Not long ago, imagining a world class hotel trying to mesh a high-end guest experience with an eco-initiative was downright laughable. Ask a $300 a night guest to use 1-ply toilet paper resembling sandpaper and they would disappear faster than you could say "hemp seed." However, as the urgency of global care has risen so has the quality and distribution of eco-friendly products.

Kimpton Hotels, with 39 properties in the United States and Canada, was founded on a belief to do good while doing good business. In fact, they have had their eye on being environmentally responsible since 1985 by creating a roof-top park at the Galleria Park Hotel, the eco-friendly Hotel Triton, and eco-celebrity suites. At the turn of the century, Kimpton desired to take their eco-consciousness to a higher level and the timing was right considering the recent influx high-quality environmental products infiltrating the marketplace. It was clear that Kimpton could launch a national program without sacrificing the guest experience. In fact, they could even enhance it. The question was how.

They needed someone to help lead the charge in delivering stylish and memorable hotel experiences while reducing their ecological footprint at the same time. As their project manager and ...