Charitable Work
We are strong supporters of the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, a therapeutic riding program for children, youth and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities (www.littlebit.org). We show our support in a number of ways, including co-hosting Little Bit fundraising events and donating a portion of our proceeds to Little Bit. Our staff also generously volunteer their time at Little Bit.
In addition, we support a variety of organizations throughout the year by donating to auctions and events.
The Goodnight Foundation
The hotel is a proud partner of The Goodnight Foundation, a non-profit organization that builds on the concept that a guest’s hotel night can contribute to doing good in the community and beyond. If you wish, a $4 charitable donation may be added to your nightly charge to support local (Willows has chosen to support Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center also located in Woodinville WA) and worldwide organizations that focus on health, education, the environment and poverty relief.
For more info visit: www.goodnightfoundation.org
Sustainability at Willows
One of our many sustainable practices at Willows is the re-use of natural materials. This not only adds to the charm and Northwest ambiance of Willows, but it also plays a role in helping the environment.
Gracing the entry drive is the burned-out shell of a 1,500 year-old cedar. The valley was originally a forest of huge cedar trees that were logged over 100 years ago. Twenty foot or taller stumps were left because the flared bases of the trees were too big to haul to the mill. Snags like this one were a common sight. The "Willows Snag", brought here from the Olympic Peninsula, is a tangible and dramatic reminder of that past.
When you walk into Willows Lodge, you’ll see our front doors are made from old wine casks. And that’s just the beginning. The main structure of the Lodge is created with Douglas fir timbers, which were cut 100 years ago and used to build the Port of Portland, Oregon. When the Port buildings were torn down the timbers were saved for another life, here at the Lodge. They have notches, bolt holes, and other reminders of their prior use, but have been smoothed and waxed to enhance the natural warmth of the wood. A skilled local craftsman created the two beautiful sofa tables in the lobby from the same 100 year-old wood. Fine grained ash wood was used throughout as the counterpoint to the rustic fir.
Even our guest room tables are recycled slate pool table tops from old bars in British Columbia!
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship has been a company-wide objective since the Willow Lodge’s inception. There are a number of measures we have undertaken to be more sustainable. These include:
Participation in a green program – We are members of the King County EnviroStar program.
Fresh air – Our guestrooms have windows that open. (Fresh air is healthier than the stale air of closed-up rooms.)
Energy conservation – We reduce energy use through energy-efficient lighting and appliances, insulation and weather stripping, and by turning off lights and appliances when not in use.
Water conservation – Our water reduction methods include capturing water for use through water storage or conservation projects (as well as low-flow toilets, shower heads, and faucets), and washing sheets and towels less frequently..
Water-wise gardening – One of the major objectives in our landscape management program is water conservation. We accomplish this by using a computerized irrigation clock, upgrading to drip irrigation where practical, and monitoring landscape water use on an on-going basis. We use water-wise plants native or adaptable to the climatic nature of the region. We also have sound horticultural practices such as the use of bioswales to capture sediment before water returns to the Sammamish River. Deep mulch systems in beds and grass-cycling on formal lawns all contribute to reducing use and maintaining the quality of water in our beautiful valley.
Durable service items – Wherever possible, we use dishes, cups, glasses, mugs, tableware, and serving pieces that are long-lasting, not disposable.
Promote green in PR – We share our environmental initiatives through our PR efforts, in the hope that we will inspire others in our community.
Maintenance for conservation – As fixtures and appliances wear out, we replace them with more efficient models (e.g., light bulbs, toilets, shower heads and faucets, appliances such as refrigerators and dryers).
Educate guests to green – We let our guests know the sustainability actions are important to us, and encourage them to take similar actions.
Sheet and towel reuse – Our towel re-use program reduces water and energy consumption.
Eco-friendly food – Wherever possible, our restaurants serve food that is local, organically grown and raised, and/or grown in a manner that is sensitive to its natural habitat for preserving wildlife and other plants.
Organic food – Wherever possible, we serve organic food grown without the application of pesticides or fertilizers.
Cotton sheets/towels – We provide 100% cotton sheets and towel in our guestrooms; these don’t add volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the air, thus helping air quality in guestrooms where they are used.
Donating to charity – We sell or donate used sheets, towels, furniture, etc. This ensures they are kept out of landfills.
Composting –A series of static compost bins handle a large percentage of our biological waste generated on-site. This, in turn, is cycled back into the landscape for fertility and soil improvement, which reduces the need for outside horticultural inputs.
Compostable disposables – When we do need to use disposable items, we try to ensue they are compostable or biodegradable (e.g., paper napkins and corn-based plastic).
Bulk soaps and amenities – The soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion in our guestrooms comes in bulk dispensers, not individual packages. This saves us time and money, as well as natural resource and landfill contributions by cutting down on packaging.
Allergies – We understand that some of our guests have chemical sensitivities and allergies to airborne particles; we provide hypo-allergenic bedding and humidifiers upon request.
