The FINANCIAL — Marriott International, Inc. announced the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff in Missouri is the company’s first hotel to earn LEED green building program status through the U.S. Green Building Council self-certification program.
The only LEED Certified Marriott property in Missouri, the Courtyard Kansas City at Briarcliff was constructed on top of a mine, land previously undevelopable, and 10 percent of building materials used contain recycled content. Like all Marriott LEED Certified hotels, this hotel features a number of elements that focus on energy conservation, water efficiency and recycling, according to Marriott International, Inc.
“Sustainable development is a priority for Marriott. LEED certification earned by our properties demonstrates our commitment to the environment while simultaneously appealing to our environmentally conscious customers,” said Denise Naguib, vice president, sustainability & supplier diversity. “The LEED self-certification program allows our owners and franchisees to achieve LEED status throughout the development process, so that it is fully certified upon building completion,” Naguib added.
Marriott is the only hotel company to earn self-certification approval from the USGBC. Self-certification streamlines the process for hotel developers and owners, saving both time and money. Owners of these hotels save about $100,000 in upfront costs and six months of design time. Additionally, owners can expect to save 25 percent in energy and water consumption and should recover their additional investment in five to six years—possibly sooner depending on federal and local government incentives, according to Marriott International, Inc.
“Marriott has always been on the forefront of sustainability, in both project development and corporate social responsibility,” said Karim Khalifa, senior vice president, architecture and construction. “We are thrilled to be a leader yet again as the first hotel company to offer properties the opportunity to individually manage the LEED certification process,” Khalifa added.
Marriott’s entire select-service and extended-stay portfolio — Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites – is LEED Volume certified. Across the Marriott portfolio, 130 hotels are LEED- Certified or registered by the USGBC, according to Marriott International, Inc.
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