BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Certainly, many resorts – those across Arizona included – have basic sustainability programs in place. But who is going beyond the basics, putting real time, energy, and strategy into eco-friendly practices?

Here’s a look at some Arizona resorts doing far more than simply reducing, reusing, and recycling:

HARRAH’S AK-CHIN CASINO

Code Green, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino’s sustainability initiative, is inspired by the Ak-Chin Indian Community’s deep roots in farming and agriculture and passion for protecting and sustaining land, air, and water. In addition to reducing the property’s carbon footprint, the sustainability efforts focus on energy savings, water consumption, and recycling.

The Code Green team at Harrah’s Ak-Chin believes in providing real solutions to the world’s environmental and sustainability challenges and encourages others to do their part. In 2023, team members were involved in highway cleanups and garden replanting activities and even ran an educational booth at a Tribal environmental forum.

A highlight of the year was the Arbor Day tree planting and seed exchange ceremony, attended by many team members to show appreciation and respect for the Earth and Native traditions. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is also part of Clean the World, a global health initiative committed to improving the quality of life for vulnerable communities. In addition to recycling and distributing soap with the non-profit to prevent unnecessary deaths from hygiene-related diseases, the property also organizes community sustainability events, including building hygiene kits for those in need.

Conservation is at the core of the hotel’s energy management system. When rooms are unoccupied, air conditioning is set to 75 degrees, and refrigerators are set to low energy use. Low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators help decrease water consumption on the property. Guests are encouraged to reuse towels, and sheets are changed only upon request or after the guest checks out. On the gaming floor, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is focussed on improving air quality through cold plasma ionization bars that kill viruses, bacteria, and mold. UVDI purification units also enhance the quality of air and keep guests healthy through multi-stage filtration. Additionally the property provides eight free electric vehicle charging stations for guests.

JW MARRIOTT TUCSON STARR PASS RESORT & SPA

When this Tucson icon opened in 2005, it donated 150 acres of pristine Sonoran desert to the Tucson Mountain Park, and by 2008, the resort increased that amount to 330 acres to be forever preserved. In addition, the resort allocates a portion of its sales to conduct research on mountain lion populations, implement measures to control buffelgrass — a non-native species of plant that increases the threat of fire to our Sonoran Desert — and to build trailheads and create signage in Tucson National Park.

All washes on the property have been preserved and kept intact to allow the free flow of water from the upper desert to lower desert, thus fulfilling JW Marriott’s commitment to allow aquifers to be replenished and to preserve natural highways for desert animals. The resort participates in xeriscaping as well, as a means to save this valuable desert resource.

The resort works closely with the Agua Linda CSA, an organic grower that practices sustainable agriculture free of any GMO or use of engineered seed crops, and the team has committed to purchasing humanely treated animals free of any additional hormones or antibiotics as they are available.

Visually, guests will notice that the resort maintains an organic garden outside of Passagio Restaurant which provides ingredients for the eatery’s use. Waste from kitchens throughout the resort is composted on property into nutrient-rich organic soil used in the garden.

And the golf course? All golf course irrigation is completed using reclaimed water, with no ground water used to water the course. Starr Pass Golf Club overseeds fairways and tees only during the winter months. By allowing the roughs to go dormant, the property saves millions of gallons of water each year.

ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & BUNGALOWS

In partnership with Alvéole, an urban beekeeping organization devoted to reconnecting people in cities to nature, Andaz Scottsdale launched a beekeeping program in 2023. As part of the program, the resort has established a beekeeping operation on the property, complete with a new hive that is home to more than 7,500 bees. As a result, guests can enjoy honey-centric menu items at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, the resort’s on-site restaurant, which serves modern Mediterranean cuisine and artfully crafted cocktails.

Additionally, wholesale jars of honey made from the hive are available for purchase in the resort’s retail shop. The resort’s bee program is designed to support the local bee population and promote pollination, as well as to provide guests with an immersive and informative encounter. The resort offers guided workshops bi-annually, which allow guests to participate in and learn about the important role that bees play in our ecosystem.

In addition to the beekeeping program, Andaz Scottsdale has introduced a new partnership with Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden, which features placards across the property that include QR codes for guests to scan to learn about the variety of indigenous plants across the resort grounds. The resort’s artfully designed landscaping is a living laboratory that showcases the diverse flora of the Sonoran Desert, providing guests with an opportunity to learn about the region’s unique ecosystem.

CIVANA WELLNESS RESORT & SPA

Carefree gem CIVANA is passionate about ensuring the well-being of the planet alongside the wellness of the people who inhabit it. In pursuit of environmental wellness, the resort is always evolving and exploring methods to reduce its environmental impact through smart design strategies, as well as implementing new, innovative energy and water conservation practices and recycling.

These include FloWater natural alkaline spring water hydration stations throughout the property, smart irrigation practices, housekeeping service reduction, high-efficiency lighting in most spaces, and linen usage reduction. CIVANA offers complimentary BPA-free, double-insulated, CIVANA water bottles for guests to use during their stay and to take home, as well. 

Fun fact: all bedding, closets, millwork, and vanities throughout CIVANA are all made locally, which greatly helps to reduce transport emissions and supports the local economy.

Finally, CIVANA is proud to have sustainable culinary practices grounded in nature. The property uses locally and sustainably sourced products and produce, grass-fed meats, organic and biodynamic wine, spirits, and coffee.