Leave Nothing but Footprints Behind
It has become increasingly clear that while our ability to travel globally, embracing the beauty of diverse landscapes, immersing ourselves in local cultures, and experiencing the wonders of the world, leaves an impression on us, it also has an impact on the planet. The need for thoughtful, sustainable travel has never been more critical.
Our passion for travel, matched by our passion for the planet, is a compelling reason why conscious, eco-friendly travel isn’t just a trend, but a force that can shape the future of our planet and affect generations of adventurers to come.
We at Preferred Travel Group believe we can create meaningful travel experiences that honor and celebrate nature, culture, and community without compromising luxury, service, or amenities.
EUROPE
NORTH AMERICA
MIDDLE EAST
February 1: New York, New York
February 12: Dallas, Texas
February 13: Austin, Texas
February 14: Houston, Texas
February 15: New Orleans, Louisiana
March 3-9: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
February 21: London, England
February 27: Milan, Italy
February 28: Zurich, Switzerland
February 29: Munich, Germany
March 6: Madrid, Spain
March 7: Barcelona, Spain
Featured Properties
Notes From the Field
SEE YOU THERE!
Q1 Corporate Sales Events
Starhotels E.c.ho.
Milan, Italy
About Starhotels E.c.ho.
Starhotels E.c.ho., the ecological contemporary hotel, is one of the first examples of 100% Green hotel architecture in Milan. Its 143 guestrooms and five meeting rooms make the hotel perfect for both leisure and business travelers who are keen to contribute to lowering their carbon footprint during their stay.
The hotel is close to the Milano Centrale train station and metro lines M2 and M3. The city center and the financial district are just ten minutes away by tube. From the train station, there are connections to Malpensa and Linate Airports (45 and 30 minutes away, respectively).
Partnerships with e-bike and e-scooter companies offer corporate clients an eco-friendly alternative for their local commute. Starhotels E.c.ho. is a member of Beyond Green.
The Wall Street Hotel
Notable Sustainability Initiatives
Through a partnership with Banco Alimentare, a food rescue and redistribution organization, the hotel empowers corporate clients to actively participate in social responsibility endeavors. They have the option to make donations, equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee (or more), with each contribution applied to food rescue and hunger relief efforts.
Starhotels E.c.ho. also launched a comprehensive food waste reduction program. Through the “Too Good to Go” platform, corporate clients have the opportunity to buy kits containing fresh and delectable dishes directly from the hotel restaurant that would otherwise go to waste, contributing to both sustainability and gastronomic delight
Guest Education
During every check-in, corporate clients receive a flier offering eco-friendly recommendations and tips to use during their stay such as unplugging electronic devices and battery chargers after using them, avoiding wasting water, and switching off lights in unused areas.
The hotel staff receives ongoing training in best practices to enable them to support corporate clients in their eco-focused interests, including recommendations for organic restaurants, local shops featuring locally sourced products, and sustainable travel options in the city.
In what ways is your property contributing to the well-being of the local ecosystem, cultural heritage, and communities?
Ecosystem: Photovoltaic roof panels provide energy to illuminate hallways and common areas, and energy-efficient water heaters, a thermo-insulation system, and super-insulated window frames reduce fuel consumption and 75 tons of CO2 emissions. Recycled water is used throughout the building.
Culture: Starhotels E.c.ho. offers Green Choice; upon arrival, corporate clients can elect to skip the cleaning service for their guestrooms during their stay. A change of linens will be made only upon request.
Community: Starhotels E.c.ho. supports local efforts to protect the historic Pozzobonelli Chapel from potential vandalism and trespassing, and it is also part of an association of local hoteliers called “Central District,” founded in 2017 to improve the Centrale Station area of Milan to ensure a pleasant environment for all the residents, businesses, and visitors.
Do you make conscious efforts to reduce your carbon output, or offer travelers the ability to offset their CO2 travel emissions?
Starhotels E.c.ho. implemented a “compensation system” for corporate clients called Green Meeting. Through this program, a tree will be planted in the client’s honor in a local area of Milan for each meeting that takes place at the hotel.
The Parkside Hotel & Spa
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
About The Parkside Hotel & Spa
The Parkside Hotel & Spa is a luxurious all-suite hotel located in the heart of downtown Victoria, British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island popular for its vibrant city center, world-class restaurants, and diverse range of attractions. It is known for its mild climate, stunning natural beauty, and rich history. The hotel offers resort-style amenities such as an on-site spa, a 25-meter pool with a hot tub, a fitness center, and a private movie theatre. From spacious suites with kitchens to fitness facilities and unique amenities, business travelers enjoy the comforts of home while on the road and maintain a great work-life balance while traveling.
The Parkside Hotel & Spa is a member of Beyond Green.
