If your company reports on travel emissions, the conference hotel is one of the easier choices to get right. These 10 eco-friendly business hotels in San Francisco all run energy, water or waste programs, and some are a short walk from transit, which keeps attendees out of cabs.
Here's what each one does and what kind of event it suits.
1. Hotel Nikko San Francisco: 5 minutes from Powell BART
Hotel Nikko San Francisco has put its money into energy-efficient lighting and advanced HVAC systems to cut energy use and emissions, and it runs recycling and water conservation programs.
The event spaces come with modern technology and work for most conference formats. The in-house catering uses locally sourced ingredients where it can.
Pro Tip: The location is the real selling point. Powell Street BART is a 5-minute walk, so most attendees can arrive by train instead of by cab.
2. 1 Hotel San Francisco: reclaimed wood and organic linens
1 Hotel San Francisco is built around its materials: reclaimed wood, organic linens and eco-friendly finishes throughout, plus energy-efficient systems and green building practices.
The meeting spaces have current technology, and the catering is farm-to-table, with locally sourced, organic ingredients. Forbes covered the design and the sustainability side in detail in its Forbes review on 1 Hotel’s natural design and eco-friendly focus.
Pro Tip: Pick this one if you want attendees to notice the sustainability without giving up luxury.
3. The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco: the luxury pick
The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco uses energy-efficient lighting, waste reduction programs and eco-friendly cleaning products.
Its meeting spaces run on energy-efficient technology, the catering prioritizes local, organic ingredients, and the hotel encourages conferences to go digital to save paper. Of the 10, this is the luxury pick.
4. The Orchard Garden Hotel: an early LEED hotel for small meetings
The Orchard Garden Hotel was one of the first LEED-certified hotels in California, and it covers the basics well: energy-efficient lighting, sustainable building materials and a full recycling program.
The meeting spaces suit smaller meetings and gatherings. Housekeeping uses non-toxic cleaning products, and the hotel asks guests to take part in its sustainability efforts.
5. Hotel Zelos San Francisco: flexible space near transit
Hotel Zelos uses energy-efficient lighting and water-saving measures in guest rooms and conference areas, and it is cutting plastic across the whole property.
The meeting spaces are flexible, with natural daylight and air conditioning designed to use less energy. Public transport hubs are minutes away, so attendees have an easy commute.
For a broader look at the best hotels in San Francisco, covering eco-friendly choices and iconic properties, see this guide.
6. Fairmont San Francisco: grand event spaces, less plastic
Fairmont San Francisco has green policies covering energy, waste and responsible sourcing, and it takes part in programs to bring its energy and water use down over time.
The conference spaces are grand, with energy-efficient lighting and modern technology. Guests get reusable water bottles and hydration stations in place of single-use plastic.
7. The Marker San Francisco: a ballroom for up to 300
The Marker runs green housekeeping that uses fewer chemicals and puts the weight on recycling and composting, and its energy-efficient systems cut both emissions and utility costs.
With a 2,870-square-foot ballroom for up to 300 and small boardrooms, it can host a small boardroom meeting or a larger conference. The hotel also reuses materials to keep waste down.
8. Parc 55 San Francisco – a Hilton Hotel: good for breakout sessions
Parc 55 is a Hilton hotel, so it logs its environmental data in LightStay, the platform Hilton requires at every property.
It has a lot of meeting rooms and flexible space with energy-efficient materials, which makes it the one to look at if your conference runs several breakout sessions at once. Public transit is close, so attendees can skip the cab.
9. Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Hyatt Regency is covered by World of Care, Hyatt's global ESG platform.
The meeting rooms are spacious and set up for video conferencing, so remote attendees can join and you print less.
10. Kimpton Hotel Enso: the zero-waste boutique
Kimpton Hotel Enso is committed to zero waste. It runs a full recycling program, supports local environmental projects and cuts energy and water use on site.
The meeting rooms get a lot of natural light, so you need fewer lamps on during the day, and the catering comes from partner farms nearby. It's a good fit for a corporate retreat.
Why Eco-Friendly Hotels Matter for Your Conferences
The Global Business Travel Association found that 83% of companies are actively working to make business travel more sustainable. The conference venue is one of the easiest places to act on that.
The hotels above cover waste, energy and local sourcing. If you're writing the rules for your own team, our Green Travel Policy guide walks through how to set them.
The Future of Eco-Friendly Travel
Hotels keep adding green technology: energy-efficient lighting, smart thermostats and zero-waste programs.
If you're choosing the city as well as the hotel, see Eco-Friendly Business Travel Destinations.
