Hotel Felix Gains Silver LEED Status for Green Design

We have some great (green) news to share. Hotel Felix has been recognized for its environmental efforts and received official notification of its certification as a Silver LEED Hotel, making it the first hotel in Chicago to earn this prestigious status. This high level of certification is earned when a building performs in several key areas, including water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

Hotel Felix meets LEED standards for its adaptive reuse of an existing urban structure, convenient access to public transportation, and the use of green materials throughout, such as recycled content in the corridor and guestroom carpet, and bamboo and cork flooring in the public areas.

LEED certification was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in an effort to promote sustainable design and construction practices. LEED certification is world-renowned and is the most prestigious achievement in sustainable building. We are pleased to be recognized with Silver certification status for our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. This year alone, over one million gallons of water will be saved through our water reduction program.

We’d like to express a special thank you to our guests for helping us achieve this monumental goal. We remain committed to lessening our environmental impact, while also providing an upscale and intimate luxury hotel experience for our guests.

Come and see how we are making a Silver LEED Certified difference!

HAPPY EARTH DAY

photo by flaivoloka

The Hotel Felix isn’t just committed to being green on Earth Day, we are green every day, all day!

The words green, eco-friendly, and sustainability are tossed around casually by some, but at the Hotel Felix, we take being green seriously!  Sustainability isn’t just a word to us, it’s a choice and one we are proud to make.

But what does sustainability and being green mean? As Chicago’s first Silver LEED certified hotel, that means the U.S. Green Building Council inspected the hotel structure and rated it based on several categories: water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, and indoor environmental quality. We are also one of fifteen hotels in Chicago to be awarded the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Lodging - Silver.  The Green Seal certification process reviews several procedures: waste management, energy conservation and management, pollution prevention, and organizational commitment.

At the Hotel Felix you will find:

• compact fluorescent & LED lighting
• natural northern exposure which brings in sunlight and help keep our guests warm in the winter
• use of recycled carpet
• bamboo flooring
• revamped plumbing system
• low flow, high pressure shower heads
• on site recycling program
• organic and/or recycled artwork

You can read more about the green initiatives at the Hotel Felix here.

Saving Green on Green Travel

TravelZoo’s Gabe Saglie talked about how to $ave green, while traveling green with ABC 7 this morning.  Watch this segment to hear what Gabe has to say about the Hotel Felix - Saving Green on Green Travel | ABC-7 News (video).

The Hotel Felix is proud to be Chicago’s first hotel to be LEED silver certified, Green Seal silver, and we don’t skimp on the luxury!

Go Green + Hotel Felix = One Great Evening

Go Green Management and the Hotel Felix joined forces once again this past Wednesday (June 24) to co-host a cocktail reception. We had no idea the event would be the talk of the town even before it began.

When Facebook had hundreds of responses, we were curious to say the least. (Don’t forget to become a Hotel Felix Facebook fan.) Sure, we’re the first hotel in Chicago to be designed for Silver LEED certification. Sure, we’re the most eco-friendly hotel in town. Sure, we’re fabulous (if we do say so ourselves.) But we were thrilled with how many people wanted to come to see our “home.”

People from all different industries & interests showed up to dine on MaiChef Catering’s Tea Cured Salmon on Brioche with Lemon Grass Aioli, Ginger Chicken with Mango Relish & Mini Tiramisu Shots. Yummy! Our guest then went to see our amazingly appointed guest rooms and get pampered with mini services in The SPA at the Hotel Felix. Tired from your day? A hand massage was just one of the services waiting.

When the crowd had cleared, the Hotel Felix team sat down to toast a successful evening and new eco-friends. Swollen feet and hoarse voices led us to ask…..where did those masseuses go?

(JB)

Unique Experiences 101

Like many, I’m a curious person. I want to broaden my perspective of life. It’s like when a friend or family member tells you about a vacation spot you’ve never gone to or a restarant you’ve never dined in.

When I signed on to be part of the Hotel Felix project in December 2007, I got a unique experience of my own. I’d never worked in an eco-friendly hotel that’s designed to be LEED Silver certified. In fact, I couldn’t have told you what that meant at the time. I didn’t know I’d see guests from literally all over the world just a month into opening the hotel. I’ve even had the opportunity to coordinate extensive marketing, sales & PR.

Those unique experiences spoke to me & with the team, we decided to ensure our guests recieved ones of their own. For example, our very first check-in was a 40th birthday party for a gentleman named Stan. He & his family and friends planned a weekend of fun. When they asked us for a van cab so everyone could travel together to dinner, we booked a limo at no additional cost & made sure there was champagne. I think Stan will remember his 40th birthday at the Hotel Felix! (See you for your 41st, Stan.) We want to make your visit in Chicago a Unique Experience. So visit our website & book your reservation now at www.hotelfelixchicago.com. We’ll make you Happy. Naturally.

(MZ)