With green initiatives popping up left and right in the travel and hospitality industry, it’s about time someone was named a winner. The historic La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, N.M., has been honored Green Business of the Year by the city’s Chamber of Commerce during the annual Business Awards.
Of the 80 local businesses nominated across six different categories in 2018, the program honors outstanding businesses in the area. Through historical preservation practices, community outreach and environmentally focused efforts, the Chamber of Commerce seeks to better the city through spotlighting positive business practices.
By showing dedication to sustainable operations and economic preservation, La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel showcases what Santa Fe’s Chamber of Commerce considers the most active in green initiatives and sustainable practices.
Bedroom at La Fonda © Chicagoraccoon | Dreamstime.com
After years of implementing green initiatives and working to become more environmentally friendly, La Fonda was awarded the Hospitality Green honor in 2016. Over the years, the hotel’s improvements include recycling cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum, paper and implementing water-saving techniques. Guests’ towels are changed only upon request, linens are changed on the third day of a guest’s stay and low-flow showerheads and toilets are installed.
Concierge desks reduced paper waste by relying on email more than printed documents, as well as recycling computer equipment and office supplies.
The hotel restaurant, La Plazuela, also uses washable cloth napkins, towels and tableclothes as well as eco-friendly food containers for takeout and food prep. Also upon request, guests use cornstarch-based straws that are biodegradable, rather than plastic.
The hotel as a whole reduced energy with eco-friendly light bulbs; non-toxic, soy-based printing inks; low-VOC paints; and environmentally friendly cleaning products. Families with sensitivity to harsh cleaning products and chemicals can breath a bit easier at La Fonda.
In addition to the many improvements to business practices over the years, La Fonda is also an active participant in Clean the World practices, having recycled more than half a ton of soap bars to date.
After opening in 1922, La Fonda on the Plaza is the only hotel on the famous Santa Fe Trail and offers a unique, historic take on the city. As one of the oldest hotels in America, reports state an inn resided in La Fonda’s location in the 1600s. Any one of the 180 guestrooms and 15 suites boast family-friendly accommodations for a quirky city stay. Take in the views from the rooftop terrace at the Bell Tower bar, open through October, or head out on the town for street-side dining.
Located near the many attractions of this artsy town and off the main drag, La Fonda offers a fun, sustainable and authentic dip into local culture for your family.
Read This Next
Why Group Tours are Great for Families
Destinations
Mar 16, 2026#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Mar 11, 2026Easter Programming and Special Perks from Velas Resorts
Velas Resorts welcome family travelers for Easter celebrations and special deals across its properties.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Hotels
Mar 10, 2026This Hotel is the Perfect Base for Families in Tokyo
For years, whenever I asked my children where they wanted to go next, the answer was always the same. “Take us to Japan,” they said. When we finally made it, I put a lot of thought into where to stay.
Hotels
Mar 10, 2026The Ritz-Carlton Waikiki Beach Launches Signature Experiences Rooted in Culture, Community
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach invites family travelers to experience its first-ever collection of immersive signature experiences, offering a redefined look at O’ahu. These experiences incorporate the hotel’s core pillars and reflect its commitment to cultural authenticity, craftsmanship and community.
Sponsored Content
Board a Nile River Cruise with A&K Sanctuary
If Agatha Christie took a Nile voyage today, we like to think she would do it aboard one of our A&K Sanctuary riverboats — consistently voted the best on the river, from boutique cruisers to a handsome six-suite dahabiya.
Hotels
Mar 9, 2026Capitol Hill Hotel Debuts America 250 Experiences for Travelers
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill invites family travelers to celebrate both America’s 250th anniversary and the hotel’s 50th anniversary this summer. The hotel sits just 1,287 steps from the U.S. Capitol Building, making for the perfect homebase to experience all things America’s anniversary. To top things off, the hotel offers two special promotions to help families make the most of their visit to the nation’s capital.
ShareThis