| Cambean Hospitality: The Green Light |
| Featured Spotlights | |
| Written by Ashley McGown | |
| Tuesday, 01 September 2009 | |
 The team at this hospitality company has created a property that sets new standards in terms of sustainability. Located in Miami Beach, Fla., Cambean was founded four years ago, but the dedication to environmentally friendly initiatives really emerged 26 months ago when Scheinblum, who serves as president of the hospitality company, and his business partners purchased their second property, a 35-room historic establishment called Clifton Hotel South Beach.  Brian Scheinblum, president When he purchased the Clifton, the building was in need of a cosmetic renovation, but because of its small size, Scheinblum saw it as the perfect opportunity to perform a compete overhaul that incorporated as many environmentally friendly aspects as possible. Recognizing his lack of official expertise in the sustainability field, he hired a consultant to help establish a detailed plan. Get the ball rolling From the beginning, the team at Cambean knew it wanted to seek LEED accreditation, but Scheinblum admits they hadn’t originally planned to take it as far as they did. “As we went through the process, we got excited and perhaps went a little overboard,” he said. But he has no regrets. “I believe we’ve developed a prototype for the hospitality industry, in terms of how sustainable a property can be.” Every aspect of construction was carefully considered and followed through on. Dry wall, finishes, and furnishings with the lowest overall environmental impact were selected; recyclable/recycled and locally manufactured products were used as much as possible; and energy efficient systems were installed, including on-site energy production from solar panels and heat recovery from mechanical systems. Perhaps one of the most important decisions was to use LED lights for every light fixture on the property, inside and out. “We decided we wanted to capitalize on as much energy efficiency as possible. The immediate effects are evident and include having a smaller carbon footprint and reduced operational costs,” Scheinblum said. Because LED lights are significantly more expensive than alternatives, the team at Cambean carefully mapped out the design that indicated where and how big each fixture and bulb would be. The organization partnered with a domestic manufacturer and worked closely with its engineers, who custom designed all of the LED lights. The decision to exclusively use LED lights meant lighting costs were considerably more than with standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. But Scheinblum said it was worth the investment. “The long-term effects include reduced maintenance, reduced energy costs, and a reduced carbon footprint,” he said. Three-watt LED lights, as opposed to 60-watt incandescent bulbs, were used in all of the guest room bathrooms. “The reduced wattage means we’ll consume less energy, and because LED lights don’t generate heat, like some alternatives do, our AC system will be significantly less stressed,” Scheinblum added. “And we’ll also save money in terms of maintenance, as these lights last between 50,000 and 100,000 hours.” Renovation on the Clifton property is nearly finished, and Cambean plans to have a soft opening in the coming weeks. But because the hotel is on track to be the first LEED-certified hotel in South Florida, Scheinblum and his team have been careful in terms of marketing. “This is important to us, so we want to make sure everything is 100% ready before we begin to mass-market the property,” he said. Keeping a steady pace The team at Cambean is continuing to push forward and grow business despite the volatile economic climate, so the renovation of the Clifton isn’t the only project the team is working on. The company has grown to include four hotels—including the Carlton, Majestic, and Nash hotels. Now, the group is looking to incorporate sustainability initiatives into all of its properties, using the knowledge gained from the development of the Clifton to further enhance its new brand, Cambean Earth, which was formed to promote the company’s dedication to sustainability and the environment. All of Cambean’s hotels are small, historic properties; with 67 rooms, the Carlton is its largest. “When we purchased the Carlton four years ago, it was very run down. We had to replace the plumbing and carpeting, install a new roof, and update the electrical systems,” Scheinblum said, noting that during its first complete year in operation it ran at 94% occupancy. The Carlton also offers its guests ample meeting space, a business center, a bar, and a large pool, and all of the amenities are available to individuals staying at any Cambean property—something Scheinblum sees as a differentiator. Additionally, the organization recently invested in new property management, point-of-sale, and phone systems that allow guests to have an experience similar to that at much larger properties. “We encourage guests to take advantage of the close proximity of our properties and all the amenities each has to offer. Although they’re staying in a small historic property, we want to create something of a resort atmosphere,” said Scheinblum. “At the same time, we hope our guests can learn a little something about sustainability that they can take home with them and incorporate into their lives.” |
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