Eco-Destination
The EPIC Hotel, Miami A Kimpton Hotel: Green Seal Certified
"
I
want to be eco-friendly, but it’s my VA- CAAATION.”
Do you think an eco-friendly hotel
means sacrifice? Au contraire. Stop whin- ing and go to the aptly-named EPIC Hotel in Miami. It’s green green green, but all you’ll feel is pampered pampered pam- pered. This new, 411-room, 30-floor, luxury
hotel sits on the waterfront, with views of Biscayne Bay, the Miami River, and the Miami skyline. Stroll along the waterfront, take a 15 minute walk to Bayside Market- place, walk to the Arsht Center for Per- forming Arts, catch a cab to South Beach, go for a sail around the bay, hire a fishing charter right from the hotel’s deep water marina… Or never leave the building. This hotel
is a destination in itself. It was named a Top 25 U.S. Hotel, a Top 10 U.S. Luxury Hotel, and a Top 10 U.S. Trendy Hotel by the Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Awards. From comfortable rooms, to a 12,000
square-foot spa, the EPIC has it all – bal- conies, bubble-jet tubs, fabulous dining, friendly staff, infinity pools, a terrace bar, a state-of-the-art fitness center; a 12,000 square-foot spa (that offers everything you can imagine, including cabana massages); complimentary wine hours, and more. Plus, it’s kid-friendly and pet-friendly.
If You Thought “Cosmopolitan” and
“Conservation” Were Strangers, Think Again.
The EPIC is part of the Kimpton ho-
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tel group, and Kimpton has been walk- ing the eco-walk for years. In 1981, they started recycling trash at their first hotel in San Francisco. In 1985, they renovated a second hotel to include a rooftop park. In 1994, they opened the Eco Floor in an- other of their hotels. All Kimpton hotels and restaurants began using 100% recy- cled paper and soy inks years ago. They eliminated Styrofoam, replaced paper cups with ceramic cups, and brought in 100% green (and comfortable) Sealy beds and mattresses. The Kimpton EarthCare® program became mandatory at all Kimp- ton hotels and restaurants, nationwide, in 2005, as part of their commitment to social responsibility. They’ve received numer- ous awards for their efforts, including the Condé Nast World Savers Award; the Na- tional GeoTourism Award from the Travel Industry and Association of America, and National Geographic Traveler magazine; the Hotel World—Corporate Citizen of the Year award, the Co-Op America Green Business Network Certification, and the Acterra Environmental Award for pollution prevention/resource conservation.
Green Seal Silver Certification
The EPIC is a Green Seal Silver Certi-
fied hotel. Green Seal is an independent, non-profit organization that has partnered with the lodging industry to promote en- vironmentally responsible products and practices since 1995. Certification re- quires an initial evaluation by Green Seal,
www.naturalnutmeg.com
including an on-site audit of the property, and annual monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance. To qualify, the EPIC had to demonstrate
sustainable practices in waste minimiza- tion; reuse & recycling; energy efficiency; conservation & management; manage- ment of fresh water resources; waste water management; hazardous substances; and environmentally sensitive purchasing. You can read about all of Kimpton
and EPIC’s eco-friendly achievements on their web site –
kimptonhotels.com. Here are some of the highlights:
• Dual-flush toilets and water-efficient showerheads and faucets. • Towel and linen reuse option. • Certified towels and linens through Oeko-Tex 100 Standard. • Phone books and religious books are of- fered by request. • Hotel key cards made with 30% post consumer recycled plastic. • Infrared occupancy/motion sensors con- trol guest room HVAC. • Soaps, shampoos and conditioners use natural ingredients and come from envi- ronmentally responsible companies. • Partially-used shampoos, conditioners, linens, and towels are donated to local charities. • In-room recycling bins and hotel-wide recycling. • Washable/reusable mugs are provided for morning coffee service.
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