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Ritz-Carlton gets ‘Green Hotel’ certification

The Ritz-Carlton in Isla Verde. (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)

The Ritz-Carlton in Isla Verde. (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)

The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan announced Thursday it has been officially certified as a “Green Hotel” by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the government agency responsible for tourism regulations and green lodging sponsored programs dedicated to the Caribbean.

The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, is the first luxury hotel in Puerto Rico to receive the distinction, which it achieved by incorporating a comprehensive set of initiatives across several functions — including the reduction of energy use, water consumption and waste, an increase in organic dining options through its partnership with local farms, and the protection of the Isla Verde Coral Reef Marine Reserve, situated directly across the hotel coastline.

“Our resort is the first luxury hotel on the island to blend a luxury travel experience with active sustainability practices,” said General Manager, Jacqueline Volkart, speaking at an event held at the hotel on Thursday. “We are proud to have been awarded the ‘Green Hotel’ Certification as our commitment to the environment remains one of the most important endeavors for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company around the world.”

The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan’s environmentally friendly practices include energy-efficient lighting in all public areas and guestrooms, recycling options in guestrooms and throughout the hotel, the use of local and natural products in all of the hotel’s food and beverage options, the use of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and a low irrigation system, organic spa treatments and spa products, and the hotel’s environmentally focused Ritz Kids program, which highlights the property’s partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society.

A Ritz-Carlton Environmental Action Conservation Team has also been created at the hotel with the aim of ensuring standards are maintained, and new sustainable opportunities are constantly identified, the company said.

The Tourism Co.’s certification process requires the property to undergo a rigorous application process and provide copies of all the utility and maintenance bills for the past year to review consumption levels prior and after entering the program. Standards range from conserving resources to infrastructure conditions and the acknowledgment of the property’s recycling program. The “Green Hotel” certificate is valid for two years.

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This story was written by our staff based on a press release.
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