Travel Green Wisconsin recently certified Hotel Metro as a “green” hotel.
Travel Green Wisconsin, a program that reviews, certifies and recognizes tourism businesses that have made a commitment to continuously improve their operations in order to reduce their environmental impact, recently certified Hotel Metro as a "green" hotel with a completion of 67 points of a possible 139.
"Not only is this an honor to be recognized as a leader in our industry, but as a progressive business that is truly out to make a difference in the environment and educate our guests in the process," said Hotel Metro managing partner, Jamie Hummert.
Hotel Metro, located at 411 E. Mason St. in downtown Milwaukee, opened in 1998.
"Ten years ago, we were already offering our clients an environmentally-friendly stay with bamboo planking and cork for public area floors, gray-beige guest room carpeting made from recycled fibers, all-cotton sheets and architectural features made from reconstituted forest products and recycled glass, Hummert said.
The hotel’s "green" initiative is not just for the building, but for guests and employees as well, Hummert said.
"All employees must turn their computers off at the end of the day and we’ve changed our lighting system to a motion sensor," she said. "Our kitchen is 60 percent green compliant and by the end of 2008 we will be at 80 percent. Old linens, furniture and TVs are donated to homeless shelters."
Hotel Metro recently purchased six new Hampton Malibu Cruiser bicycles. Some guests ride the bikes to tourist attractions.
