On Aug. 28, 2009 Mayor Villaraigosa commended the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites for being LA’s first hotel to reach the standards set by Green Seal, an independent, non-profit organization that partners with hotels and motels across the country in an effort to conserve resources, prevent pollution and minimize waste. Erected in 1976, the 37-story Westin Bonaventure with 1.5 million square feet is the City’s largest hotel and is expected to save more than $225,000 annually under the certification guidelines while drastically reducing its carbon footprint.
“I am extremely pleased that the Westin Bonaventure, one of the city’s most iconic buildings, has been recognized by Green Seal for its environmentally-friendly practices,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “This is just a first step in our efforts to make Los Angeles a greener and healthier city not only for those who live here, but the millions of people who visit our great city each year.”
In March 2007, Councilmember Richard Alarcón, who represents the Seventh Council District, first introduced a motion to create a Certified Green Business Program for the city. Since then he has worked closely with a coalition that includes the Environmental Affairs Department, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, GREEN LA and LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and to create a plan for implementation of a green business.
"After years of effort, it's gratifying to see the first step in the City's Green Business Certification Program, the Green Hotels component, is now a reality," said Councilmember Alarcón. "By choosing to become a Green Seal certified hotel, the Westin Bonaventure is showing that a race to the top, not the bottom, can be beneficial to both the environment and to the company's bottom line. I congratulate the Westin Bonaventure, and all of the partners who made this possible, and I know this is just the beginning of a wave of green businesses across our City."
The Mayor toured the property with the hotel’s owner Peter Zen noting the many operational changes that have been implemented as part of the Green Seal certification process. The hotel has contracted with several vendors to help properly dispose of all recyclable materials, from copy paper and glass bottles to composting bins and kitchen grease. The hotel has also installed motion sensors in all 27 meeting rooms, replaced toxic cleaning products with eco-friendly alternatives, and arranged for leftover food from the daily breakfast buffet to be donated to local missions and food banks.
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LA's 1st Green Seal Hotel
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Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilmember Alarcón, Peter Zen (Owner of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites), and the Green Seal team.
