Green from the Ground Up in Wine Country

I've never heard of Healdsburg, Calif, but when someone mentions Sonoma Wine Country, I typically snap to attention quickly. Wine, did you say? Yes, I don't mind if I do. Red, rose, white, whatever. I'm in. In fact, the only thing that excites me more than the idea of a stroll through wine country is sleeping off the resulting buzz at a sustainably chic hotel. And that's just what's in order at the new h2hotel.

Designed by architect David Baker as a greener complement to sister property, Hotel Healdsburg, h2hotel is a 36-guest room boutique, slated to open its doors next month. The newly constructed building, which is blanketed by a living roof awash in succulents, is striving for LEED Gold Certification. The hotel itself is constructed of locally sourced, renewable building materials, while the river-side pool is heated using solar energy. Perks include 100 percent organic Coyuchi linens, towels and robes, organic herb cocktails at the watering hole, Spoonbar, as well as free bike use during your stay.

While I haven't visited the hotel myself, I'd love to hear from someone who has. California wine lovers? Do dish.

If you're planning a trip to wine country, you'll also want to check out:
LEED Platinum and Posh on the West Coast
Sustainability in Sonoma Valley: Boon Hotel
Golden Gate Dreams at New Cavallo Point

Schwabish Gmund Slideshow

What's more environmentally minded than a trek through Weleda's Biodynamic Medicinal Gardens? Not much, as it turns out. The skin care company's lush lot of land in Schwabish Gmund, Germany, is a haven for organic herbs and blooms, all 135 acres rooted in the company's philosophy that body, mind and soul work in tandem with the world around us.

Ecologically diverse and quite stunning in function, the gardens sprawl across the German countryside and can be hiked to from the village center. During our stay, which was hosted by Weleda, we holed up at the simple yet practical Hotel Pelikan, eco-friendly (and equally uncomfortable) in its lack of air-conditioning during what was apparently the country's hottest summer in 100 years. Go figure.

During our two-day stay, we walked the gardens, harvested bittersweet nightshade, toured the city at dusk, and indulged in the Italian cuisine of Restaurant Fuggerei--patio seating highly recommended. It was lovely. It was quick. And it offered a unique glance into the culture of a global company that's striving to redefine the beauty sector.

Interested? Contact Weleda in Schwabish Gmund directly to arrange a group tour of the gardens, given on an as-needed basis from April to mid-October and allowing access to an on-site organic cafe, and naturally, well-stocked Weleda shop. (Phone: +49 (0)7171/87488-11 or fuehrungen@weleda-naturals.de)

The pond outside of Weleda's visitor center

Calendula fields post-harvesting

Weleda's visitor center, including organic cafe and shop

Simple decor inside the visitor's center

Fresh fare... and a perfect lunch

The Weleda shop (no credit cards accepted)

Town square in Schwabish Gmund (find the gelato place!)

See my full posts, written for The Alternative Consumer, here:

Weleda: The Company
Weleda: The Gardens

Off to Germany!

The life of the so-called globetrotter that runs this blog has been pretty devoid of globetrotting as of late. Instead, it's been full of, well, life. The busy kind that hurriedly pushes one hour after the other, fueled by a move to a new apartment, a move to a new office, and enough spring/summer/fall weddings to qualify me as an honorary party planner (not exactly the career direction I was hoping for, I might add). A little bit of background allows me to better make my point today, however, which is that in just a few minutes I'll be departing the July humidity of Detroit for a quick visit to Germany, courtesy of natural beauty brand Weleda.

In my former life as a full-time automotive and travel journalist I visited Berlin to drive the Autobahn, making this my second stay in Deutschland. And while I'll be sleeping in a city whose name I can't quite pronounce (I really hope my high school German instructor isn't reading this), I'm most definitely looking forward to a bit of sun, hiking, and, naturally, soaking up some of the brand's fabulous skin care and beauty products. Since I'm traveling on behalf of The Alternative Consumer--gotta love this assignment--I'll be dishing out the full scoop on AltCon when I return. Stay tuned!

How clean is that hotel room really?

