These four Austin hotels hold LEED certification, ranging from LEED Certified to LEED Gold, all verified against the USGBC project directory. Every hotel on this page holds a confirmed certification with a recorded point score and award year. Hotels without a USGBC listing are excluded, regardless of any self-reported green claims.
What each LEED level means for these hotels
LEED scores run from 40 points at the Certified threshold up through Silver (50-59), Gold (60-79), and Platinum (80+). No Austin hotel on this list holds Platinum. The two Gold properties, citizenM Austin Downtown at 66 points and Austin Proper Hotel at 60 points, cleared the Gold band under LEED v4 Hospitality and NC v2009 respectively.
JW Marriott Austin holds Silver at 51 points, and Aloft Austin Downtown holds Certified at 40. Aloft Austin Downtown shares its LEED Certified rating with the Element hotel in the same building at 109 E 7th St, so the 40-point score covers both brands under one submission.
LEED certification at a glance
| Hotel | LEED level | Points | Year awarded | Rating system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| citizenM Austin Downtown | LEED Gold | 66 | 2024 | LEED v4 Hospitality NC |
| Austin Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels | LEED Gold | 60 | 2021 | NC v2009 |
| JW Marriott Austin | LEED Silver | 51 | 2016 | NC v2009 |
| Aloft by Marriott Austin Downtown | LEED Certified | 40 | 2018 | NC v2009 |
Booking tips for green-credential travelers
- LEED certification covers the building's design and construction, not ongoing operations, so ask the hotel directly about current energy or water programs if that matters to your stay.
- The 2% Austin Tourism Public Improvement District fee applies to hotels with 100 or more rooms on top of the 17% hotel tax. Check your folio for this line item at larger properties.
- All four hotels are in or near downtown Austin and are within reach of CapMetro bus routes, so you can skip a rental car for most trips.
Getting around from LEED certified hotels in Austin
Three of the four certified hotels are within a few blocks of each other in the downtown core, near the MetroRapid 801 and 803 on Guadalupe and Lavaca streets. A single local fare of $1.25 covers any MetroRapid or standard bus ride, and fare capping means you pay no more than $2.50 for a full service day after two rides. Starting January 10, 2027, the fare rises to $1.50 and the daily cap to $3. For the airport, Route 20 Riverside runs from downtown to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport every 15 to 30 minutes, seven days a week, for the same local fare.
The MetroRail Red Line does not serve the airport. Aloft Austin Downtown at 109 E 7th St is the closest of the four to the Red River Cultural District and the 6th Street entertainment area.
The 4 LEED-certified hotels in Austin
citizenM Austin Downtown
617 COLORADO ST
8.72,459 reviews
11 min walk to Downtown Station (MetroRail Red Line)LEED Gold in 2024 with 66 points under LEED v4 Hospitality New Construction, the newest and highest-scoring Austin hotel in the USGBC directory.
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Austin Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels
600 West 2nd Street
9.4360 reviews
3 min walk to Seaholm Station (MetroRapid 803, Route 3, Route 111)LEED Gold awarded in 2021 with 60 points under NC v2009, listed in the USGBC project directory at 202 Nueces St.
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JW Marriott Austin
110 E 2nd St
9.0503 reviews
8 min walk to Downtown Station (MetroRail Red Line)LEED Silver in 2016 with 51 points under NC v2009, among the first large downtown Austin hotels with a verified USGBC certification.
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Aloft by Marriott Austin Downtown
109 E 7th St
9.01,192 reviews
9 min walk to Downtown Station (MetroRail Red Line)LEED Certified in 2018, shared with the Element at 109 E 7th St and listed in the USGBC directory as 'Aloft and Element Austin Downtown.'
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Frequently asked questions
How many hotels in Austin hold LEED certification?＋
This page covers four hotels with LEED certification in the USGBC directory: citizenM Austin Downtown (Gold), Austin Proper Hotel (Gold), JW Marriott Austin (Silver), and Aloft Austin Downtown (Certified, shared with the Element in the same building).
Does any Austin hotel hold LEED Platinum?＋
No Austin hotel holds LEED Platinum. The highest level achieved is LEED Gold, held by citizenM Austin Downtown with 66 points and Austin Proper Hotel with 60 points.
What does LEED Certified mean compared to LEED Gold?＋
LEED Certified covers buildings that scored 40-49 points across sustainability categories. LEED Gold requires 60-79 points. The gap reflects meaningfully higher performance in areas like energy efficiency, water use, and materials sourcing.
Can I get to these hotels from Austin-Bergstrom Airport by bus?＋
Yes. Route 20 Riverside runs from the airport to downtown Austin every 15 to 30 minutes, seven days a week, for $1.25 a ride ($1.50 from January 10, 2027). All four certified hotels are within a short walk or ride of the downtown stops on that route. The MetroRail Red Line does not serve the airport.
Does LEED certification guarantee a hotel is eco-friendly today?＋
LEED certification reflects the building's design and construction performance at the time of assessment. It does not automatically track ongoing operations. If current energy or water practices matter to your stay, ask the hotel directly about their active programs.
What taxes apply to hotel stays at these Austin properties?＋
All Austin hotel stays carry a 17% hotel tax: 6% Texas state tax plus 11% City of Austin tax. Hotels with 100 or more rooms may also add a 2% Austin Tourism Public Improvement District fee on top of that, listed as a separate line item on your folio.
