Best Western Plus Chateau Granville

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2016 Progressive Green Steps

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We are proud to be a green hotel and to be able to highlight our 2016 progressive green steps.

Ecostay is one of the many green programs that we participate in. Each month we receive a certificate from them, outlining our carbon offset to date. Take a look at our 2016 progressive green steps during the year.

Start of the Year

As of February, our hotel had offset 678% of our year to date annual carbon footprint. This resulted in 339.1 tonnes of carbon offsets been purchased from emission reducing projects. To put in to simpler terms, that’s an equivalent to taking 24,754 cars off the road for a day, what a great start to the year.

2016 Progressive Green Steps

 

Summer Time

As of May, we had 852.2 tonnes of carbon offsets been purchased from emission reducing projects, an increase of 513.1 tonnes since February.

2016 Progressive Green Steps

 

During the summer our green initiatives in both our restaurant, the Edge Social Grille & Lounge and the hotel were assessed by Green Tourism. We were awarded a Silver rating, following this assessment. Green Tourism noted some of our great green features in the hotel, in particular our recent introduction of occupancy sensors in the guest rooms, which have provided great energy savings.

2016 Progressive Green Steps

 

In September our ecostay certificate highlighted that we had purchased 1,464.2 tonnes of greenhouse gas reducing carbon offsets.

2016 Progressive Green Steps

End of Year

As of December, we closed out the year with having purchased 1,571.6 tonnes of greenhouse gas reducing carbon offsets. This is a great result considering that as of February 2016 we had 339.1 tonnes of greenhouse gas reducing carbon offsets.

 

Thank you to all our hotel guests for participating in our green initiatives. We could not reduce our carbon offsets without your help.  We look forward to seeing and sharing our progress with you in 2017!

It’s Good to be Green!

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There’s no denying it — green is in! We see an increasing number of consumers who prefer to engage in the purchase of eco- friendly products and brands that embraces environmentally friendly practices. BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel and Suites & Conference Centre is growing greener than ever as we continue to work together with our partners and guests to ensure that our green initiatives are a success.

We disclose our Eco-friendly secrets to being one of the best green hotels in town!

 

 Giving Back to The Environment – Carbon Offsets

Ecostay

 

Did you know that carbon offsetting was the new word of the year in the Oxford dictionary? This term is becoming by far one of the most popular, creating much excitement amongst those who are keen about the environment!

We are proud to announce that as of March-2014 our hotel has offset 186% of our annual carbon footprint. This is a remarkable achievement in collaboration with our partners Ecostay and our valued guest who always give us their fullest support.

 

Letting our Guests Pitch In

Photo Credit: Karenn Ar
Photo Credit: Karenn Ar

 

When you make green changes it is mandatory to entice as much participation, hype & excitement as you can! Under the Eco Stay program, the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel & Suites & Conference Centre allows our guests to be a part of our green initiatives by contributing a nominal $2 + GST per room night fee. 75% of these funds go towards the purchase of carbon offsets and 25% goes to on-site green and sustainable initiatives. The majority of our guests are more than happy to contribute to our green initiatives projects as they know they are contributing to a healthier environment. Ecostay through Liveclean funding manages great projects such as Cattleland Feedyards’ Methane Destruction in Alberta, Prorec Food Recycling and Post-Industrial Waste Composting in Quebec.

We are Green Certified!

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The Green Key Eco-Rating Program and Green Key Meetings Program are eco rating systems designed to recognize green hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environment.

We have been awarded 4 Green Keys by the Green Key Eco rating program. Our hotel has had much success in demonstrating leadership and commitment towards safeguarding the environment. We have implemented throughout the property a zero waste program in the kitchen and banquets departments to decrease waste expenses. Across the hotel all lighting has been replaced by LED lighting which reduces our light energy consumption by 80%. Our conference centre also managed to grab 4 green keys for their sustainable venue and eco-friendly practices. All our meeting rooms are equipped with natural daylight and individual climate control which assists in energy conservation. We have also installed an electronic vehicle charger in our underground parking garage for our guests and general public.

EV Chargers

 

Getting Employees Involved

Being a green hotel cannot be achieved alone; it requires the support from each and every department to successfully reach our goals. Clean the World is a program that the hotel has adopted which collects and recycles soap and bottles amenities that are discarded by our guests. It is then re-distributed and donated to homeless shelters in poorer nations. Our team at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville says, “it feels great to help the less fortunate and of course make an difference in the environment”. It is certainly a team effort all around! As the kitchen works hard with the zero waste program, our pro-active maintenance team has done a great job with the installation of LED lights while our front desk encourages the Ecostay program exceptionally well.

Our staff on Earth Day 2014 with proudly showing off our Green Efforts

Our staff on Earth Day 2014 with proudly showing off our green efforts

 

Finally we would like to thank our valued guest and partners for their continued support. Remember Green is the future so it’s time you hop on the Green band wagon.

Let us know your thoughts about your Green initiatives; we would love to hear from you!

