When most visitors enter the massive lobbies of Las Vegas resorts and are greeted with the sight of lavish gardens and larger than life fountains, many think all is well when it comes to water. The unfortunate truth, however, is that the western part of the U.S. is currently in year 15 of the worst regional drought over the past 800 years.
The good news, though, is that more hotels than ever are practicing sustainability, which is both fiscally and environmentally responsible, in addition to pleasing the ever conscious traveler.
Leading the way is CityCenter in Las Vegas, run by MGM Resorts International. At roughly 18 million square feet, it’s the largest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold-certified development. In fact, CityCenter has its own heat and power central plant, producing hot water and 30% of the facility’s electricity. Even local materials were sourced to save on the fuel consumption for shipping.
Hotel rooms in the Aria come with lighting which turns off once the guest vacates the room to save on energy. Bathrooms in the CityCenter have low-flow water fixture; linens are washed every three days, and water is only served to restaurant guests per request. Restaurants are even required to thaw meat overnight, as opposed to a more common method of defrosting with warm water.
All of these measures have helped reduce water consumption 160 million gallons per year, compared to building code standards set in 2007. This has led to MGM CEO Jim Murren winning countless awards for CEO of the year in categories recognizing green corporations.
Chris Brophy, the vice president of the corporate sustainability division for MGM Resorts International spoke about the real problem, which isn’t the casinos’ water consumption. According to Brophy, MGM properties consume less water per year then their employees do while at home. This led to MGM launching a “Drought Buster” campaign in June as part of its My Green Advantage, a website informing their employees on how to go green.
While the initial costs of environmentally friendly construction are at a premium, Brophy said, “We didn’t build the least costly facilities… But, in the long run, we’ll make the money back, use those resources efficiently, and pay less in the future.”
Even travelers want hotels to go green. In 2007, Conde Nast Traveler polled their readers, and found 96 percent feel hotels should protect the environment, and 74 percent went on to say a hotel’s environmental measures dictate where they book. In 2012, 71 percent of travelers surveyed by Trip Advisor said they planned to make more eco-friendly travel arrangements within the next year.