Have you heard the story of the traveler who slips the hotel room TV remotes into a plastic bag before using them to flip through the channels? Germ-ridden remotes. It's the stuff of horror movies. And it's not only remotes. While hotel rooms are routinely cleaned by hospitality staff, it's common knowledge that not everything in the room is sanitized between stays. Take, for instance, the bedspread, which is oft overlooked in favor of fresh sheets. According to Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the Univ. of Arizona's Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, and consultant to green cleaning company Coverall, the bed is one of the six germiest places in even your own home. (Washing machines, carpets and rugs, salt and pepper shakers, kitchen sink and refrigerator round out the list, if you're curious.) Don't even begin to think about those hotel fitness centers...

So what questions should you ask your favorite hotel's staff? Start with some of those listed below. If they don't have an answer, direct them to data released today by J.D. Power & Associates, citing Gen Y moms as a sect that's now actively avoiding potentially toxic cleaning products and supporting brands that provide greener alternatives at home and elsewhere.

• Are cleaning processes and products used environmentally friendly? (The ISSA organization lists a helpful guide here.)
• Are perfumes or other odors—whether attractive or noxious—still present following the cleaning process? (They shouldn't be.)
• Are cleaning crews using hospital-grade disinfectants?
• Are cleaning crews using high-efficiency, multi-filtration vacuums to improve indoor air quality?
• Are hard-surfaced floors being cleaned with color-coded, microfiber flat mops with a single dip method for eliminating mop water contamination?
• Are personnel washing hands properly and changing gloves frequently?
• Are "no-touch" spray and vacuum systems being employed in showers and restroom areas whenever possible?

THIS POST SPONSORED BY: Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System

A Black Mark on Gulf Tourism

A massive oil spill wasn't exactly the ideal way to ring in this April, the month of our 40th Earth Day. In this clip, Katie Couric talks to Gulf Coast expert Mike Tidwell on the tourism-related impact to Florida's west coast and Alabama.

Earth Day Deals: Planet-Friendly Packages

More than 90 percent of travelers would choose an eco-certified hotel that features pricing and amenities comparable to one that is not, according to a recent national survey by Travelzoo. (Who doesn't want to do a bit of good without sacrifice, right?)

To highlight some of the stellar deals available in honor of Earth Day, the website is hosting a special deals page, highlighting affordable offers from LEED-certified properties like The Avalon Hotel & Spa (pictured above) in Portland and San Francisco's Orchard Garden Hotel.

Book a stay yourself by visiting: http://www.travelzoo.com/green.

Drink Up for a Good Cause

Who would've thunk? Earth Day takes on a new spirit--literarlly--as Morgans Hotel Group (parent of LA's Mondrian and San Francisco's Clift) unveils an eco chic cocktail to kick off the festivities. Named the "Treetini," the over-ice concoction mixes the only certified carbon-neutral liquor and world's first acai spirit, VeeV, with agave nectar, fresh lime and mint. Ringing in at $12 a pop, it makes for a pricey, but philanthropic, pour. Developed in partnership with Live It Green, the purchase of each 'tini in April will allow for one tree to be planted by the organization.

You can see further details on the Treetini here, a site promoting the one cocktail = one tree philosophy. Hey, there could be worse initiatives than those that involve drinking for a cause...

San Francisco's W Hotel Earns Silver LEED

When it comes to big brand hotels, the "W" moniker stands out among the rest, promising a sexy-chic stay no matter which metropolis you're visiting. And in San Francisco the hotel labeled with a lone character is upping its sizzle factor by making its eco cred official.

Last week, the four-diamond W San Francisco hotel became the first major hotel brand to earn Silver LEED certification for an existing building. Having begun its green initiatives in 2007, the hotel has implemented a bevy of energy saving systems, including in-room motion sensors that turn off air conditioning when guests aren't present, energy efficient lighting, and third-party energy audits that track total savings. The hotel is also considering adding roof top wind turbines--a feature that would hands-down set this property apart.

For business travel and meeting and convention planners, W San Fran has also added "Sensory Meetings," where "all food and beverage is organic, biodynamic and local." In partnership with Live Neutral carbon offsets, planners can also host and promote zero-waste, carbon-neutral events.

