Going Green

It takes much more than a recycling program to make a hotel "green," and although few properties in Seattle are doing everything right, a handful of local luxury hotels have expanded the industry's definition of eco-friendly.

Hyatt at Olive 8

The first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotel in Seattle, the Hyatt at Olive 8 was built from the ground up with sustainability in mind. From the demolition of the previous building and the painstaking construction of a green roof to details like naturally antimicrobial wool carpeting and dual-flush toilets, this hotel and residence (the upper floors are condos) is healthier for the planet and guests alike.

Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle

Motion detectors make sure heating and a/c units don't run when there's no one in the room. All toilets are dual-flush European models that save on the hotel's water consumption.

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel

The Fairmont has a wide-reaching Green Partnership program in which all hotel employees are educated to help the hotel conserve water and energy. Initiatives range from recycling and composting programs to more inventive programs like capturing condensation from the hotel's steam heating to be used in the washing machines. Eco-friendly weddings and meetings are available. Guest's hybrid vehicles get free valet parking.

Kimpton Properties

Kimpton, whose Seattle hotels include Hotel Monaco, Hotel Vintage Park, the Palladian, and the Alexis Hotel, has a far-reaching approach. Recycling, towel and linen reuse, and energy-conservation and water-conservation schemes are standard here, and the company uses environmentally friendly cleaning products in all its properties. Guests also enjoy fair-trade coffee, organic snacks in the minibar, local and organic restaurant fare, and eco-friendly bath products.