Starwood launches eco-hotel in Suzhou, China

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has launched an eco-friendly brand of hotels with the opening of Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town in Suzhou, China.

The hotel has 188 guestrooms and suites and is owned by Suzhou Science and Technology Town Kexin Cultural Tourism Development.

Guestrooms at the Element hotel include water-efficient faucets, Energy Star rated kitchen appliances and carpets made from up to 100 per cent recycled materials.

Recycled tires are used for the base that wall art is mounted on and the interior walls are painted with low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints.

Silverware and glassware is used instead of plastic utensils and paper cups to minimise waste, and guest rooms include recycling bins for paper, plastic and glass.

Starwood has promised that the Element hotels will target the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification status.

Stephen Ho, president of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific, said: “Recent studies have shown that consumers are becoming increasingly interested in environmentally friendly practices and products, as well as sustainable living.”

Element agreed 19 deals in 2014 and is on track to triple its portfolio by 2017 with Starwood scheduled to open an Element hotel in North Dakota, in November.