Excited by Kimpton's EarthCare program (see previous post: Eco Boutique Hotels) I decided to put it to the test and pick up the phone to make reservations for my trip to San Francisco. My enthusiasm deflated when I started to see that the reservation agents I spoke with were not well educated about Kimpton's eco amenities and the EarthCare program. According to Kimpton's website "Many of our hotels have Eco Floors." According to the two people I spoke with on 1-800-KIMPTON only the Hotel Triton has eco rooms. So where is the truth? Is Kimpton "greenwashing" for PR sake or is there a corporate disconnect between employee and employer?

In a random sampling of six Kimpton locations I found that four did not have any eco rooms, one (the Hotel Monaco in Chicago) used to have an eco floor but discontinued the program, and only one (70 Park Avenue in New York) actively has eco rooms. Add to that the lackluster response I received when I asked front desk staff about Kimpton's environmental practices and EarthCare program (only two people had an understanding of the program) and the picture can start to look a bit grim.

After attempting to contact media relations in Kimpton's corporate offices and Brian Fenwick the General Manager of Hotel Triton, both to no success, I have received an email back from Jamie Law, Kimpton's Public Relations Coordinator and I have put forward the following questions:

1. Does Kimpton have dedicated eco rooms across the collection of hotels as stated on your website? If so, which hotels have them and do they include the same amenities as described for Hotel Triton's eco rooms.
2. What percentage of your guests request eco rooms or suites and do you see this number growing?
3. What training is Kimpton staff given regarding the EarthCare program AND what training is staff given in dealing with accommodating guest's needs.
4. After researching your company and listening to the interview with Steve Pinetti on the Eco Talk radio show (10-01-05) I was left with the impression that Kimpton Hotels has a deep commitment to sustainability and style. An impression I communicated to my readers. What has the company done AND what will the company be doing to communicate that a commitment to sustainability is in fact part of Kimpton's way of doing business and not "greenwashing."
   

Not to disregard the huge efforts they have made (they are still ahead of many other companies) I am left wondering if the EarthCare program has been implemented as deeply as communicated. I would very much like to think that Kimpton is as progressive as I was led to believe from their enthusiastic marketing and I'm eagerly awaiting Jamie's response. Kimpton may have stye, but does it have substance?

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