To celebrate the new LEED status, a "Keen to be Green" package is available for booking through the end of the year. Rates start at $249 and include an overnight stay, two "Eco-licious" cocktails, 500 bonus SPG points and complimentary valet for hybrids.

Shack up, save green at the Shore Club

Ah, the Shore Club. One of South Beach's swankiest hotels, it's a place to see and be seen, as evidenced by the very vocal couple that was consummating their relationship on their guestroom balcony the last time I was strolling though the pool area. An aphrodisiac if I've ever known one, that Miami heat. In all seriousness, and sexual escapades aside, the hotel is hot regardless of the temp. And during the next two months, Shore Club is teaming up with EarthEra to offer carbon balanced rooms at a rate discounted by 25 percent. (Use the rate code SPMEXI when booking the deal; valid on stays April 1, 2010 - May 31, 2010.)

For a list of other special offers, including the Green Getaway (dubbed "green" for an organic spa treatment and Acai cocktail... I know, I know), click here.

Earth Hour 2010 Across the Globe

This Saturday as the clock strikes 8:30 p.m., lights across the world will be flicked off in honor of Earth Hour 2010. While most of the flipped switches will be housed under residential roofs, a growing number of hoteliers and landmark properties like the Empire State Building are calling "lights out" too. (In 2009, an estimated 80 million Americans participated.)

For the third year in a row, each of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' 60 locations will go dark for one hour to promote a "low-carbon future," according to the company. At the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg, Germany, guests can enjoy a candlelit dinner and at The Fairmont Orchid in  Hawaii, visitors have the opportunity to sip hot cocoa and roast s'mores over an oceanside fire pit. And in the Big D, Texas guests can gather at Pyramid Bar for a "Happy Earth Hour" where local, organic apps will be served alongside an Ecotini, whatever that is...

To see all participating sponsors, like the MGM Mirage in Las Vegas, click here. Then leverage the lengthy list to convince your fave hotels to do the same. Because let's be honest, it's pretty easy to have a good time in the dark when you're with the right company.

Green or Grim: Luxe Hermes Yacht Sails on Solar

What do you get when you mix a Monaco-based ship-builder with the luxe crafter behind the ever-enviable Birkin bag? An Hermes yacht, naturally. Or, rather, a 125-foot-wide, top of the line vessel set for somewhat sustainable cruising.

Named the WHY (oh, the irony), the boat boasts an indoor swimming pool, spiral staircase, and expansive sun deck. To its environmental credit, it also includes 900 solar panels and a diesel-electric propulsion system that saves roughly 200 tons of fuel per year.

The price of premiere sailing comes at a pretty penny, unfortunately. This joint venture between Wally and Hermes cashes in around $150.8 million.

Bottom line: I like the concept that in previous years has been created on a smaller scale. The stigma that can't be kicked, however: It's a YACHT. Go book yourself a sailboat and let the wind do the work.

Who's worrying now? Top U.S. eco concerns

Was it the leaked environmental scientist e-mails... or can it be blamed on the weakened state of our economy? Whatever the reasoning, Americans are less worried about environmental issues today than they have been in the past 20 years. True story, according to a recent poll by Gallup.

Approximately 33 percent of people are concerned by the loss of tropical rain forests, 31 percent are worried about plant and animal extinction, and a measly 28 percent are losing sleep over global warming. So, what gives?   Apparently, the U.S. is more upbeat about the strides taken in environmental quality, making it a less worrisome topic around the dinner table. And perhaps, a less tangible marketing angle for tourism operators worldwide.

When it comes to eco fears, the issue most worried about in the states is pollution of drinking water (although it's still down 9 percent from last year).

On the bookshelf: The Art of Dining In

When Cathy Erway's The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove came across my desk, I was unfamiliar with the twenty-something New York blogger who had shunned eating out in favor of kitchen-created cuisine. Even in my suburban neck of the woods, dining out--or take home carry-out--holds major appeal, despite its environmental impact. And when it comes to travel, eating out, whether in a fine dining establishment, airport food court, or fast food chain, is practically a necessary indulgence.