THE GREENING OF THE KITCHEN

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Edge logo

 

 

 

The Edge Social Grille and Lounge

 

THE GREENING OF THE KITCHEN

In a ‘Green Vancouver,’ “One mans’ trash is another mans’ treasure.”

Remember when chicken bones, carrot tops, and other food scraps went into the garbage? Along with soup cans, empty milk cartons, and juice cans too? Well, with the “Greening of the Kitchen,” yesterday’s trash is becoming today’s treasure.

As part of our GREEN INITIATIVES program at this hotel, and in keeping with the ‘Green Vancouver’ strategy, our Edge Social Grille and Lounge is working hard to reduce kitchen waste. In fact, we are acting ahead of the City of Vancouver mandatory composting date of January 1 2015. The City of Vancouver estimates that If every resident in Vancouver recycled food scraps for a whole year, 5,500 trucks worth of food scraps would be removed from the landfill.

Food scraps and compostable paper products are separated from recyclable containers, and then collected and turned into something new! From garbage to gold! Food compost is an excellent soil nutrient, and when mixed back into the soil, the food cycle is completed, and new food is grown. The University of Georgia published this report, which details the process clearly.

The amount of waste that actually goes into the garbage is greatly reduced, shrinking our carbon footprint, and helping to keep Vancouver beautiful.

 

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The “Greening of the Kitchen” like our other green initiatives is one step in the ‘Green Vancouver’ strategy that we are taking in achieving the goal of a cleaner planet.

 

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Participants in the Green Key program

 

 

 

 

The Transformation of the Best Western Plus Chateau Granville Hotel

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hotel front artist rendition 2013

The Transformation of

BEST WESTERN PLUS CHATEAU GRANVILLE

The transformation of the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel and Suites and Conference Centre in downtown Vancouver continues to turn heads!

Global TV in Vancouver did an extensive profile on the muti-million dollar renovation plan to the Chateau Granville, and sent us a letter of apology, featured at the end of this blog, over a previously erroneous profile on the hotel. Keep an eye on our facebook and twitter links for updates on our progress! It is out with the old, and in with the new, as the revitalization of this iconic hotel on the edge of the famed Granville Entertainment District continues.

More than just a paint job; although, that in itself has yielded incredible results in the aesthetic appeal of the corner of Granville and Helmcken streets. Visitors to the hotel and to downtown Vancouver over this holiday season will be pleased to view the most festively decorated corner on Granville Street. As this area of downtown Vancouver continues to be remade, the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel and Suites and Conference Centre will continue to lead the way!

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The Chateau Granville has big plans for wide-spread improvements in 2014! Having already upgraded our internet service, taken on extensive ‘green’ initiatives, and sold off the 3 floor walk-up Courtyard annex; in the New Year we will be replacing all the windows and patio doors to ensure maximum soundproofing and in-suite climate control, adding an in-house fitness room, installing new water pressure governors, and even replacing the very roof of the building!

 

Through all of the changes taking place at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel and Suites and Conference Centre, what remains the same is our commitment to guest service. From the front desk staff, to the housekeepers, to the bell staff, and to the staff at our Edge Social Grille and Lounge, we all strive to provide you with the high level of service and hotel comfort that you deserve. Whether it is business or pleasure, our focus is on you, our guest!

Enjoy the changes for yourself, and book a suite with us for your next stay in downtown Vancouver.

 

The BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel and EcoStay

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The BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel and EcoStay

How big is your footprint? Carbon footprint that is! At the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel in downtown Vancouver we are committed to helping protect our environment by reducing our energy consumption and waste. Our goal is to leave a smaller carbon footprint. That’s why, as of October 1, 2013 we have joined the EcoStay Program by LivClean.

EcoStayTM is a national initiative that helps hotels measure their carbon footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies, and balance off their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.

Most of us have by now heard about carbon offsetting. But what is carbon offsetting? Carbon offsetting is balancing the emissions we can’t avoid with projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions on our behalf. By supporting emission-reducing projects we can balance-off all the emissions created in providing you with a comfortable night’s stay.

Under the EcoStay Program, the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel will collect $2 per night from hotel guests. Funds will be used to purchase carbon offsets in support of emission-reducing projects across the country, making your stay completely carbon neutral, and good for the environment! You may ask “Do I have to pay?” Although 97% of guests participate, it’s always your choice. This fee can be removed from your bill, at your request.

Who’s keeping track? EcoStay is a fully transparent third party program, so you can rest assured that an independent party is monitoring all our collections. All LivClean EcoStay Carbon Offset Projects are listed on CSA Group’s GHG CleanProjectsTM Registry in order to demonstrate consistency with the international series of ISO 14064 standards for greenhouse gases quantification, monitoring, and reporting. This pubic registry can be easily accessed via ecostay.ca or directly at ghgregistries.ca/cleanprojects.

If you are one of the growing number of drivers opting for a hybrid electric vehicle, the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel is pleased offer EV chargers in our underground parking lot. It’s one more way that we are working to make our environment greener!

 “Make your next stay in Vancouver an EcoStay!”

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