Wooden Electronic Key Cards--do they work or do they not work? That is the question going on around hotels in Denver during the Democratic National Convention.
As you might know already, the NY Sun said the key cards were a bust and we wrote about that. Then a PR rep for the key cards said that wasn't true and the general manager of the Sheraton (where the cards were reported to be abandoned) backed up that claim, saying the key cards were working just fine after an initial "user error." The Sun then issued an update.
Yesterday, we got word that the key cards were working just fine at the Hotel Gold Crown near the Denver airport.
So it seems like these wooden key cards are working and everything is fine and green dandy. Not quite. Thanks to a tipster who did some research for us, there have been some more incidents of these eco-friendly key cards not working. After the jump, see the problems people are having with the key card.
Hats off to the Fairmont Scottsdale for their new initiative to convert the hotel's kitchen grease to low-emission alternative fuel.
In making the announcement, the hotel claimed that the effort will help to prevent more than 100,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere thanks to 700-plus gallons of used cooking oil that local manufacturer AZ BioDiesel will use to create almost 600 gallons of biodiesel each month.
It doesn't take a Beautiful Mind to do the math; the Fairmont Scottsdale is making a concerted effort to minimize their carbon footprint and certainly, we like that.
This week, hotels all over Denver served to host the world premiere of the sustainable wooden hotel key cards we'd heard so much about.
First, we heard they sucked. But then the source we'd consulted had issued a correction (rumors happen!) saying all was fine and dandy with the cards -- but we wanted to wait and hear from someone who had actually used the cards before we allowed ourselves to remain hold out hope for eco-friendly keycards to catch on.
So we were delighted when reader Amy, who used the new keys at the Hotel Gold Crown just south of Denver, wrote in to give them the thumbs up:
I used the wooden key cards, and they worked great for me and my group.
Yay! Thanks for the report -- and if anyone else has any insight as to how this whole thing is working out, email us!
With all the ink over green hotels and LEED-certified buildings, it's kinda refreshing to see a hotel chain implement green food. Not with food coloring, but with an approach to cuisine that is local, sustainable, and trans-fat free.
The RockResorts chain has just rolled out its Appetite for Life program -- which translates to exclusively offering Coleman natural products (all free-range, organic, natural meats and poultry), Horizon Organic Dairy products, sustainable seafood and fish, and fairtrade coffee (including organic Starbucks Serena coffee).
And no trans fats! Anti-trans-fats Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York City would be so proud.
UPDATE: Turns out the wooden electronic key cards are not a big "suckfest" nor do they "totally blow." Apparently, problems with the cards were just "user error", so say the PR reps. And contrary to what the NY Sun reported, the whole plan has not been ditched. Wooden key cards are still in effect. If you are in Denver, and are using a wooden electronic key card, please email us and tell us what you think.
According to the New York Sun, the biodegradable keys -- made from sustainably harvested birch wood and emblazoned with the DNC logo -- turned out to be a suckfest extravaganza and the whole plan was ditched within hours. Fail.
For the truly green traveler, staying in a hotel that just offers to wash the sheets every other day is not enough. A truly green traveler goes to a place that is almost entirely sustainable, if not completely. Also, this green resort or hotel should include the locals and the surrounding area as much as it can.
Fortunately for these earth-conscious travelers, such eco-resorts are becoming more and more popular. And the latest one is set to hit in beautiful Dominica where the local government has not only approved plans for the eco-lodge, but is actually involved in building it.
The Distinguished International Hotel Group has got a partnership going with the Government of Dominica and the local Carib Council (representing the rights of indigenous locals) to open a resort with a hundred villas, cottages and tree houses.
The Cavendish in London is apparently not just determined to make us fit, but also to make us environmentally responsible. Which of course isn't a bad thing at all.
Recently the Cavendish launched "green meetings" for guests using the conference and meeting facilities, and this means that they're providing €1 (US$1.50) as a carbon offset for every delegate guest. And, they're quick to point out, the hotel is donating this money from its own pockets, rather than adding it on to the bills (although really, in the end it all comes from the same place, right?).
This is all a warm and fuzzy thing to do, but we're not at all sure why it's only meeting delegates who get to enjoy that warm and fuzzy feeling. We're hoping that the Cavendish will start carbon offsetting for all hotel guests, including holidaymakers and tourists. But, of course, without increasing their very reasonable rates.
You may well ask (as we did), why does the Marriott in Melbourne even use paper towels at all--but apparently they have them in public areas and staff areas, but thankfully not in guest rooms. Anyways, they don't have paper towels anywhere anymore, because now they've got the (drumroll ...) Envirocane hand towel.
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by juliana
Hats off to the 
