Public Relations Michelle Heston. Besides the “Sustainable Summer” initiative, this innovative resort is finding many other ways to show its commitment to a greener future. From wind-powered check-in computers to edible centerpieces, Fairmont is leading the way in eco-friendly practices.
Though founded more than a century ago in 1884, the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts company doesn’t shy away from modern trends. Instead, it’s creating them. In 1990, Canadian Fairmonts began The Fairmont Green Partnership, “literally writing the book on sustainable practices in the lodging industry,” explains Heston. Since then, Fairmont has spread environmental awareness throughout its North American businesses.
And the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is no exception. All 226 rooms and suites offer eco-accommodation options. These amenities, designed to reduce energy use and waste, include a pamphlet outlining Fairmont’s green initiatives, recycling bins, optional sheet and towel replacement, energy-efficient lighting and water-conserving showerheads, toilets and tap aerators.
As part of its “Eco-Innovations” program, introduced in 2005, Fairmont purchased wind-powered computers, which are used to check in guests. The computers are being used at every Fairmont hotel and resort in North America and equate to a greenhouse gas reduction of almost 100 tonnes.
A match made in (green) heaven
Fairmont has also joined forces with the EPA’s Energy Star program to streamline energy performance and reduce both utilities consumption and greenhouse gas emissions throughout its 15 U.S. properties. The voluntary EPA program gives businesses access to the guidelines and resources they need to achieve and maintain energy efficiency. “Energy Star provides the resort with the most up-to-date energy saving techniques through its impressive educational arm,” says Heston.
The program also includes progress tracking, so businesses can measure their own levels of improvement and identify which areas still need work. Energy Star uses an energy performance rating system to determine a building’s eligibility for its label.
Helping others be green
This year, Fairmont has launched Eco-Meet, a program that helps businesses host conferences and other events at its resorts with minimal environmental impact. The program consists of four components: eco-accommodation, eco-service, eco-cuisine and eco-programming.
Eco-accommodation, which is provided for all guests, includes the aforementioned room and suite amenities. Eco-service provides corporate groups with recycling stations in meeting rooms and whiteboards rather than flipcharts to reduce paper waste. For meals, nondisposable china and cutlery, as well as linen napkins and reusable or even edible centerpieces, are provided to further eliminate waste. (An added bonus for guests is that china is much more attractive than standard paper and plasticware.)
The cornerstone in Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa’s eco-cuisine is organic, sustainably grown local products. Special menus available for corporate meal functions include a 50 percent reduction in animal proteins, supplemented by vegetable proteins. For regular guests and executives looking for more, there’s Sante, the resort’s locally minded gourmet restaurant. This past summer, Chef Joseph Brown introduced a new menu called “Farm to Fork,” which focuses on local, seasonal offerings. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa also has its own herb garden.
The last piece of the puzzle is eco-programming, which educates professionals about green practices through activities and guest speakers. Team-building exercises and keynote addresses are some examples of programming provided by Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa to complete the Eco-Meet experience.
Smell the flowers
Another example of how the facility is turning Fairmont’s global philosophy into a local effort is its sponsorship of the Sonoma Overlook Trail. “Guests will be able to more fully enjoy the Sonoma Overlook Trail with the hotel’s eco-innovation project, which is a partnership with the Sonoma Ecology Center,” says Heston. “The Sonoma Overlook Trail Improvement Plan provides for interpretive signage—guests can participate in guided trail excursions, which create an interactive educational experience. The two-mile loop, perfect for most fitness levels, provides a scenic view of the town. Hikers can spot native trees, vineyards and wildflowers.”
The resort is also implementing a Green Travel program. Hotel guests currently receive complimentary parking for hybrid vehicles, and those who wish to rent a vehicle may do so through EV Car Rental, which specializes in hybrid rentals.
Continuing the trend
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will continue to push forward to expand its green influence. And, Heston says, they won’t do it alone. Fairmont will continue to reach out to like-minded organizations, including the Hotel Association of Canada (Green Key Eco-Rating Program), Audubon International, Pembina Institute (Eco-Logo certified wind power for check-in computers) and the World Heritage Alliance (WHA), a joint initiative of the United Nations Foundation and Expedia, to promote conservation, sustainable tourism and economic development for communities located in and around World Heritage sites (there are 851 properties around the world, including Yosemite National Park and Redwood National and State Parks in California).
Heston concludes: “The Green Partnership lets Fairmont meet and exceed guest expectations of operational sustainability and responsible tourism, because the environment isn’t just something that’s ‘out there’—it’s where we live, work and play each day.”
If you’re planning a meeting, you can download a copy of Fairmont’s green meeting checklist at www.fairmont.com/ecomeet.