Notable Sustainability Initiatives
The Parkside Hotel & Spa has been tracking its carbon footprint since 2016 to establish targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction. In 2020, the property became carbon-neutral certified through Ostrom Climate, is the first business in Victoria to become Biosphere Certified, and is constantly implementing new initiatives to help reduce its carbon footprint. Most recently, the hotel partnered with Veritree to take part in kelp reforestation efforts, an initiative that includes planting kelp with every reservation, which helps carbon capture.
Guest Education
From the sustainability initiatives web page to informative visuals throughout the property, including all sales documents and signage in the guestrooms, eco-education is a part of the entire guest experience. Beyond informational materials available throughout the hotel, its website features carbon footprint reports that detail the actions taken to reduce environmental impact, and in-room materials show how guests can support these efforts during their stay.
In what ways is your property contributing to the well-being of the local ecosystem, cultural heritage, and communities?
Ecosystem: Since The Parkside Hotel & Spa began measuring its footprint in 2016, it has monitored and set goals for energy, water reduction, renewable energy, and waste management. During construction, the property installed all low-flow water fixtures, LED lights, and energy-saving appliances in all suites. Zero use of CFCs and HCFCs in HVAC systems contributes to efforts to reduce ozone depletion — a factor in global warming and climate change. All suites are free of energy-wasting air conditioning, both towers in The Parkside Hotel & Spa have flow-through natural air conditioning, and the hotel was designed with at least one operable window per 18.5 square meters (about twice the area of an apartment bedroom) of regularly occupied space.
Known as The Parkside’s “Decade of Action,” the hotel hopes to increase its waste diversion from suites and function spaces, currently at 70%, to 95% by 2030. The property encourages guests to recycle and compost during their stay, further reducing waste, and hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030.
Culture: To minimize impacts on cultural heritage, the hotel developed a partnership with the Songhees Nation, creating awareness about how tourism impacts their culture and how visitors can help mitigate those impacts. Through storytelling and sightseeing, visitors enrich their understanding of the culture and traditions of the First Nations of Greater Victoria. The Parkside Hotel & Spa is on track to be the first hotel within Greater Victoria to sign a Memorandum of Reconciliation, becoming friends with the Songhees.
Community: Through 2023, The Parkside Hotel & Spa partnered with the Royal British Columbia Museum to highlight the exhibits taking place in the lobby and established a longstanding partnership with The Victoria Art Gallery, serving as a primary hotel contributor to uphold and support the local art community. The hotel also partnered with Rainbow Kitchen to help address food security issues in the local community.
Do you make conscious efforts to reduce your carbon output, or offer travelers the ability to offset their CO2 travel emissions?
The Parkside Hotel & Spa has monitored its carbon footprint since 2016, taking measures and steps each year to work toward this reduction, and offsets are verified by Ostrom Climate.
The Wall Street Hotel
New York, New York, USA
About The Wall Street Hotel
The hotel is situated close to Wall Street, the epicenter of global finance. For guests looking to combine business with leisure, the hotel's central location allows easy access to cultural attractions like the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Museum of American Finance, New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, and other iconic landmarks that define the financial district. With excellent access to major subway lines and transportation hubs, corporate travelers can easily reach other parts of the city for meetings, conferences, or client visits.
Notable Sustainability Initiatives
Sustainable Design: A strong collaboration with owners and developers to build and renovate through sustainable design reduces the consumption of non-renewable resources, minimizes waste, and decreases the negative impact construction often has on the environment. Reclaiming native materials for use during the transformation of the infrastructure further established a healthy and productive environment.
Green Initiatives: Behind the scenes, teams are constantly striving to make a positive difference in the environment. With a thoughtful approach, the hotel has successfully implemented various initiatives, from moving to electronic and digital formatting of the business to the management of waste and water as well as utilizing eco-friendly chemicals and materials in day-to-day practices.
Food & Drink: The Wall Street Hotel serves the highest quality ingredients and is committed to using best-in-class suppliers that share its goal of sustainable food and drink. Bespoke offerings of plant-based dishes, food, and drinks that are sourced from the local region and a strong stance on the complete elimination of all single-use plastics throughout the hotel underscores its commitment to supporting local businesses and the environment.
Guest Education
A commitment to sustainability is prominently featured on the website, where a dedicated page elaborates on the hotel’s sustainability initiatives, providing in-depth insights into its eco-conscious efforts.
During sales presentations and sales calls, the team takes every opportunity to discuss eco-friendly practices, ensuring prospective guests are aware of the hotel’s commitment to responsible and ethical operations.
Additionally, when conducting site tours, the staff makes a point to showcase various sustainability measures, allowing visitors to witness efforts firsthand.
In what ways is your property contributing to the well-being of the local ecosystem, cultural heritage, and communities?
