DCdesignBlog: Salamander Resort & Spa Launches "Meeting Green" Program

Monday, August 03, 2009

Salamander Resort & Spa Launches "Meeting Green" Program

We have all been hearing A LOT about the new Salamander Resort and Spa going up in Middleburg, VA. I came across this article today on PRWeb, it talks about how it will be one of the first LEED luxury destination spots on the map thus far. And they also had posted a series of renderings which you will find below.

Below is a part of the article. For more click here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/meetings/green/prweb2705244.htm

When it opens in March 2011, the resort will become one of the first luxury destination resort and spas in the United States to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. In addition to the building's physical characteristics, which include extensive waste, water and energy management programs, Resort Management Company Salamander Hospitality is creating a practical program in which group attendees can participate in environmental sustainability.

"Our goal for Salamander Resort & Spa is to take a leadership role within the hospitality industry by continually looking for innovative ways to enhance our luxury resort guest experience, while maintaining sensitivity to our environment," says Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Hospitality.

Located in the beautiful and historic Village of Middleburg, the 168-room luxury resort sits on 340 acres in the midst of Virginia's horse and wine country. However, it is only 35 minutes from Washington D.C.'s Dulles Airport to the east and 30 minutes from Winchester Regional Airport to the west.

Salamander Hospitality CEO and Founder Sheila C. Johnson stated her intent to create an environmentally sensitive resort by placing 252 of the resort's acreage into a conservation easement, held jointly by the Potomac Conservancy and the Town of Middleburg. In addition, commitments were secured to use native plants to minimize irrigation, and employ unobtrusive external lighting to preserve nocturnal views and minimize light pollution.

By establishing the "Meeting Green" program, the resort will offer Basic, Intermediate and Advanced plans for groups wanting to make sure their stay is as ecologically sound as possible. These programs go beyond the usual guest recycling programs, printing on recycled paper with soy based ink, and use of non-chemical housekeeping cleaners.

Some of these additional measures will include: -Creation of all menus utilizing many sustainable and organic products produced within a 50-mile-radius, including the large on-site chef's garden, to minimize transportation and carbon footprint. Attendees will be able to cook with many of these ingredients at the resort's culinary studio. -Special menus including a 50-percent reduction in animal proteins, supplemented by vegetable proteins at meal functions -Use of potted plants instead of "cut flower" arrangements on banquet tables -Use of specially filtered water served in pitchers -Electronic meeting flyers and hand outs, accessed via a special Internet site or by e-mail -Promotion of off-site events and tours that ingrain event attendees in the area's natural environment with minimal impact. In fact, there are 22 wineries within 30 minutes of the resort, and four less than ten minutes away. -Utilization of energy saving horse-drawn carriages and bicycles to take hotel guests to and from the Village of Middleburg.

The resort is also renovating the 100-year-old-plus Stallion Barn, which still stands on the grounds and is only a few hundred feet from the on-site equestrian center, and turning it into function space - part of 12,000 square feet available for group usage. In addition, Salamander Resort & Spa is creating two "treehouse" treatment rooms in the edge of the woods overlooking a creek. The resort's spa features 14 additional treatment rooms inside the main building, seven of which include an outdoor treatment patio.

The design architect for Salamander Resort & Spa is WATG from Irvine, CA, and the architect of record is Architecture, Inc, of Reston, VA. Renowned Residential Designer Thomas Pheasant of Washington, D.C., designed the King Guestroom and inspired the overall design. Forrest Perkins of Dallas and Washington, D.C., is the interior designer and interior architect of record. BluSpas of Whitefish, MT, is the spa consultant, Turner Construction of New York City is the general contractor, and Mark G. Anderson Consultants of Washington, D.C., is the project manager. The resort's culinary director is Todd Gray, co-owner of Equinox restaurant in Washington, D.C.

Here are some of the renderings: