Eco-Friendly Hyatt at Olive 8

Dec 07, 2009

Hyatt at Olive 8 walks a fine line between green and chic, playing each role with equal aplomb. As Seattle’s first and only LEED-certified hotel — earning Silver status in September 2009 — it pairs environmental activism with hospitality. The result is a place where clients can feel good and do good at the same time.

“Many of our guests, both leisure and business, are booking us specifically because of our green practices and LEED certification,” said Hyatt at Olive 8’s sales and marketing director Andy Bishop.

Hyatt at Olive 8 // (C) 2009 Hyatt at Olive 8

The hotel even provides preferred parking spaces for fuel-efficient vehicles and outlets for electric cars in its underground parking lot.

But for all of its eco-friendliness, the 346-room downtown Seattle hotel never sacrifices comfort. A case in point is its Elaia Spa, a 15,000-square-foot facility with resort-style amenities. Along with 12 treatment suites and a salon, it has a relaxation lounge, 65-foot saline lap pool, Jacuzzi and an around-the-clock, 2,400-square-foot fitness center. Not surprisingly, the spa uses all-natural organic products and sticks to rigorous recycling and waste reduction programs.

Also wearing two hats is Urbane, the hotel’s restaurant that has been earning rave reviews. On the surface, it’s a hip 108-seat gathering place with delicious food, but one look at its menu confirms its equal emphasis on good stewardship. Tapping regional resources, it serves a rotating menu of seasonal ingredients, including vegetables, wild game and native Northwest fish.

Groups will find comparable eco-sensitivity throughout the hotel’s 11,000 square feet of conference space. All six meeting rooms offer natural daylight through floor-to-ceiling windows. Groups are encouraged to participate in the hotel’s green meeting program, which offers innovative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

From the outside, the hotel has a sleek all-glass exterior and one of Seattle’s largest living rooftops. Location is a big draw, with top-name retailers and downtown attractions within easy walking distance. Additional high marks go to the accommodations, which are extremely comfortable and well-equipped with large windows, marble bathrooms, full sitting areas, 37-inch, high-definition televisions and Wi-Fi access. Units have all sorts of impressive energy-saving devices, such as dual-flush toilets, water-reducing showerheads and lights that operate only while guests are in the room.

To keep agents abreast of its news, Hyatt at Olive 8 is offering a variety of GDS promotions throughout the year, according to Bishop. Hotel officials are making an effort to visit agents in person. Meanwhile, the hotel is reaching consumers through quarterly e-newsletters and Twitter and Facebook updates.

For Bishop, the bottom line is to create a model of sustainability that will contribute toward a greener, more eco-friendly future for the hospitality industry. For clients, that translates into living proof that a building can be both green and chic at the same time.