Element Las Vegas Summerlin Becomes Nevada's Newest LEED-Certified Hotel
Earning Coveted Green Designation, elementhotels.com/summerlin
White Plains, NY - September 30, 2011 - The Las Vegas community of Summerlin is now the proud home of Nevada's newest LEED-certified hotel.
Element Las Vegas - Summerlin, an eco-chic hotel where smart green practices enhance a refreshing, relaxing guest experience, has earned a coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it was announced today.
Designed to be “green from the ground up”, Element hotels blend eco-inspired smart design, bright, open spaces, and flowing layouts in guestrooms. Element serves as a personal retreat from the stresses of travel, helping you stay connected, feel alive, and thrive while you're away. Element also serves as Starwood's green innovation lab, where sustainable practices are tested before migrating to other brands.
With Element Las Vegas Summerlin's certification, six Element hotels in North America now boast a LEED designation. Element, from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), made history in 2008 by becoming the first major hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue LEED certification.
The certification reflects Element Las Vegas Summerlin's dedication to sustainability. Throughout the hotel, eco-friendly design enhances comfort, quality, and performance. Physical spaces use materials that are both sustainable and inviting, from stylish carpets with up to 100% recycled content to low-VOC paint that enlivens walls without harming indoor air quality. Oversized windows and open layouts flood the space with natural light, supplemented by compact fluorescent bulbs that shed a soothing glow while using about 75 percent less energy than conventional bulbs. Green cleaning products help keep Element sparkling clean and healthy for both people and the planet.
All 123 guest rooms are outfitted with EnergyStar-qualified kitchen appliances, eco-friendly bath fixtures, and recycling bins for paper, plastic, and glass. The property minimizes waste with recycled paper towels in the kitchen, filter systems for drinking water to replace plastic bottles, and silverware and glassware instead of disposable products. Showers feature dispensers for shampoo/conditioner and body wash, rather than wasteful mini-bottles
The property even offers a special thank-you to green-minded guests, providing priority parking spots for hybrid cars. For the added convenience of eco-minded travelers, the hotel recently installed a ChargePoint electric-vehicle charging station, which Element has been rolling out at properties nationwide.
“Our LEED certification is gratifying because it recognizes our team's efforts to conserve resources and reduce waste. But even more important, guests keep telling us how much it means to them,” said David Smith, general manager of Element Las Vegas Summerlin. “There's a real appreciation among guests for all of the thoughtful practices that have become an integral part of the Element experience.”
Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty-Select Brands, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., agreed. “LEED certification is a terrific achievement for the Element Las Vegas Summerlin team, a win for the community, and a meaningful milestone for our guests. The hotel's certification proves that green practices can enhance every aspect of a hotel's operation, from providing great guest experiences to enriching a neighborhood.”
Jeffrey LaPour, owner of Element Las Vegas Summerlin, further acknowledged the success and appeal of Element hotels. “During the brand selection for this hotel, Element stood out amongst the others because it encompassed everything that creates a great guest experience offering a modern comfortable design in a sustainable environment. This is LaPour's second LEED certified building in the market and being an avid supporter of the green movement, we will continue to develop healthy environments for a promising future that will include more Element hotels.”
Element Las Vegas Summerlin is located at I-215 and Towncenter Drive in the heart of a vibrant community, surrounded by first-class dining, shopping, and golf courses - at the doorstep to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and just 15 minutes from the thrills and casinos of the famed Las Vegas Strip. Framed by soaring mountain peaks, and woven together by double tree-lined streets, European roundabouts, and picturesque streetscapes, the hotel's prime Summerlin setting is unlike any other in Las Vegas.
About Element Hotels
Element hotels are green by design and inspiring by nature. Element's energizing, eco-chic environment offers bright public spaces, smart design, and clever green features. Every Element property is also a high-performance building where sustainable practices reduce waste and conserve resources. Even the ubiquitous “Do Not Disturb” sign has been replaced with the now-famous environmentally-friendly magnet. Element also shares a “whole living” philosophy based on keeping life clean, simple and balanced. To help guests stay active and healthy, each property offers complimentary wellness programs and healthy food options.
Element, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.
About LaPour
LaPour Cos is a privately held real estate development and investment firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a focus on hospitality development, office/industrial development and capital management, LaPour has earned a reputation for significant value creation through resourcefulness, execution, and attention to detail. LaPour's real estate holdings include real property interests in the sunbelt states Nevada, California, Arizona, and Florida. For more information please visit the company website by accessing www.lapour.com.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1058 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
