Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif., has undertaken a number of green initiatives to reduce its footprint and connect with the local community.
The coastal hotel even offers school tours for local kids that explain LEED certification and show off property highlights. Private tours can also be arranged for groups.
The hotel is participating in a pilot program with the city of Monterey that collects food scraps for composting, diverting waste from landfills, and is also a member of the Monterey County Offset Project, which buys renewable energy credits to raise funds and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Even dining at Portola Hotel is green, as the property participates in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, which helps visitors make sustainable culinary choices and avoid ordering an “overfished” dinner that harms the aquatic ecosystem.
In 2015, the property plans to complete a major bathroom remodel that will improve sustainability, complete with ultra low-flow toilets and compact fluorescent lighting.
The 379-room hotel offers 50,000 square feet of indoor meeting space , 60,000 square feet of outdoor space, and is adjacent to the 58,000-square-foot Monterey Conference Center.