ECOTELS

The Benjamin, An Executive Suite Hotel

Text from article as it appeared in the Washington Post, Sunday, October 24, 1999:

"TRAVEL LAB REPORT

HYPOTHESIS: Two new self-styled "eco hotels" on the East Coast, the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia and the Benjamin in New York, are not only hip places to stay, but provide more than lip service to the eco cause. The former bills itself as the first "environmentally smart" hotel in the continental United States; the latter is advertised as only one of four lodging facilities worldwide to win top marks from Ecotel, an organization that certifies eco-minded properties.

METHODOLOGY: Two thorough checks of both properties, including an unannounced inspection of each. The goal was to truth-squad each facility's commitment to the green movement and determine what difference it makes for guests.

RESULTS: The Sheraton gets bonus points for its eco-conscious design. Sixty-foot bamboo trees in the lobby were chosen for their high levels of oxygenation; furniture is oak from managed forests; drapes and bedding are made from organically grown cotton. All paint and wallpaper are chemical-free. Some management practices are also eco-friendly--the use of energy-saving light bulbs, a ban on smoking and constant recycling of fresh air in the rooms.
New York's Benjamin, an elegant all-suite hotel converted from an older property in Midtown, isn't as outwardly eco-conscious. But the management has succeeded where it counts--in making environmentally friendly practices a part of the everyday life of patrons and staff. Guests have the option of forgoing daily changes of bed linens and towels, saving soap, water and energy. Recycling bins are in every guest room and stairwell. To conserve water, showers release only 2.5 gallons of water a minute. (That's about half what power showers use, but the hotel's bathrooms are equipped with heads designed to give the feel of full- throttle splashing.) The Sheraton offers some of these features, too, but promotes them less vigorously.

CONCLUSION: While the Sheraton has made a significant investment in creating an ecologically correct facility, the Benjamin does better at walking the environmental walk.

--Gary Lee"

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