The greening of Boston is a modern-day priority in this cradle of revolution and innovation. Many of Boston’s historic buildings have not only been preserved and restored, they have also been designated housing for 21st century businesses like hotels and museums. The hospitality community is committed to ramping up energy-efficient operations in hotels and restaurants and to serving groups the green operations they want.
Saunders Hotel Group has been leading the way for many years. Its flagship property, The Lenox Hotel, was built in 1900 in the Back Bay district and has become an icon of Boston society. The Saunders family assumed ownership in 1963 and began restorations that have earned them accolades for historic preservation, design and environmental innovation. Saunders’ leadership is paying off and making Boston a green icon with worldwide favor.
One property that has joined the green transformation wave is Westin Copley Place.
“Our director of engineering, Jeff Hanulec, bleeds green,” says Scott Alpert, director of sales and marketing for the hotel, a 25-year-old building in central Boston. “And he’s been behind the sustainable upgrades that were a major component of the just-completed $13 million renovation project. There’s even a new indoor herb garden in the hotel’s rotunda for the chef to harvest.”
Hanulec says he has looked at every possible way the hotel can conserve energy and reduce waste.
“We’re making enormous inroads,” he says. “Our lighting system is new and more efficient, and energy management controls are in our 52,000 square feet of meeting space and guest rooms.
“We obtained a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to jumpstart our recycling program to include food, back-of-the-house operations like bulbs, batteries, paint, and computer components, and so on,” he adds. “Glass, plastic, cardboard, and office papers are also recycled.”
Other green facility upgrades have included waterless urinals and steam rather than electric heating coils in guest corridors.
Dan Ruben, executive director of Boston Green Tourism, says his organization is about making Boston a preeminent destination for environmentally minded visitors.
“We want to complement the area’s beauty, natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities with a full array of environmentally friendly services,” he says. “And we want to protect our environment by improving the environmental performance of Greater Boston’s visitor industry and modeling our achievements for others to emulate.”
The organization’s website, www.bostongreentourism.org, allows users to search for green hotels, convention facilities, and products and services related to meeting planning.
