Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Element chain is opening a new hotel in Vaughan, Ontario at the end of June.
This will be the first international property for the eco-conscious company – it currently has 10 other properties throughout the U.S.
According to Russell Porter, director of sales, Element Times Square, building a presence in Canada is important because it is a top market.
“We want the travel industry to further familiarize itself with the brand,” Porter said. “The chain is five years old and it has taken a while for it to establish itself because of the economy.”
“That’s why not a lot of people outside of the U.S. know about it,” he added. “We’re hoping that our presence in Canada will change that.”
Travel Citizen, in partnership with Bold Magazine, recently visited the Element hotel in Times Square, New York, and experienced the accommodations and services first hand – this is the only Element property located in a metropolis, the rest, like the hotel in Vaughan, are situated in suburban areas.
According to Porter, all of the properties follow the same design and include the same sustainable elements.
Like the others, the hotel in Vaughan will include rooms that are designed with recycled materials: the couches will be made from soy material; the floor will be created from recycled tires; the art work will feature recycled aluminum; and the kitchen backdrop will be designed with recycled glass.
Also, the rooms will be equipped with a kitchen that will include a faucet with purified water, a stove, a microwave and a refrigerator. The kitchen will also include recycling bins, and silverware and dishes to reduce the waste created by plastic utensils and paper cups.
“All of these extras are to provide our guests with sustainable travel options,” Porter said. “There is a lot of thought put into everything we do and we always try to align the design of each of our hotels with eco-conscious methods.”
The Element hotel in Vaughan will begin taking reservations at the beginning of July.
Further information can be found on the company website at starwoodhotels.com.
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