Awards & Recognition

Kelowna's "Green" Hotel

Best Western Plus Hotel & Suites has been recognized several times, both locally in the Okanagan and British Columbia and nationally for its efforts to improve the environment and lower emissions while still providing premium accommodations in Kelowna.

No other Okanagan Hotel matches the Best Western Kelowna in its environmental achievements, making this hotel Kelowna’s “Green” Hotel. Feel confident that choosing Best Western Kelowna for your BC accommodations is choosing an environmentally and community focused hotel.

Environmental Awards & Recognition Snapshot:

• 2011-2013 LivClean & EcoStay Carbon Neutral Status
• 2013 Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association's (TOTA) Award for Environmental Responsibility (TIE)
• 2012 City of Kelowna Mayor's Environmental Innovation Award Nominee
• 2012 LEED Silver Certification for Environmental Wing
• 2012 Hotel Association of Canada's Green Global Green Meetings Certification

See the Full List of Awards

Minister’s Award of Excellence

This green hotel has received the Minister’s Award of Excellence from the Honourable John Yap, Minister of State for Climate Action. The first such award to be handed out from Minister Yap’s department, this award recognizes the Kelowna hotel’s “efforts to reduce their carbon footprint helping to ensure the continued health of British Columbia’s natural environment”. Accepting the award was Greg Salloum, CEO & Partner. “The Best Western Kelowna is pleased to have been recognized with this award. Our Solar Hybrid Heating System has significantly reduced our Green House Gas emissions. With the completion of our LEEDS certified addition, currently under construction, a further reduction will be realized when a new geothermal component will be added which will complement our current solar hybrid heating system”.

Today there are programs and tools available that can assist in measuring our carbon footprint. We did not have these resources when we began our sustainability path in 1990. Businesses can also learn from each other and what we are all doing to address our respective issues. This can provide knowledge and assistance in determining where to direct energy for future carbon reductions.

We encourage all businesses, big and small; to take a look at what area of their business could be having an impact of GHG emissions and make a commitment to contribute positively to the planet by reducing their carbon footprint”.

The HAC’s Definition of a 4 Green Key Accreditation is:

A hotel that has shown national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide range policies and practices. Mature programs that involve management, employees, guests and the public have shown substantial and measurable results…

The Best Western Kelowna certainly meets this criteria, By example they have shown a genuine commitment to the environment and remain committed by continuing to recognize the opportunities that exists to further improve and increase performance and cost savings for the hotel; therefore creating an enjoyable and memorable stay for their guests.  The Best Western Kelowna simply walks the walk!

Read the press release

SIFE Okanagan Eco-Nomics Award (Green Business Awards)

In 2010, Best Western Plus Kelowna won the award for Kelowna Sustainability Leader of the Year.

The Eco-Nomics Awards were created to recognize businesses and organizations in Kelowna who successfully operate with environmentally sustainable practices. The awards aim to further educate businesses throughout our community on the benefits of employing these strategies.

The awards were created and are operated by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Okanagan in partnership with The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce. SIFE Okanagan is a non-profit student organization at the Okanagan School of Business, which is part of larger global SIFE organization on over 1,800 university and college campuses in more than 50 countries. SIFE aims to teach and ignite young individuals to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

Read the press release

Kelowna’s Green Hotel Earns Prestigious Carbon-Neutral Status for 2011

Hard work comes with benefits, especially if it's to provide a greener, more ecologically friendly Earth on which we live.

The Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites has proudly received Carbon-Neutral Certification for 2011. Being Carbon-Neutral means that they have made sufficient efforts to offset all operational carbon emissions. As of December 2011, Best Western Kelowna has offset 295% of their annual carbon footprint.

This certification was awarded by LivClean and EcoStay. LivClean is a Canadian organization with a global reach devoted to offering quality carbon offset products and solutions to both individuals and businesses. The EcoStay Program supports hotels across North America in their effort to take action against climate change. They are independent from any local utility or government.

Director of Sales and Marketing Brenda Rayburn commented, “We will continue to do everything economically feasible to keep our air, our water, and earth safe and clean for future generations.”

Read the press release

Kelowna Hotel Earns LivClean and EcoStay Carbon-Neutral Status for 2012

Kelowna Hotel Earns LivClean and EcoStay Carbon-Neutral Status for 2013

TripAdvisor Awards Certificate of Excellence for 2011 and 2012 Year