When travelers visit San Francisco, they expect to experience the beauty and bounty of California, from incredible, natural sights to farm-fresh food. The city by the bay has long been at the forefront of sustainability, with a history of policies and initiatives aimed at preserving the environment: San Francisco was the first city in the United States banning plastic bags in 2007. Today, San Francisco's hotels lead the way in environmentally responsible hospitality, from LEED-certified buildings to green initiatives and eco-conscious practices.
Here, we explore how a few of San Francisco’s most notable from the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection ensure visitors experience the eco-conscious mindset inherent to Bay Area culture.
Just South of Market Street, adjacent to the shopping hub of Union Square and San Francisco’s public transportation—including the famous Cable Car—is Hotel Zetta. The vibrant 116-room hotel is swanky but playful, fusing art, technology, and sustainability into each touchpoint. Throughout the hotel, guests will encounter revitalized, repurposed, and recycled items transformed into works of art, like a chandelier made from 1,200 pairs of recycled eyeglasses, or a Great Dane sculpture made of repurposed forks, tools, and bolts.
“Social responsibility is woven into the mosaic fabric of our beliefs and culture,” says Desiree Hemmelgarn, Director of Sales and Marketing. “The goal is to always be a positive force for good and to maintain an equilibrium between the business, the welfare of society, and the environment.” The commitment is inspired by San Francisco’s standout role as one of the greenest cities in North America, and the local tourism community’s collective focus on using renewable energy and producing zero waste.
Though San Francisco has numerous parks providing access to nature, The Presidio stands apart from the rest fully immersing itself within greener pastures. Formerly a military base, this decommissioned spot is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with bayfront access, lush forests and restored waterways, and an awe-inducing view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
"The future of our planet was at the forefront of the vision for the Inn at the Presidio and its sister property, Lodge at the Presidio,” says Director of Presidio Lodging, Terry Haney. “This commitment to preservation and sustainability impacted every decision - from the reuse of historic buildings to the day-to-day operations.”
The 26-room hotel has been LEED Gold Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council since 2012, while adhering to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the treatment of historic properties. The hotel makes use of green materials like insulation made from repurposed cotton denim, and follows a rigorous recycling and composting program that diverts the majority of its waste from landfills.
The St. Regis Hotel San Francisco is one of the city’s true standouts, from its unbeatable location near the city’s best museums and main convention center, to the elegant but modern reincarnation of a historic building. The hotel neatly balances a high-end experience with being green, because it’s in the DNA of the property—and the city in which it’s found. “Sustainability is at the core of The St. Regis San Francisco, as we see ourselves as part of the community in which we operate,” says Roger Huldi, general manager of The St. Regis San Francisco.
In addition to being a San Francisco Green Certified Business and California Green Lodging Program participant, the St. Regis San Francisco collaborates with the hospitality community to achieve common goals. “The St. Regis San Francisco is an active member of the Hotel Council of San Francisco, and we work closely with other hotel members, as an industry, to share best practices and initiatives to support the City’s goal towards NetZero Carbon Footprint,” Huldi says. Building off of this, Huldi recently participated in the Hotel Council's sustainability panel to share learnings and ideas to further a citywide goal towards a sustainable future.
One of the newest hotels to open in San Francisco is 1 Hotel, a natural fit among the city’s sustainability-minded hospitality community. Facing the iconic Ferry Building and Bay Bridge on the Embarcadero, the hotel weaves into the fabric of the city with its urban-rustic style.
“At 1 Hotel San Francisco, we believe that sustainability is not just an ethos, but a social responsibility to create a better future for our guests, community and the planet,” says Ashley Gochnauer, general manager of 1 Hotel San Francisco. “The Bay Area is one of the most environmentally conscious regions in the world, so preserving natural resources and reducing environmental impact is at the heart of what we do.”
When guests enter the lobby, they are embraced by a veritable forest of living plants on a backdrop of reclaimed barn wood, with all the concrete details made locally using recyclable material. In the rooms, upcycled wine bottles-turned-cups are available for use, as well as refillable water stations on every floor. And the roof garden supplies fresh ingredients as locally-sourced as it gets.
Hero image: The St. Regis San Francisco
