Green Accommodations

From LEED to Green Seal to Energy Star, Portland hotels meet the industry’s strictest criteria for environmentally friendly hotels. However, you don’t have to have a certification to be green! Here’s a selection of Portland hotels and their green efforts.

The Allison Inn & Spa
Sitting on 35 hillside acres in the Willamette Valley wine region just an hour from downtown, The Allison Inn & Spa made its debut in September 2009 and has received national and international acclaim for its forward thinking and respect for the land. The resort is adorned with 70,000 plants and 1,000 trees, along with five acres of planted vineyards. The Allison was awarded LEED Gold certification within six months after opening. A 10,000-square-foot sedum-planted eco-roof, solar power and hot water, energy-efficient lighting and appliances and other green features ensure an anticipated energy cost savings of 50 percent over traditional design.

Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station
As the first Green Seal Silver certified property at Portland International Airport, the Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station has taken grand leaps in sustainability in just a few short years. Opened in 2008, this Vision of W Hotels property is Blue Sky wind-powered, engages in property-wide composting and recycling and volunteers for the Columbia Watershed Council. Offering guests environmental package discounts; “You Tidy, We Treat” alternative turn-down-service incentives; and complimentary bike rentals, the Aloft promotes sustainability in a variety of ways. The Aloft continually strives to become more environmentally conscious and to be a model hotel for green travelers.

Avalon Hotel + Spa
Historically the first LEED-certified hotel in Portland, the Avalon Hotel and Spa reduced water consumption by 22 percent through low-flow systems and eliminated 95 percent of its irrigation needs by landscaping with native, tolerant plants. More than 60 percent of the hotel’s waste is recycled or composted, and each room contains a recycling bin. Guests who arrive in an alternative-fuel vehicle, such as those powered by biodiesel, are invited to park for free.

Courtyard by Marriott – Portland City Center
Opened in June 2009, the 256-room Courtyard by Marriott, a renovation of an older downtown office structure, is Gold LEED certified. The building’s exterior received a complete facelift, and its window proportions were optimized to allow maximum daylighting and energy conservation. The hotel is designed to use 28 percent less energy than a conventional building, saving the equivalent energy use of 42 households per year — 25 percent above the requirements of the Oregon energy code.

Doubletree Hotel Portland
The first hotel in Portland to achieve Green Seal certification, the Doubletree Hotel Portland is also Energy Star certified. The hotel also received an Energy Leadership Award from the Energy Trust of Oregon in 2009. Since 1996, it has reduced overall waste by 65 percent, as well as reduced water usage by 15 percent. The hotel purchases 65 percent of their food products from within a 500-mile radius of the hotel and offsets 25 percent of its electricity use. Additionally, the Doubletree abides by a comprehensive environmental purchasing policy and property-wide recycling program.

Embassy Suites Portland – Downtown
The leaders at the Embassy Suites Portland – Downtown believe that a sustainable business is dependent on economic vitality, social equity and a healthy natural environment. These goals are not mutually exclusive, but inextricably linked. The Embassy Suites is committed to developing sustainable business practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the welfare of future generations. The property continues to strive for higher standards by working toward silver-level Green Seal certification, and by making such advances as improving its landfill diversion rate to 42 percent in 2009.

The Heathman Hotel
The Heathman Hotel, located in downtown Portland, purchases 30 percent of its electricity through Pacific Power’s Blue Sky renewable energy program, utilizes compostable key cards and recycles 72 percent of its waste by volume. The Heathman was the first hotel in Portland to complete energy efficiency upgrades. In 2009, the Heathman received an Energy Leadership Award from the Energy Trust of Oregon. For every green package purchased, the Heathman donates $25 to Portland-based non-profit Friends of Trees.

Hilton Portland and Executive Tower
The largest hotel in Oregon, the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower is a Green Seal certified hotel. At the Hilton, low-flow toilets and showerheads, along with smaller basins, resulted in a 50 percent decrease in overall water consumption, without affecting guests. “Smart” thermostats, operating by motion sensor, conserve heat or air conditioning when the guest exits the room. Additionally, eco-friendly products are used for cleaning and leftover, pre-consumer, food is donated to a local food bank program called “Fork it Over.”