Ecosystem: The Wall Street Hotel is proud of their official partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, a nonprofit organization that works to restore the oyster reefs of New York Harbor. In-room guest engagements, with offerings like custom-designed, oyster-inspired gifts for sale, generate donations through this partnership, and the hotel includes an optional donation at checkout, with literature about the impact of its sustainability initiatives and how they impact New York’s iconic harbor.
Culture: Hiring practices focus on equal opportunities for individuals from various backgrounds, fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of the community. Additionally, The Wall Street Hotel is dedicated to promoting gender diversity at all levels of the organization, recognizing the unique perspectives and strengths that women bring to leadership roles, and actively seeking out and supporting female candidates for leadership positions. The workplace culture is rooted in inclusivity, with policies and practices that discourage discrimination and bias, and the hotel provides ongoing diversity and inclusion training to all employees, emphasizing respecting and valuing one another's differences.
Community: The Wall Street Hotel cares for people, supporting the community so individuals can be the best versions of themselves and supporting the local community with a thoughtful approach to its impact on them. Partnerships with local community groups and sustainable providers that have the same dedication to and focus on like-minded social causes and green initiative practices are prioritized.
Hotel New Otani Tokyo, "The Main"
Tokyo, Japan
About Hotel New Otani Tokyo, “The Main”
Hotel New Otani Tokyo, “The Main” is in the heart of Tokyo, providing easy access to any part of the city and serving as a highly convenient base for business travelers. Complimentary shuttle buses are offered to some of the nearby corporate clients, making the access to the offices even easier. The hotel boasts a vast, historic Japanese garden within its premises, creating a lush urban oasis in the center of the city.
Notable Sustainability Initiatives
Since its opening in 1964, Hotel New Otani Tokyo, “The Main” has taken proactive steps in harmonizing with the environment, such as implementing a compost plant to recycle 100 percent of food waste, a water recycling plant to produce recycled water to utilize in gardens or lavatories, and rooftop greenery to contribute to the reduction of our heat consumption and CO2 emissions.
Guest Education
Travel advisors and corporate clients receive exclusive guided tours with a focus on sustainability initiatives during hotel site inspections. The hotel’s website is regularly updated with its commitment and best practices.
In what ways is your property contributing to the well-being of the local ecosystem, cultural heritage, and communities?
Ecosystem: Hotel kitchens produce up to five tons of raw refuse every day, all of which is recycled into compost at an on-site plant, installed in 1999. The compost is then used at partner farms to grow vegetables, which return to the kitchens as ingredients, thus completing the recycling chain. Also, the preservation of our 10-acre Japanese garden symbolizes both the hospitality and environmental efforts of the hotel. The plants and trees in the Japanese garden are watered with groundwater from within the hotel premises and fertilized with compost made from raw refuse from the kitchens. Recognized as a pioneer for its environmentally friendly commitment, the hotel is even visited by local governments for education purposes.
Culture: With a history spanning more than 400 years, the Japanese Garden, once the property of various known samurai lords, features several ancient stone lanterns, scarlet bridges over koi ponds, a stone garden, a waterfall, and myriad flowers and rich foliage that bloom or change colors from season to season. The garden has been the site for many weddings and Shichi-go-san (Japanese coming-of-age-day) photo shoots, and is host to complimentary activities for guests like tea ceremonies during the cherry blossom season, fireworks in summer, and New Year’s drum concerts.
The Red Rose Garden, part of the rooftop greenery, is home to 30,000 blossoms of approximately 30 breeds. It is open to hotel guests during the blooming season of spring and autumn and is also offered for cultural activities like flower arrangement classes for guests and locals.
Community: At the hotel, where rich water sources are available on the premises, an advanced treatment plant introduced in 2009 distills drinking water at a maximum rate of 350 tons per day. This well is also designated as Chiyoda ward's emergency-cooperating reservoir. The well water plant's daily distillation capacity is equal to the amount of water approximately 9,700 households can use for three days.
Do you make conscious efforts to reduce your carbon output, or offer travelers the ability to offset their CO2 travel emissions?
The hotel is making efforts to reduce CO2 emissions by 28%.
The first hotel to introduce carbon-neutral city gas (CNL) through a partnership with Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd., Hotel New Otani Tokyo, “The Main” achieved a reduction of CO2 by 35,000 tons over five years. The hotel also participated in the founding of the Carbon Neutral LNG Buyers Alliance, headed by Tokyo Gas.
The greenery planted on the rooftops of the 2nd, 16th, and 17th floors of The Main building, as well as the Red Rose Garden, contributes to the reduction of heat consumption and CO2 emission, alleviates the urban heat island phenomenon, and extends the lifespan of the building.
ASIA PACIFIC
February 21: South Korea
February 26: Brisbane, Australia
February 27: Singapore
February 27: Gold Coast, Australia
February 28: Perth, Australia
February 29: Adelaide, Australia
March 18: New Delhi, India
March 19: Mumbai, India
March 25: Shanghai, China
March 26: Chengdu, China
