Samuelle Green's "Bloom 5" Installation made of recycled book pages at Element Hotel in Salt Lake City. — Photo by Alan Blakely
Beverly Fuller at Element Hotel in Salt Lake City — Photo by Alan Blakely
Andrew Ramiro Tirado's reclaimed redwood sculpture at The Maven Hotel in Denver — Photo by Andrew Bordwin

Did you know that 39% of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet come from buildings? And over half of the materials that go into landfills in the U.S. come from construction? These are just a few of the insights shared by Jon Buerge, Chief Development Officer at Urban Villages, on The NINE dot ARTS Podcast. And Jon isn’t the only leader I’ve spoken with who is increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of real estate development.

In the hospitality sector in particular, developers are recognizing the need to amplify their sustainability efforts, as these are important to travelers, important for society, and necessary for hotels wanting to remain competitive in their industry.

The good news is that there are many ways for hotel developers to make meaningful strides towards sustainability - some of which require significant investment up front yet often pay dividends down the line, like utilizing sustainable building materials in place of less expensive finishes - and others that are more cost-effective and produce immediate benefits for guests, like art curation.

Indeed, a thoughtfully curated art program is an often overlooked strategy for promoting sustainability within your hotel while distinguishing the guest experience. Here’s how an intentional art collection can support a hotel’s sustainability efforts.

Early Art Integration

By planning and budgeting for art early in a project’s life cycle, hotel developers can set a vision for the art program explicitly based on sustainability. Installations may feature biophilic elements or repurposed materials, complementing the hotel’s energy-efficient lighting or reclaimed wooden furniture. When integrated early and with intention, an art collection can amplify the hotel’s green features to create an overall atmosphere that clearly communicates a care for the environment.

Further, early art integration helps ensure that art installations are both sustainable and structurally sound, eliminating the potential for future financial or environmental consequences. For example, my team at NINE dot ARTS was brought in nearly four years prior to construction to establish the art vision and location plan for Denver’s Dairy Block, a mixed-use microdistrict with a hotel, restaurant, bar, offices, retail shops, and an activated pedestrian alleyway.

For the Dairy Block’s popular Maven Hotel, we consulted with engineers and architects to budget and build for a structurally sound ceiling that would hold the weight of a 500-lb hanging sculpture, ensuring it hung just as designed and would not require ongoing maintenance. Made of reclaimed Colorado Redwood trees, local artist Andrew Ramio Tirado’s “hand” sculpture is now a staple of the hotel, the district, and the city at large. Thanks to early art integration, the sculpture has become a stunning yet sustainable differentiation strategy, enticing guests to the hotel and prompting them to visit again.

Support for Local Labor

Starting your art planning early can also allow for coordination with local artists and vendors, thus limiting the environmental impacts caused by shipping, packaging, and other transportation necessities. Rather than sourcing prints online, buying in bulk, or outsourcing the work to be made in another country, hospitality leaders should prioritize local collaboration and investment.

And if original works by local artists are too costly for a project, consider securing an image license from those creatives instead, then using a local vinyl company to scale the image for a custom wall vinyl for your space. To create further cost efficiencies, try utilizing excess construction materials for the manufacturing and on-site fabrication of signage, sculptures, and other artistic features.

This simple choice to “support local” will not only build goodwill and good press for your hotel, but limit your carbon footprint, too.

Leveraging Sustainable Materials

Another engaging way to promote sustainability at your hotel is to curate art installations made of repurposed materials. From found objects to upcycled fabrics, these environmentally friendly artworks can create immediate intrigue while showcasing your property’s eco-conscious focus.

Salt Lake City’s Element Hotel, for example, was designed for eco-conscious travelers looking to maintain balance while on the road. In addition to its many green amenities and ergonomic designs, the hotel boasts an impressive art collection reflecting themes of harmony, tranquility, and sustainability. From framed textiles to a large-scale wall sculpture made primarily from recycled book pages, the nature-inspired artworks are the perfect complement to the hotel’s memorable yet minimalist ambience.

From reducing waste to conserving energy, sustainable practices in hospitality are here to stay. But beyond offering biodegradable packaging or using all-natural cleaning products, a curated art program is a powerful way to communicate sustainability while improving the guest experience. By integrating art early, leveraging local labor, and utilizing repurposed materials, your art program can differentiate your hotel while raising environmental awareness and inspiring positive change.