Staypineapple, the Pacific-Northwest-based boutique hotel brand, has expanded its eco-friendly commitments by identifying and addressing areas where the company can improve on its green initiatives.
“Staypineapple has worked incredibly hard over the years to provide exceptional experiences that guests can also feel good about,” said Dina Belon, COO, Staypineapple. “In everything we do, we consider the impact on our guests, team members, communities, the planet and all of the creatures that inhabit it. From 70% renewable energy usage at our hotels to installing refillable soap dispensers instead of following the industry standard of single-use soap bottles, we have always strived to provide better experiences that are better for the environment. But we know we can do more, and it is with this in mind that we are making new commitments to our guests and team members. Staypineapple was built on our founder Michelle Barnet’s belief that we have a ‘responsibility to always do better,’ so that is exactly what we are going to do.”
The first of these commitments is to completely eliminate all single-use plastic water bottles from the hotel group’s operations by the end of this year by offering guests complimentary PATH refillable water bottles, as well as access to Quench Water Bar refill stations, with options such as still or sparkling and hot or cold water. After a successful pilot at Staypineapple’s San Diego property, Staypineapple will roll the program out nationwide in the coming months.
Another amenity that Staypineapple offers guests is unlimited in-room coffee and tea, utilizing Keurig machines and specially-curated branded Keurig K-Cups. Instead of eliminating this offering, the brand is in the process of sourcing a 100% compostable K-Cup option to replace all previous K-Cups nationwide by the end of this year.
In addition, Staypineapple has evaluated a number of its existing green initiatives and has set commitment goals to improve upon these programs in the coming years:
Staypineapple commits to increasing the percentage of renewable energy used in operating its hotels from the current 70% renewable energy to 90% renewable energy by 2026. It is also committed to increasing its recyclables and compost diversion from the current 30% to 50% by 2024. Beyond bringing recycling efforts back to pre-pandemic levels, it commits to a 75% recycling rate throughout its portfolio by 2027.
The company recently signed AHLA’s ResponsibleStay commitment, which focuses on improving environmental and social responsibility in four pillars of sustainability: waste reduction, water conservation, energy efficiency and responsible sourcing practices.
“We are committed with AHLA to strengthen environmental programs and to ‘provide a more responsible stay’ for our guests,” said Belon, “As we must take on the responsibility to protect the future of the planet and support the communities where we work.”