Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Extends Green Education to Kids

Camp Hyatt teaches kids value of recycling

Lawrence Karol Hotels & Resorts

 

Many Coachella Valley hotels have adopted sustainability in exciting and inventive ways.

We’ve checked in to some of our favorites and see what they have to offer.

We’ll be highlighting one hotel a week, and throughout this series you’ll read about everything from herb gardens to beauty products made through ‘green chemistry’ to vehicle charging stations, and lots more.

So sit back, relax, and come along on our eco-friendly vacation.

This week: Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa

From reducing food waste to the latest in LED technology to a major recycling program, the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa has its eco-friendly bases covered.

There’s even a program to teach kids that recycling can be fun. Sixto Ramirez, director of engineering, and Kathy Stoker, director of rooms, take us on a tour through the hotel’s many eco-efforts.

When did you first introduce eco-friendly features and how did you start?
“I first started introducing eco-friendly practices in 2000 as a by-product of working to make the building more efficient in general,” says Ramirez. “I read about how one affected the other, and began introducing green practices over time, including using eco-sustainable materials during new construction to the property, and implementing new, efficient technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of the overall facility.”

“Around the same time, our staff started to see value in contributing to recycling efforts by collecting bottles and cans throughout their work day and turning them in,” adds Stoker. “We have a very solid homegrown effort to reduce the waste we are turning over to the big companies and, by passing the torch of awareness from one individual to another, our recycling efforts have expanded to include food waste, bottles and cans, aluminum, glass, and plastic. Our children’s discovery camp program, Camp Hyatt, features a number of activities and crafts for kids that use repurposed materials. Our aim is to teach these kids that recycling can be fun and can even spark creativity.”

Do you receive many comments and how do guests react?
“Overall, guests are happy that we make the effort to be eco friendly, and they’ve been supportive of our efforts,” says Ramirez.

What qualities do you think are most important to male guests?
“Technological advances seem to be important to male guests, including LED lighting, efficient toilets with lower water usage, a salt system for pool chlorination, and all of our waste recycling,” says Stoker. “And I think everyone loves the ‘borrow a charger’ program!”

What qualities are most important to female guests?
“Surprisingly, basic issues like food waste and paper wrappings are a big issue to many of the female guests,” says Stoker. “To help address this, we offer choices like a variety of protein sizes and a ‘make-your-own salad’ on the menu at Lantana Restaurant. Likewise, guest amenity products are presented in cornstarch paper wrappers, the shampoo has no cellophane neck wrap, and guests can borrow items like cellphone chargers and curling irons to save on waste and unnecessary expense.”

What’s your favorite eco feature?
“I enjoy the new technologies,” says Ramirez. “I love to see when companies come up with a more efficient way to produce day-to-day household items, and I’m really impressed with how advanced LED technology has become in the last few years. Some new LED bulbs only consume six watts and are comparable to 60-watt incandescent bulbs.”

“I also think our partnership with Clean the World is very important,” says Stoker. “Our room attendants collect all the leftover shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and shower gels, so the plastic bottles can be recycled and the products can be purified and redistributed to areas where soap can really make a difference in curtailing the spread of disease.”

Any changes or additions coming up?
“We’ve implemented many new programs and technologies at the resort, including the installation of variable frequency drives in motors and low-flow toilets for all guest rooms, and the ongoing implementation of LED bulbs in all areas of the property,” says Ramirez. “Hyatt Regency Indian Wells currently has a Green Key Eco Rating of ‘Four Keys’ and was recently recognized with the Oasis Award by the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau for exemplary dedication and efforts to achieve eco-friendly initiatives. The property has also been awarded the Leadership Level within the California Green Lodging Program.”

Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, 44600 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, 760-341-1000.

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