Back in 2017, Evening Standard published a fascinating piece on how we can all partake in eco-friendly holidays and travel more sustainably. One of their best tips was simply to pack lighter, thereby ensuring that your method of transports is slightly more fuel-efficient. Other ideas included renting an Airbnb to cook for yourself, supporting lesser-known hidden gems and paying a voluntary carbon tax when taking a flight. By far the most interesting point this article made is the fact we can lower our carbon footprint by choosing an eco-friendly hotel.
This seems like such an easy task at first, but surely not every tourist hotspot has eco-friendly hotels? To test out our theory, we decided to look at one of the largest, most popular big cities in the world: Las Vegas, Nevada. With millions of visitors, 24/7 entertainment and huge, looming establishments, are there any eco-friendly hotels in Las Vegas?
Happy, Healthy Hotel: Waldorf Astoria
Let’s start with the Hilton International hotel, one of the newest resorts to hit The Strip. It’s large, bright and looming, but one thing we didn’t expect is the eco-friendly tech employed within its walls. Like many other Hilton hotels, the Waldorf Astoria uses the LightStay system, a sustainability policy that aims to reduce waste and CO2 output.
The hotel is also entirely smoke-free and is certified gold by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Guests can still expect a luxury experience, but this establishment refuses to compromise on its eco-friendly philosophy, which is to take a more conscious approach to hospitality without lowering guest experiences or endangering the Earth.
Eco-Aware Casino: Aria Resort & Casino
Over the years, it's become increasingly apparent that land-based casinos are struggling to keep up with their online counterparts. Online casino operators are able to provide far more games, all of which are incredibly easy to access, and players don’t even have to leave their homes. More recently, online casinos have even started offering live and luxury experiences on par with Las Vegas resorts, with VIP casino services such as Club Royale offering customers, live games, lavish benefits and even trips to land-based casinos around the world.
To combat this, real-world casinos have had to up their game significantly, but can they do it in an eco-friendly manner? Absolutely! The Aria Resort and Casino not only has a gold certification in LEED but also utilises 85% of the building that stood there before it’s construction. It’s also thought that the hotel saves around 50 million gallons of water thanks to the low-flow showerheads, and CO2 emissions are reduced by nearly 30% due to natural gas usage.
Safe Earth Spa: Vdara Hotel & Spa
Finally, we have a spa hotel that manages to not only treat its customers right but the Earth as well. Vdara Hotel and Spa proudly admits to being eco-friendly, with various sustainable practices placed front and centre on their website, including high-efficiency water usage, responsibly managed and sourced wood, and an abundance of plant life.
As for spa services, the ESPA Spa has exclusively ethical skincare products that are kind to skin, the Earth and the people who make them. They’re even packaged using biodegradable materials such as paper and glass, all of which can be recycled.
Clearly, there are quite a few eco-friendly hotels in Las Vegas – something we were very surprised to find! With that in mind, surely all places are able to create sustainable resorts that do not damage the Earth.
