Hilton to open the country’s first net-zero hotel in May
Sustainability has become a top priority for many travelers, and major hotel brands have started to incorporate eco-friendly initiatives into their luxury properties. Fewer than 12 hotels in the U.S., however, are certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum — the green building rating system's highest level of structural efficiency and sustainability.
The country's first LEED Platinum hotel — the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina — opened in 2008. This property was followed by others including the W San Francisco; Bardessono in Yountville, California; the Hotel Skyler Syracuse in Syracuse, New York; and the Element Denver International Airport.
This spring, Hilton will join these superstars of sustainability when it opens the first net-zero hotel in New Haven, Connecticut.
The Hotel Marcel New Haven, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is set to be entirely electric. It will use renewable solar power to generate energy for the hotel's guest rooms and suites as well as for all its restaurant and all common areas. Because the hotel will operate independent of fossil fuels, the result is a net-zero carbon emissions building.
In addition to the LEED Platinum certification, the Hotel Marcel New Haven is expected to garner the first Passive House certification for hotels in the country. Passive House is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, resulting in ultra-low energy requirements for heating and cooling.
Reservations will be accepted beginning May 19, and nightly rates start at $198. Hilton Honors members can book stays for 59,000 points per night.
A historical building with new purpose
Lead architect, developer and owner Bruce Redman Becker bought and is reimagining a 1970 building that originally housed the Armstrong Rubber Company headquarters and later the Pirelli Tire company. Becker, president of the eco-conscious architecture firm Becker + Becker, modernized the building with sustainability in mind at every turn.
Related: The 6 best eco-friendly hotels in England
"With the climate crisis and continued use of fossil fuels posing an existential threat to humanity, I felt an obligation to build a building that can serve as a model for environmental sustainability," Becker said in a statement. "The question should not be why are we doing this but why isn't everyone else?"
The property, which is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places, was originally designed by Brutalist Bauhaus master architect Marcel Breuer, who lends the hotel its name. The New Haven landmark is located in the Long Wharf neighborhood about 3 miles from downtown and Yale University; it sits just off Interstate 95 across from the city waterfront, and is also near the city's Union Station, which serves Amtrak and Metro-North.
Much of the building, which sat empty for years, is recycled. Becker reused or repurposed original light fixtures, restored wood-paneled walls and upgraded existing infrastructure to enhance temperature control and air quality. The refurbishment of the building helped reduce lighting energy use in the hotel by 30%, using a power-over-ethernet (PoE) system.
Eco-friendly upgrades are good for guests, too
Green design and sustainable adjustments to the building are not only good for the planet — they're good for guests, too.
The triple-glazed windows provide ultra-efficient insulation to stabilize guest room temperatures, even in direct sunlight, while reducing noise pollution. Plus, guests who arrive by electric vehicle can enjoy the convenience of 12 Tesla Superchargers or universal Level 2 chargers to power up their rides. The parking canopies are outfitted with solar panels to capture the sun's rays and convert them into energy for the hotel.
Related: 8 sustainable travel tips from expert green travelers
The eco-friendly theme continues into the dining experiences at the hotel. The on-site restaurant, BLDG (pronounced "building" when you make a reservation), features locally sourced ingredients and a wine list of biodynamic and organic wines from Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Chile and California. The restaurant's kitchen and the hotel's laundry room use electrical power instead of natural gas; the kitchen also uses energy-efficient induction heat for cooking.
The hotel also offers a boutique with a grab-and-go area filled with healthy snacks, a fitness center, pet-friendly rooms and more than 9,000 square feet of meeting space, including eight breakout rooms.
Hilton and Hotel Marcel partnership
Hilton's Tapestry Collection family is a natural fit for Hotel Marcel's vision, as the brand features a portfolio of more than 70 handpicked independent hotels, each with a unique story. This fits the Hotel Marcel's sustainability story — a real-world case study of the three Rs: "reduce, reuse, recycle." Plus, Hotel Marcel lends the brand an inspiring narrative about breathing new life into an New Haven architectural landmark.
Related: 9 unique hotel amenities that will make your next business trip so much better
Adding the Hotel Marcel to Hilton's Tapestry Collection furthers the hotel brand's Travel with Purpose program, a strategy used to encourage responsible travel and tourism globally. The program helps to create a positive social and environmental impact throughout Hilton's global hotel operations and supply chain. This initiative is paying off with major recognition: In 2020, Hilton was named a Global Industry Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the second consecutive year.
And of course there's the bragging rights Hilton garners from opening the first net-zero hotel in the country.
"Hotel Marcel New Haven will connect travelers with the New Haven area while inspiring them to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of their stay," Jenna Hackett, global brand head of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, said in a statement.
Bottom line
Sustainable travel will continue to be a major draw for consumers, who are calling on hotel brands to integrate these environmentally conscious initiatives into their offerings. Many LEED-certified hotels are located in college towns, so if you're planning to visit a college or university, check the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) website before booking your stay.
The better for the planet, the better for us all.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.