In her book, Erway, who launched the Not Eating Out in N.Y. blog in 2006, chronicles her creative culinary undertakings and the path that led her from day one of blogging to the official "opposite week," two years later, in which she eases into the occasional dine-out lifestyle. In the book, Erway explores a plethora of foodie factions, including underground supper clubs and cook-offs, to freeganism and dumpster-diving. Along the way, she forages Brooklyn's Prospect Park for edible greens and weighs the differences (literally) of the same meal in take-out and homemade versions. (If you hadn't guessed, the waste created in the take-out version drastically outweighs the simple home-cooked meal.)

As I made my way through the hard cover--part Erway's life story, part cook book--I considered the pros and cons of eating out while traveling. The pros, vast in number, include convenience, experience, and culture,   among others, and a strong debate that supporting locally-run establishments contributes to the overall economy... and benefits small business owners worldwide. The cons, not surprisingly, include massive waste, often lesser-quality ingredients, and a distinct separation from farm to table. Not to mention outrageous energy consumption... restaurants use five times more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings and five times more energy in the kitchen than in the rest of the building, according to the National Restaurant Association.

That said, having been inspired by Erway's approach, I still find myself on the fence when it comes to travel-related dining. And in a recent post on her blog, Erway debates the issue herself.

Bottom line: Prep for en-route snacks yourself. Whether it's homemade granola, fresh fruit (chopped is better, in my opinion, because apple cores aren't always easy to toss away on a plane), or a simple sandwich, make sure its easy to eat on the run. But when you've reached your destination, feel free to treat yourself. Make the most of it by choosing locally-owned and operated dining establishments that source ingredients locally, offer organic and vegan options, and if possible, encourage social responsibility.

The Great Debate on Hybrid Parking

A recent Treehugger post, The Perverse Hybrid Incentive, got me thinking. In it, Adam Lowry promotes the idea of low-carbon commuting incentives over the more popular overnight hybrid vehicle parking discounts we see at eco-minded hotels like the W Hotel in San Francisco. To make his point, he explains that his mother-in-law, who drives a 22-mpg Toyota Highlander Hybrid, is privy to the "hybrid parking" perk, while he in his 40-mpg VW Jetta Diesel pays full price. The monstrosity(!), right? As most of us know, "hybrid" does not always equate to the most environmentally friendly option.

Some hoteliers, however, aren't jilting the true treehuggers. Take, for instance, The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Mass., which recently implemented initiatives like the Hotel Bike program, which gives guests free use of an Electra Amsterdam Classic bicycle--equipped with shopping baskets, naturally--to pedal the streets of Cambridge in eco style. Also intriguing is a new nanoMAX small car detection system that measures vehicles as they enter the garage and charges rates based on size. Small cars get a discounted parking rate, hybrid or not. According to this blog, the hotel also offers free charging for hybrids and EVs.

Similarly, The Heathman Hotel in Portland, Ore. offers complimentary parking for "guests arriving in a green-friendly or hybrid vehicle" as a part of its Go Green Package... my bet is that a Jetta diesel would score free parking under these terms.

Bottom line: Ask your hotel if they'll honor your environmental strides by expanding a hybrid discount to include diesels, bikes, or even public modes of transit (a discount off your room rate, perhaps, since you won't require parking). In the least, you'll help to spur the "What's green really mean?" conversation among hotel management.

Suitcase Staple: All-natural skincare packables

There's something so indulgent about a packaged skincare travel set. One look at my typical quart-sized ZipLock, required by the TSA, and everyone in line at the security check line knows I'm a fanatic of several brands, including Tom's of Maine, Weleda, and The Body Shop. That's why six products--all similar in design--and packaged neatly in less than three ounce containers seems like a luxury. A coordinated luxury at that.

My latest love in the suitcase staple category is this mini travel set by natural skincare expert Deep Steep. Available in a multitude of scents, the set offers up miniature versions of honey bubble bath, body wash, polish, lotion, butter and a clever, twist-up moisture stick.

Free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and petroleum, the products contain zero artificial fragrances and chemical preservatives... I'm a fan of the grapefruit/bergamot collection, which is a ripe-smelling set that leaves just a trace of fresh scent on your skin. Not to mention, it comes in the sweetest little carry-on case. 

If you're looking for a set like this one, which runs $14.95, check out Deep Steep or the travel section of FutureNatural, an organic beauty site loaded with tempting treats.