green meetings
Our Green Meetings in Indianapolis
New Marriott Place Development in Indianapolis Charts a Green Course
The new $450 million Marriott Place Indianapolis development - comprised of the JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown (opening February 2011); the Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown (now open); the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown (now open); and the FairField Inn and Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown (now open) – has been created with environmental sustainability top-of-mind.
“All of the properties that make up Marriott Place Indianapolis, particularly the flagship new JW Marriott, have been built using the latest ‘green’ technology and materials,” said Cory Chambers, director of sales and marketing for Marriott Place. “Not only does that facilitate responsible hospitality management, but it also allows us to maximize energy efficiency and resulting cost savings that we can pass along to our customers.”
Located on a previously developed site, eliminating the impact of new development, Marriott Place Indianapolis even incorporated an existing structure into the new FairField Inn & Suites – meaning no need for a complete demolition. Previous buildings on the site were removed and recycled, diverting recyclable materials from entering a landfill.
Wherever possible, the developers sourced building materials from manufacturers in the Midwest, reducing transportation resources and energy.
And, Marriott Place Indianapolis incorporated energy efficient and green building materials throughout the properties. In fact, the JW Marriott Indianapolis incorporates Philips Lightolier LED SSL downlights throughout, to maximize efficiency while enhancing the guest experience. With more than 5,000 Philips Lightolier LED SSL downlights, the JW Marriott represents the largest hospitality installation of these cutting-edge lights in the world.
Additional green building materials incorporated into the development include:
- Low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, coatings and carpet systems to increase occupant health and comfort and minimize environmental impact.
- Tan thermoplastic olefin (TPO) roof membrane to reflect sunlight and reduce the urban heat islands attributed to dark roofs in urban centers.
- In-room energy management system by Johnson Controls.
- Guest room bath down lights and reading lights utilize 10 watt LEDs.
- Guest room corridor down lights utilize 20 watt LEDs.
Convenient Location Helps Minimize Impact
For green meeting planners looking to reduce personal automobile use and resulting emissions, Marriott Place Indianapolis is a perfect choice. It is conveniently connected to the Indiana Convention Center and within easy walking distance of Lucas Oil Stadium, public amenities, museums, shopping destinations, restaurants and other places of interest to guests.
Guests that would like to explore areas of the city beyond downtown will find immediate access to public transportation.
For guests that do bring cars, Marriott Place Indianapolis provides a convenient underground parking garage, which further reduces the urban heat islands created by large parking lot surface areas in urban centers.
A Corporate Commitment to Sustainability
Marriott Hotels and Resorts have made a system-wide commitment to responsible hospitality management, taking steps including:
- Replacing light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.
- Installing low-flow showerheads and toilets.
- Implementing a water and energy saving linen program.
- Incorporating ENERGY STAR certified products whenever possible. In fact, Marriott operates the most ENERGY STAR certified properties in the industry.
- Involving its global workforce in eco-volunteerism.
Resources to Help Meeting Planners “Go Green”
For meeting planners looking to host green meetings and events, Marriott Place Indianapolis can help, providing things like 100% recycled note pads; pens made from recycled materials; eco-friendly water service; meeting room recycling; online event menus, reducing the need for printed materials; organic flowers; energy-efficient Indianapolis banquet halls; donations of excess food to America’s Second Harvest; a recyclable box lunch program; and paperless billing.
“We will do whatever we can to help our customers minimize the environmental impact of their events and meetings in Indianapolis,” said Chambers. “We share a commitment to preserving the planet, and look forward to working with our customers to help achieve that goal.”
For more on Marriott’s green programs, visit www.marriott.com/environment or click on the link below.