Green Key Global is a third-party sustainability certification that audits hotels on energy use, water conservation, waste reduction, and staff training. Every hotel on this page holds active Green Key certification, verified through the Green Key Global member directory. Fewer than two dozen Los Angeles hotels carry this credential, making it far rarer here than LEED plaques on office towers or Energy Star labels on appliances.
How we selected these hotels
No hotel made this list on reputation alone. Each one had to clear two things.
- 1. A current listing in the Green Key Global member directory.
- 2. An active certification confirmed through the directory. Green Key re-audits its members on a regular cycle, so a current listing reflects how the hotel operates today, not how it operated at the time of an original application.
The 15 properties below span Los Angeles from Pasadena to Marina del Rey, covering airport corridors, Downtown, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.
What Green Key certification requires
Green Key Global uses a five-level scale. Entry-level certification (1 Key) requires a hotel to meet baseline standards for energy monitoring, waste sorting, and chemical management. Each additional Key demands measurable improvements: documented reduction targets, staff sustainability training programs, community engagement, and in many cases third-party energy audits. A 4-Key or 5-Key property has cleared a significantly higher bar than a 1-Key holder, so the level matters when you are comparing options.
For travelers, the practical difference shows up in things like linen and towel reuse programs backed by actual tracking data, EV charging infrastructure, low-flow fixtures verified by water-use logs, and purchasing policies that favor local or sustainably sourced food. Green Key does not certify on intent. It certifies on documented, audited practice.
Green Key certified hotels in Los Angeles at a glance
| Hotel | Neighborhood | Stars | Green Key level | Guest rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills | West Hollywood | 4 | 4 Key | 8.6 |
| Los Angeles Airport Marriott | LAX corridor | 4 | 4 Key | 8.2 |
| Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel | LAX corridor | 4 | 4 Key | 7.8 |
| Sheraton Grand Los Angeles | Downtown LA | 4 | 4 Key | 9.0 |
| The Hoxton, Downtown LA | Downtown LA | 4 | 4 Key | 9.2 |
| Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows | Santa Monica | 5 | 4 Key | 8.6 |
| Fairmont Century Plaza Los Angeles at Beverly Hills | Century City | 5 | 4 Key | N/A |
| Ambrose Hotel | Santa Monica | 4 | 4 Key | 8.8 |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey | Marina del Rey | 5 | 4 Key | 8.4 |
| The Shay Hotel | Culver City | 4 | 4 Key | 9.2 |
| Best Western Airport Plaza Hotel – LAX Airport LA Stadium | Inglewood | 3 | 3 Key | 7.9 |
| The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills | West Hollywood | 5 | 3 Key | 9.0 |
| Hyatt Place Pasadena | Pasadena | 3 | 3 Key | 8.7 |
| Best Western Plus Suites Hotel - LAX Airport LA Stadium | Inglewood | 3 | 2 Key | 8.0 |
| Best Western Hollywood Plaza Hotel - Walk of Fame Film City LA | Hollywood | 3 | 2 Key | 7.9 |
Tips for booking a Green Key hotel in Los Angeles
- Check the Key level, not just the certification. A 4-Key property has met stricter water, energy, and waste targets than a 2-Key holder.
- Airport-area hotels on this list (LAX Marriott, Renaissance, Best Western Airport Plaza, Best Western Plus Suites) are within walking distance of the LAX/Metro Transit Center, served by the K Line, which connects to the broader Metro network. Factor in ground transport if you are trying to reduce your trip's overall footprint.
- The Ambrose in Santa Monica and Hyatt Place Pasadena are among the smaller certified properties and tend to have a more hands-on approach to sustainability programs.
- Fairmont Century Plaza does not yet show a public guest rating, so check recent reviews before booking if that matters to your decision.
- Green Key certification covers the property's operations. It does not govern how you get there, so pairing a certified hotel with Metro rail access (Sheraton Grand is a 5-minute walk from 7th Street/Metro Center) cuts the trip's carbon footprint further.
The hotels
All 65 Los Angeles hotel guides →
Frequently asked questions
What does Green Key Global certification mean for a hotel?+
Green Key Global certification means a hotel has passed a third-party audit covering more than 100 criteria across energy management, water conservation, waste reduction, chemical handling, and staff training. The hotel must renew its certification periodically, so the credential reflects current operations. The five-level Key scale tells you how far above the baseline a property has gone: a 4-Key hotel has met stricter targets than a 2-Key holder.
How many Los Angeles hotels hold Green Key certification?+
Fifteen Los Angeles hotels appear in the Green Key Global member directory and are listed on this page. That number is small relative to the total hotel inventory in the metro area, which runs into the hundreds of properties. Green Key's audit requirement and ongoing program fees make it less common than self-reported sustainability programs or energy benchmarking tools like Energy Star.
Is Green Key certification the same as LEED?+
No. LEED focuses on building design and construction, evaluating materials, site selection, and energy systems at the time a building is built or renovated. Green Key focuses on daily hotel operations, auditing things like waste diversion rates, chemical purchasing, and staff training records. A hotel can hold LEED certification for its building and still fail a Green Key audit if its operations do not meet the standard.
Which Green Key certified hotels in Los Angeles are closest to LAX?+
Four certified hotels are on or near the LAX airport corridor: the Los Angeles Airport Marriott and Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel on Century and Airport Boulevards, and the Best Western Airport Plaza Hotel and Best Western Plus Suites Hotel in Inglewood. The Marriott and Renaissance hold 4-Key certifications; the two Best Western properties hold 3-Key and 2-Key certifications respectively.
Which certified hotels in Los Angeles have the best Metro rail access?+
The Sheraton Grand Los Angeles in Downtown is five minutes on foot from 7th Street/Metro Center, which connects the A, B, D, and E Lines. The Shay Hotel in Culver City is seven minutes from the Culver City E Line station. The Ambrose Hotel in Santa Monica is six minutes from the 26th Street/Bergamot E Line station. The Best Western Hollywood Plaza Hotel is four minutes from the Hollywood/Highland B Line station.
Do all Green Key certified hotels in Los Angeles hold the same level of certification?+
No. The 15 certified hotels on this page range from 2-Key to 4-Key certification. The two Best Western properties near LAX hold 2-Key certifications. The Best Western Airport Plaza Hotel, Hyatt Place Pasadena, and The London West Hollywood hold 3-Key certifications. The remaining ten properties, including the Fairmont Miramar, Sheraton Grand, The Hoxton, The Shay, and the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, hold 4-Key certifications. No Los Angeles hotel currently appears in the Green Key directory at the 5-Key level.
