World Kindness Week: 5 Ways We Show Kindness to the Planet at Parkside Hotel & Spa
As World Kindness Week kicks off on November 9th, we're celebrating our team's compassion, graciousness, and goodwill at Parkside Hotel & Spa. One special way we practice kindness at Parkside is through sustainability, offering gentleness to the beautiful planet we get to call home. Every single day, we make intentional choices to ensure we are caring for earth with the same generosity and warmth that we hold for our friends and family.
Keep reading if you want to learn more about how we nurture Mother Earth at Parkside Hotel & Spa, and to discover five unique ways we express our kindness to her.
1. Building Kelp Forests
Over the past fifty years, kelp forests have significantly declined with the rise of climate change. One way we show kindness to the planet is by helping to rebuild these kelp forests – underwater habitats that support our climate, coast, and biodiversity, allowing marine life to thrive. We do this in partnership with Veritree, who work closely with local First Nations to heal and restore the kelp forest along the coast of their territory – Hotham Sound and Prevost Island.
You might wonder how we're doing this, and the answer is simple: we do it with the help of our guests! For each reservation booked at Parkside Hotel & Spa, we plant one kelp with Veritree, and for each guest that opts out of housekeeping, we plant ten. So truthfully, this act of kindness isn't one we commit on our own... it's one that all our guests have helped with and can feel good about!
Click here to see the impact we've already made together.
2. Making the Most of our Rooftop
At Parkside Hotel & Spa, we have mastered the art of maximizing rooftop space. Some people see a roof as a cover for their building; we see ours as an opportunity to make a difference. Our rooftops are intentionally designed to have a positive impact – on both guests and the planet.
With an array of stunning greenery, comfortable seating, and breathtaking views of Downtown Victoria, our Rooftop Gardens are the perfect place for serenity at Parkside Hotel & Spa. And not only do our guests love it, but the planet does too. With a lush and thriving ecosystem placed comfortably on our roof, we are working to improve air quality, support biodiversity in the city, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Plus, our Rooftop Gardens are home to a colony of honeybees – the superheroes of the city! These bees play a massive role in our environment, pollinating local plants and flowers to help our community flourish.
3. Helping Guests Explore Sustainably
Something guests love about our property is its location. Conveniently nestled in the heart of Downtown Victoria, Parkside Hotel & Spa is walking distance from all the places you'll want to check off your Victoria, B.C. bucket list. You can walk to countless attractions from our property in thirty minutes or less – no vehicle emissions required!
Need to go a little bit further? We provide complimentary bikes and bike parking for guest use so they can explore Victoria without a car, and with a smaller footprint. Guests can also add a little extra fun to their stay by renting a Hey Ya Cart from our property – a street-legal electric golf cart made for exploring the city. Additionally, only 200 meters from our hotel, you'll find more than 15 bus stops, inviting you to explore more of what the Greater Victoria area has to offer.
4. Watching our Waste Footprint
One thing our planet certainly doesn't need more of is garbage. With landfills piling up, we're creating more waste as a society than we actually have room for. At Parkside Hotel & Spa, we're mindful of our waste footprint and make a conscious effort to keep it as small as possible. By 2030, our goal is to become a zero-waste hotel, achieving a waste diversion rate greater than 95%. With a current waste diversion rate of 92%, we're making steady progress towards hitting this goal.
At Parkside Hotel & Spa, waste diversion is a thoughtful process that requires us to think precisely about what we source and what our processes look like. More importantly, we must consider the impact of these practices and how we can alter them to be kinder on the planet. Something we've proven is that small and simple swaps can go a long way. Over the summer, we replaced our in-room coffee machines with zero-waste French Press brewing. No wasteful filters. No excess packaging. Just simply made coffee that brings the taste without the waste!
5. Building Sustainability into Your Stay
The global tourism industry is growing quickly, and it's critical that hotels do their part to keep destinations thriving for the long term. At Parkside Hotel & Spa, we acknowledge this and build sustainability into your stay, allowing you to keep your impact light while travelling. At Parkside, we express our kindness to earth every day of the year – not just during World Kindness Week. Your next sustainable stay is waiting at Parkside Hotel & Spa – let's make an impact together.
Dive Deeper:
Click here to read more about Parkside Hotel & Spa's sustainability initiatives and certifications.