Monday, October 22, 2007

Why Should I Have to Choose Between Green and 'Bleu in Miami?

Sorry for the post drought but The Green Miles was in Miami for the Patriots-Dolphins game, the gridiron version of Ali-Patterson (Tom Brady coming back in for his 6th TD was the Pats' version of "What's my name, fool?").

While I was there, I caught a cool story on the local NPR station about how Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is using state's purchasing power to push hotels to go green:

Now the Four Seasons -- and Florida's 45 other certified green lodges -- stand to benefit from an increase in business thanks to Gov. Charlie Crist's recent mandate that state-sponsored meetings and conferences be held at FDEP-certified green hotels whenever possible, beginning Jan. 1.

Crist's order has sparked a race among hoteliers to complete their paperwork and earn certification from FDEP's green lodging program, which was created in 2004 as a pollution-prevention measure. The program is charged with helping the state's lodging facilities implement ways to conserve water, reduce waste, improve air quality and save energy.
I stayed at the Fontainebleu, which not only isn't FDEP-certified but doesn't have even a single green feature. Not that I didn't enjoy the gorgeous view and all the great amenities, but there's absolutely no reason you can't have gorgeous AND green (in fact, there's a whole website devoted to it). Steps like energy-efficient appliances and lighting, a re-use program for linens and towels, adjusted thermostats and eliminating the use of disposable products like water bottles should be imperceptible to guests. So why should I have to choose between green and (Fontaine)bleu? Why can't I have both?

3 comments:

  1. i just stayed at the Sandpearl Resort in clearwater beach, fl. its a green hotel, and spectacularly nice by any stretch of the imagination. it definitley goes to prove that being green doesnt mean being uncomfortable.

    http://www.sandpearl.com/

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  2. Miles. Asking for Green from Fontainbleu is like asking for Green from the Concorde. It's just not built for that . . .

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  3. mb, I don't get your analogy. The Concorde by design has to emit huge amounts of greenhouse gases. What part of the luxury hotel experience would be hurt by going green? You really think guests would spot energy-efficient fridges and demand to be moved to another room?

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