Hilton Vancouver
The Hilton Vancouver is the first hotel in the world to achieve both LEED and Green Seal certification. Their in-house irrigation system reduces water use by 50 percent, and a white reflective roof helps disperse heat into the atmosphere. Operable windows allow fresh air into the guest rooms and sensors turn off heating and cooling systems in rooms, meeting spaces and hallways when visitors are not present. Also, the Hilton Vancouver supports local and regional suppliers for food, beverages, and building materials.

Hotel Monaco Portland
Kimpton Hotels, the parent company of Hotel Monaco, abides by a set of environmentally friendly best practices. At the Hotel Monaco Portland, all rooms use water- and energy-saving fixtures and are maintained with eco cleaning products. Unused amenity bottles are donated to charity and all collateral is printed on recycled paper with soy based inks. Organic, shade grown and/or fair trade coffee is served complimentary in the hotel lobby. All rooms include recycling bins and a back-of-house program recycles glass, bottles, paper, cardboard and other materials. Hotel Monaco Portland is Green Seal certified.

Hotel Vintage Plaza
At Hotel Vintage Plaza, a historic Kimpton Hotel in downtown Portland, luxury and sustainability go together. Praised for its elegant atmosphere and warm hospitality, the hotel is equally awarded for its unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability. Hotel Vintage Plaza has met the rigorous standards of Green Seal Silver certification, and was the first recipient of the RecycleWorks Award (2008-2011) granted by the City of Portland.

The Mark Spencer Hotel
The Mark Spencer Hotel was the first locally owned and operated Portland hotel to receive Green Seal certification. The 102-year-old property invested more than $3 million in facility improvements and redevelopment of guest services programs to meet Green Seal standards. A new high efficiency HVAC system, low-energy lighting and reduced water consumption has lessened the hotel’s environmental footprint. New, dual pane guest room windows can be opened, an amenity provided in response to frequent guest requests.

The Nines Hotel
Awarded LEED Silver certification in 2009, the Nines Hotel draws on 100 percent renewable energy and saves 500,000 gallons of water per year with dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets. During the renovation of the historic building in which the Nines is located, 90 percent of its 24 million pounds of construction debris was recycled and 75 percent of the building’s historic core retained. Low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints and carpets help ensure air quality and limited outdoor lighting reduces light pollution.

Portland Marriott City Center
Located in the heart of the Rose City, the Marriott Portland City Center on Broadway recently received Green Seal certification. Close to walking and bicycling trails, the City Center is also only two blocks away from the MAX light rail with direct access to the Oregon Convention Center and the airport. This smoke-free hotel saves trees with video review billing and checkout.

Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
Like the Doubletree, the Portland Marriott boasts both Energy Star and Green Seal certifications. Each year, the hotel recycles 100 tons of paper, glass, plastic and other products, and composts another 100 tons in food waste. High energy fluorescent lighting and low-flow fixtures are used throughout the hotel and energy efficient air conditioning systems are installed in all rooms. The saline pool and spa reduce the use of hazardous chemicals and the ozone laundry service cleans with cold water.

Red Lion Hotel on the River
The Red Lion Hotel on the River prides itself on a sustainable purchasing policy and everyday business practices, lead by an in-house green team. The purchasing policy includes recycled office supplies, choosing local suppliers first and earth-friendly cleaners. The Red Lion Hotel on the River uses energy efficient lighting and water conserving fixtures. Recycling methods are available to all groups, guests, vendors and employees.

For more information on hotel-specific green initiatives, check out Hotel Summary Sheets.

No. 1, "Greenest City in America" — Popular Science (February 2008)

No. 1, "Environmental Friendliness” — America's Favorite Cites survey, Travel+Leisure (September 2009)

No. 1, "Most eco-friendly big cities in America" — SustainLane.com (September 2008)

Best Place to MeetGreen — MeetGreen meeting consultants