September 9, 2015—Raising the bar for facilities professionals in hospitality facilities, Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City was awarded Gold Certification this summer by Green Seal, the nonprofit environmental organization that offers “the original Green Seal of Approval,” under its GS-33 Environmental Leadership Standard for Lodging Properties.
Located a block from Universal Studios Hollywood, the 24-story hotel is just the second hotel in California to achieve Gold, and only the fifth hotel nationwide.
In receiving this recognition, Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City became just the second hotel in California to achieve Gold-level certification, and only the fifth hotel nationwide. Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City was first certified by Green Seal in 2010.
Located a block from the main entrance of Universal Studios Hollywood, the 24-story Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is one of the hotels in the LA Green Lodging program, a partnership between the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation, The Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, and Green Seal.
As a Gold-certified property, Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City has met the highest levels of criteria under the GS-33 Standard for Lodgings and is recognized as a property that is raising the bar of leadership and practicing the top levels of sustainability.
In addition to meeting the core requirements of GS-33 (which include addressing waste minimization, reuse, and recycling; practicing energy efficiency and conservation; properly managing fresh water resources and waste water; safely handling hazardous substances; and creating an environmentally sensitive purchasing policy) Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City has satisfied additional criteria enabling it to achieve Gold level certification.
The requirements for Gold-level certification include achieving all requirements of the Silver level of certification and then:
- Having a plan in place for continuous improvement;
- Setting policies and procedures for energy reduction goals, including specific measurements and monitoring of energy use over time. To support these goals Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City utilizes LightStay, a Hilton Corporation proprietary system to measure, analyze, and report sustainability data;
- Putting in place a plan for effective management of resource use, which includes tracking energy and potable water consumption; and
- Monitoring water use and using EPA WaterSense fixtures and procedures, and providing evidence and of metering and monitoring water consumption.
Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D., president and CEO of Green Seal, commented:
Because of the demands of guests for safer, more sustainable lodging options, and due to a commitment of caring for guests and staff, hotels have truly been at the forefront of adopting practices that are more environmentally favorable and better for human health and safety. It is from this dedication that some properties, such as Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, have taken their leadership mantle to a totally different level and now stand as prime examples of what true customer care and a devotion to quality should be.
Stanley Rodriguez, the hotel’s manager of Procurement-Sustainability and Special Projects, pointed out the hotel’s long period of learning and persistent oversight, and said the achievement came as “the result of the efforts and dedication from the entire hotel team,” and that it fueled their commitment to “sustainable business practices for years to come.”
For more information about Green Seal’s GS-33 Environmental Leadership Standard for Lodging Properties, as well as for information on other standards and the certification process, visit the GreenSeal Standards Web site.
