Case Studies

In recognizing the strong guest demand for green options, the Delta Chelsea been able to market their existing green initiatives to their guests as well as engage their guests to participate in the EcoStay Program by contributing a per night fee to offset the environmental impact of their stay at the hotel. Although the program is optional for guests, over 97%* of guests that have been given the opportunity to participate in the program have chosen to do so.

The Delta retains 12.5% of the Eco Stay fee’s collected in order to fund further green initiatives throughout the hotel to lessen their environmental impact. Over the past year, the Delta Chelsea has been able to raise over $25,000 in order to upgrade their old lighting to energy efficient lighting and are in the process of building an herb garden, an improved area for staff to ride their bikes to work as well as booth space at Toronto’s Green Living Show in which the Delta Chelsea was chosen as the official hotel of the show. The hotel’s Green Team is continuously exploring more projects to fund with the ongoing revenue generated through the EcoStay Program.

The balance of the funds collected are used towards an annual carbon footprint assessment using the CSA’s methodology and funding carbon offset projects across Canada that are all regulated by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and the International Organization for Standards (ISO). There is also a small portion of funds collected that are used for marketing materials that help the hotel market their existing green initiatives to their guests as well as the fact that the Delta is giving their guests the opportunity to offset their stay.

Since the Delta Chelsea first joined the LivClean Eco Stay program in February 2009, the hotel has not only been tracking and measuring their annual greenhouse gas emissions created by their building’s electricity and natural gas use, shuttle vehicles, employee travel and waste to landfill, but in 2009 offset 7,845 tonnes of emissions which is the equivalent of removing 575,685 cars off the road for the day. In total, they offset 109% of their 2009 carbon footprint and have publicly set a goal to offset 120% of their 2010 carbon footprint which they are currently on track to achieve. As of April 30th, 2010, the hotel has offset 2,897 tonnes of emissions, which is 40% of their estimated 2010 carbon footprint and is equivalent to removing 212,589 cars off the road for a day. All offsets are uniquely serialized and available for public viewing on the Canadian Standards Association (CSA)’s Clean Projects Registry.

* 97% was based on Delta’s GM advising LivClean that they have a max of 15 opt outs a day which based on 1590 rooms, which is less than 1% and with 40% of their business being pre contracted and not yet having the eco stay fee offered to them, the program is only offered to 954 rooms which are at an occupancy level of 65% (estimated) for a total of 620 rooms at 15 opt outs a day, Therefore it would be an opt out percentage of 2.4%.