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January 7, 2009 (Jackson Hole, WY) Terra Resort Group proudly announces that their flagship hotel, Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, has been awarded the anticipated Silver Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Certification by the US Building Council. Joining a small group of LEED certified hotels in the US, Hotel Terra is the first in a planned worldwide collection of environmentally sustainable "Eco-Boutique" hotels operated by Jackson Hole-based Terra Resort Group (TRG). The Hotel opened in February 2008, and is enjoying guest and press accolades as it sets a new benchmark for 'sustainable luxury.'
Located in the center of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (the largest continuous temperate ecosystem in the world) Hotel Terra also enjoys a prime slopeside proximity to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and resides just a mile from the Grand Teton National Park. As one of the few luxury hotels in this legendary natural landscape, the Hotel's effort to become LEED certified seemed like a natural progression, according to TRG President Jamie Yarrow. "We're proud to start this process of 'greening the hotel industry' with this first Hotel Terra in Jackson Hole," says Yarrow. "We draw inspiration from these pristine spaces all around us. There's no forgetting what's at stake."
Elements of Hotel Terra that helped earned the LEED certification include everything from Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) carpets and pads, paint, and adhesives to energy efficient heating and cooling systems that target specific zones within the hotel, water conservation systems such as dual flush toilets and low flow faucets, as well as use of recycled or reclaimed materials in everything from the roof shingles to the building's steel and cement structure.
The Hotel expands their eco efforts beyond the LEED certified building however, under the direction of the Corporate Director of Sustainability, Ashley Morgan, who directs all purchasing and vendor relationships for the hotel, reviewing products and partner companies carefully to ensure the most responsible steps are taken and that the company remains true to its philosophies and goals. "A big part of what we're trying to do is show that luxury and indulgence can also be sustainable," Says Morgan. "For us LEED is a big accomplishment, one which we hope to build on as we continue to grow our collection."
Formed in November 2006, Terra Resort Group boasts a highly credentialed pedigree of operational and business talent. Company President Jamie Yarrow calls on 18 years of experience with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, most recently as General Manager of Four Seasons Palm Beach, and previously, leading the opening management team for Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole. Several industry veterans joined Yarrow's Terra Resort Group team, lending an innate understanding of intuitive service and seamless operations. Rob DesLauriers, Chairman of Terra Resort Group and the developer of Hotel Terra, is a former professional skier turned developer and hotelier. Among other successes, DesLauriers launched the adjacent slope side Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa in 2002, a 145 room luxury hotel that emulates the great park lodges of the American West, also a member of Terra Resort Group. Terra Resort Group also operated the neighboring Inn at Jackson Hole, formerly a Best Western property, considered to be the best slope side value in the Jackson Hole market.
Terra Resort Group's values as a company are firmly grounded in environmental responsibility and an evolutionary approach to hospitality, where excellence and innovation works with conscientious business practices and forward-thinking design to create an exceptional guest experience.
