Jan/110
Lodging That’s Luxury And Green, Connecticut-Style
Want your vacation digs to be luxurious and truly eco-friendly, too? No problem. Get yourself to Connecticut's beautiful and historic coast, where the Saybrook Point Inn and Spa is a AAA Four Diamond resort that's a deep, deep green.
Whether you're coming from New York City or Boston, it's about a two-hour drive. The resort sits on Long Island Sound, in lovely, historic Old Saybrook.
When we check in, we're eager to learn this posh resort's green story, but we're totally distracted by the splendor of the place. Our guest room is awesome, like a vision straight out of the pages of a glossy, high-style magazine.
Did we also mention the vista framed by our room's windows? We have a glorious view of the marina and harbor.
After a few moments, we come back to earth and begin to hunt for evidence of green. It isn't hard. It's nearly everywhere in our room, including heating controls that automatically readjust when we aren't there, attractive energy-efficient lighting, upscale natural bath and beauty products...and that's just for starters. Saybrook Point, of the many luxury lodgings we've been fortunate to sample, quickly rises to the top in our estimation--for luxury, comfort and eco-awareness.
On 5-plus acres, Saybrook Point Inn and Spa has 82 beautiful guestrooms, a high-end spa, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant called Terra Mar focusing on "farm to chef" meals sourced from local and organic providers, and a drop-dead gorgeous marina bristling with sails and impressive cruisers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded this resort its Energy Star rating, the first full-service hotel in Connecticut to be so recognized. Its has also received certification from the Connecticut Green Lodging Program. Other eco-kudos include a special merit prize from the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, for Saybrook Point's role in safeguarding and enhancing water quality in the river and sound.
How did this happen? Give credit to Saybrook Point's owner, Stephen Tagliatela. His environmental passion drives everything, including a new "green meetings" program for business retreats and other gatherings. He's often asked to present his resort's green story at these meetings and elsewhere in the community, and he takes an active role in launching many of the resort's green initiatives.
At Tagliatela's insistence, every new employee at the resort is required to sign a pledge to uphold his eco- standards. "We feel," he tells us, "it's essential to maintain a unified focus on environmental initiatives, and to continually educate the staff to further foster a sense of community and responsibility."
With everyone on his staff we meet during our stay, we find living proof of this pledge. They all proudly talk up Saybrook's green mantra. We also learn that the inn has its own "green team," a volunteer interdepartmental group that meets to figure out ways to move the ball forward, green-wise.
A plucky woman named Abbie Coderre heads up the green team. "The goal is to educate all staff members," she says, "on how they can do their part to protect the environment." Abbie's responsibilities also extend to Saybrook Point Marina. Its 120 slips have been awarded Five Bells by Atlantic Cruising Guide for high environmental and maintenance standards and overall cleanliness--the only marina in the state to be so designated, and one of only a few up and down the entire East Coast.
Saybrook Point is the real deal in its environmental ethics, and Abbie and her fellow staffers are living proof of that. How lucky for all of us that they also recognize that this complements perfectly the resort's other mission--to be "the finest green resort hotel experience in the nation."
Linda and Rolly Wahl are contributing editors of Green Traveler Guides, an award-winning website that's all about the world's most exciting and satisfying green travel. For free in-depth reviews by experienced travel writers, GTG is your most reliable resource for your next trip anywhere.