Coast Capri is Kelowna's first Biosphere-certified hotel

First of all, what's a biosphere?

Well, it's all of the Earth's ecosystems, the zone that contains all living organisms that develop on Earth.

Now that we have that sorted, we can talk about the 185-room Coast Capri becoming the first Biosphere-certified hotel in Kelowna.

Biosphere certification is granted by the Spain-based, international, non-profit, non-government organization Responsible Tourism Institute, which is linked to the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals.

So it's a big deal globally -- and locally.

"Biosphere certification will enhance our competitiveness, as certified businesses have shown to outperform competitors by 11%," said Coast Capri manager Todd Weitzel.

"It also boosts our international visibility, as search engines and booking platforms prioritize sustainable businesses."

It was a vast array of big and small policies, plans and audits that led to the Coast Capri's Biosphere certification.

The hotel focused on improvements in the UN's sustainable development goals of clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production and industry and infrastructure.

"This certification represents our commitment and reinforces our position as a responsible hotelier," said Weitzel.

"Our goal is not only to meet but exceed the expectations of today's environmentally conscious traveller."

For instance, water consumption was a priority, so the hotel uses only eco-friendly washing machines, sensored faucets and water meters.

Preventative maintenance ensures leaks are fixed right away, which is important in a building that's been in operation since 1958.

The hotel does all the catering for its 16,000 square feet of meeting space using ingredients from local suppliers who focus on environmentally friendly agriculture, such as Don-O-Ray Farms.

Filtered water stations with reusable glassware, instead of bottled water, are in use in the meeting spaces.

Incandescent light has been replaced with energy-efficient LED (light emitting diodes), HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) occupancy sensors have been installed in all guest rooms and energy-efficient appliances are in all kitchens.

The hotel's waste reduction plan includes aggressive recycling, composting and repurposing.

As you've probably seen in many hotels, the Coast Capri also has what's called an opt-out program, which allows guests to forego daily housekeeping in an effort to save labour and laundry.

Bathroom soaps, shampoos and lotions are BeeKind by Gilchrist & Soames, which have natural ingredients, recyclable packaging and support sustainable honeybee pollination research.

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (which has Biosphere destination certification) helped the Coast Capri through the process with its local Biosphere Commitment Program and the software package that the Responsible Tourism Institute provides.

There are several other Kelowna hotels that are listed as Biosphere-committed under the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association's initiatives, including the Four Points by Sheraton, The Royal, Best Western, Hotel Eldorado, Accent Inns, Delta Grand and Prestige.

'Committed' means they're working toward certification.

The association's commitment program also extends to wineries, restaurants, transportation companies, golf courses and ski resorts.

"I encourage other businesses to take advantage of their (the association's) support to achieve certification as well," summed up Weitzel.