Marriott International, Inc. announced the first TownePlace Suites hotel to open as part of its LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environment Volume Program) Volume Program – the TownePlace Suites Denver Airport at Gateway Park in Colorado.

TownePlace Suites is the hospitality leader’s second brand to construct a hotel built using Marriott’s LEED Volume Program.  The hotel will be the brand’s first exemplary property using the LEED Volume prototype.

Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the LEED Volume Program removes the guess work from the process for property developers, such as hotel owners who want to build a LEED-certified hotel, saving them time and money.  Volume certification provides a streamlined path to LEED certification based on a pre-approved prototype and process.

“The number one seems to be a recurring theme for us,” said Karl Ewald, president and CEO of Arapahoe Lodging. “This is the first Marriott hotel in our portfolio, it is also the very first TownePlace Suites through Marriott’s partnership with the USGBC and the LEED Volume Program and the brand was recently named the number one mid-priced extended stay hotel brand.  We are certainly thrilled to be part of the Marriott family.”

Owners of these hotels save about $100,000 in upfront costs and six months of design time.  Additionally, owners can expect to save 25 percent in energy and water consumption and should recover their additional investment in five to six years—possibly sooner depending on federal and local government incentives.

“With the increase in global travel, we have a responsibility to ease our business impact on our natural environment.  Our LEED Volume Program puts us at the forefront of the industry and it helps support our sustainable initiatives,” said Karim Khalifa, senior vice president of architecture and construction.  “The program also allows our owners and franchisees to build sustainable hotels economically with a predictable return on investment and that our guests will love.  This platform is an important part of Marriott’s global expansion and our commitment to build our hotels in an eco-sensitive way.” 

Opened May 8, the TownePlace Suites Denver like all Marriott LEED Volume hotels features a number of elements that focus on energy and water efficiency and recycling.  Some of those elements include:
- Light-colored roofing that reflects heat and saves energy;
- 70 percent ENERGY STAR® certified appliances including refrigerators, TVs, computers and kitchen equipment;
- Water-efficient toilets and aerated bathroom faucets;
- 10 percent of the building materials used contain recycled content;
- “On Demand” ventilation that provides fresh air for occupied spaces without wasting energy on unoccupied areas of the property;
- LED lighting - controls that turn off the lights;
- Incorporates high-tech daylight sensors to reduce electrical lighting with natural sunlight and
- Uses renewable energy sources such as solar or wind.

TPS Denver LobbyThe TownePlace Suites Denver also features a warm lobby and friendly “hello” signage that welcomes guests to the check-in area. Guests and staff interact using a floor-to-ceiling TowneMap® that helps guests settle into the local area by featuring great places to eat, popular night spots, recreation areas, shopping and services, such as dry cleaners and local car wash outlets.

The hotel offers a complimentary continental breakfast every morning in the lobby area, as well as 24-hour complimentary On Us℠ coffee service, guests who want a quick snack can also select food and beverage items from the 24-hour access In a Pinch® Market.

Marriott’s entire select-service and extended-stay portfolios—Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites – are all LEED Volume certified.  In addition to the LEED Volume certified TownePlace Suites Denver, the Residence Inn Austin in Texas, which is scheduled to open in early 2013 will be the first of its brand to be LEED Volume certified.  The SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn brands have projects under development.  Across the Marriott portfolio, there are more than 90 hotels that are LEED- certified or registered by the USGBC.