South San Francisco entrepreneur Wen-I-Chang, best known for his small franchise hotels, is launching a chain of “green hotels” in California that he expects to be the first in the country to win the “Gold” level of LEED Environmental Certification from the US Green Building Council.
His first, the 133-room Gaia hotel in American Canyon, opened in November at a cost of $12 million, said the San Francisco Business Times. The cost included an estimated 15% premium for eco-friendly features like special air conditioning and heating systems, wood from young trees, recycled carpets and paint with fewer harsh chemicals.
Two more Gaia hotels are in the pipeline for a total $36 million investment, and Mr Chang expects to grow the chain to eight properties within four years.
“I try to use my hotels as a medium” to effect change, Chang told the newspaper.
In American Canyon, Mr Chang hopes the environmental bona fides will help lure some of Napa Valley’s more influential guests — dedicated environmentalists, college professors and others with particularly strong interest in ecology and the outdoors. He plans average room rates of $160 per night.
Gaia has applied for LEED Gold Certification and is awaiting the results.
“The hotel is part of a game of environmental one-upsmanship, topping the San Francisco’s Orchard Garden Hotel, which opened in October and has applied to become the first hotel in the state with the base level of LEED certification,” said the newspaper.
Chang eventually plans to grow the chain more rapidly with a franchise model.
Report by David Wilkening
