“While sustainable development has become par for the course in many sectors of real estate, hotels have lagged behind due in large part to above-average energy and water use and the high volume of laundry processed daily,” said Bernard Wolfson, President of Miami-based hotel development firm Hospitality Operations, Inc., South Florida’s largest Hampton Inn-brand franchisee. “The pedestrian-friendly setting of our newest Hampton Inn & Suites property in downtown Miami’s Brickell Financial District offered an ideal platform for embracing ‘green’ features throughout the project. This commitment to sustainable design will have a triple impact – preserving natural resources, appealing to eco-conscious travelers, and reducing our operating costs.”
The Hampton Inn & Suites project, which is likely to attain LEED Silver certification in early 2012, will incorporate the following sustainable elements:
- A 35,000 gallon cistern to harvest rainwater to be used in public restrooms, for irrigation purposes and for washing down exterior decking and walkways.
- An in-room energy management system which will power down air conditioning system when guests are not in their rooms.
- Preferred parking spaces for hybrid and electric cars, with charging stations for electric vehicles.
- An ozone laundry system designed to reduce the consumption of water, energy and cleaning chemicals.
- Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and LED lighting, which will lower energy consumption by 18%.
- Low-flow water fixtures, dual flush toilets, and motion-activated faucets will reduce water usage by more than 40%, equating to an estimated 500,000 gallons of savings annually.
- Occupancy sensors to control lights in public places and work areas.
- Biodegradable recycled plastic room key cards.
- Environmentally safe, non-toxic cleaning agents for housekeeping staff.
- Bicycle racks, showers and changing facilities for employees who choose to bike and walk to work.
In addition to its environmentally-friendly design and construction features, the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Miami-Brickell is centrally located within walking distance to several public transit options, including the Metromover and Metrorail systems. April 2012 will see the debut of AirportLink, a 2.4-mile extension of the Metrorail system to Miami International Airport. The hotel’s location within walking distance to dozens of retail, restaurant and entertainment options creates a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.
Construction of the 15-story Hampton Inn & Suites Miami Brickell-Downtown, located at 50 SW 12th Street in Miami’s Brickell Financial District, began in mid-2010 and topped-off in early 2011. The hotel will employ roughly 75 employees. Property features will include a rooftop pool, full-service bar, exercise room, business center, 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, a 210-space parking garage, and 3,500 square feet of meeting space. Guests will enjoy free hot breakfast daily and complimentary wireless internet. Breaking out of the midrange hotel ‘mold,’ the property will feature modern, upscale interior design, original artwork by local artists, and sleek patterns and colors that evoke Miami’s hip persona.
About Hampton Inn & Suites Miami Brickell-Downtown
Hampton Inn & Suites Miami Brickell-Downtown is a 15-story, 221-room hotel located at 50 SW 12th Street in Miami, Florida’s Brickell Financial District. Featuring a modern, upscale interior design, the hotel includes contemporary amenities including a rooftop pool, full-service bar and exercise room with free, hot breakfast daily and complimentary wireless internet. The property also features 10,000 square feet of street-level retail space and 3,500 square feet of meeting space – all within walking distance to dozens of shops, restaurants and office towers in addition to Miami’s public transportation systems. The hotel, which is LEED registered with the US Green Building Council, was developed by Miami-based hotel development firm Hospitality Operations, Inc. which operates a portfolio of five Hampton Inn franchises in South Florida, including properties in Coconut Grove, Pembroke Pines, downtown Ft. Lauderdale and the Miami Airport market. Learn more at www.hamptoninnmiamibrickell.com.