Element Miami launches with eco-friendly amenities and options

Promising “Balanced Living on the Road,” Starwood Hotels & Resorts‘ newest property, Element Miami International Airport, opened this week with a hot pilot program to showcase its commitment to fitness and green design.

The hotel is putting pedal-powered generators on stationary bikes in its fitness centers, enabling guests to generate electricity and charge their own personal electronic devices as they work out.

As part of the opening ceremony, ten bicyclists, including Starwood President and CEO Frits van Paasschen, took to bikes and generated enough electricity to power laptops and flat-screen plasma monitors to create a “virtual ribbon cutting” on screen. A PR stunt for sure, but at least it was a cool one.

Element Miami offers a number of eco-friendly and fitness-oriented amenities, including a complimentary healthy breakfast, 24-hour fitness centers, saline pools and Bikes to Borrow.

Trade in 10 plastic water bottles for a free night at Starwood’s Element Hotel

You’ve probably seen the reusable eco-chic totes that proudly proclaim “I’m Not A Plastic Bag.” Well starting today (April 5), now you can book the “I Am Not a Plastic Package” at participating Element Hotels — in exchange for turning in 10 single-use plastic water bottles at check-in, you can get a free night at a Element property if you’re one of the first 100 people to call 1-877-ELEMENT and mention the promo code GOGREEN.

The eco-friendly Starwood offshoot currently has locations in or just outside of Baltimore, Denver, Dallas, Houston, and Las Vegas (about 15 minutes from the Strip), as well as suburban areas such as Lexington, Mass. (about a 30-minute drive from Boston) and Ewing, N.J. (about 40 minutes from Philadelphia, 1.5 hours from Manhattan). Each extended-stay property has rooms with in-room kitchenettes, Energy Star-rated appliances, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and low-flow faucets — and green amenities such as complimentary bike rentals and electric car charging stations.

Though the idea is to reduce the use of disposable water bottles, I have to wonder how many people are going to actually pack 10 empty water bottles in their carry-ons or suitcases. Even so, if you are among the lucky 100 to book this Earth Day promotion, please don’t buy 10 water bottles at the nearest store once you arrive, guzzle the water (or dump it out), and then present the bottles at check-in. We all know that’s not the point.

Details: The Earth Day promotion is limited to 100 rooms at participating Element properties, where room rates typically start at $125 per night. If you are among the first 100 people to book this package, your one-night stay must be redeemed between April 22 and 25. To qualify for the free room, you must bring and turn in 10 water bottles at check-in. In addition to the free night, you’ll get a free Element-branded reusable water bottle to remind you of how it’s possible to save a little green by being green. Room taxes are also waived, but you are responsible for any incidentals. Limit one free room per guest.%Gallery-73514%