Viva Green Vegas
From the May/June 2011 issue of National Geographic Traveler After spending a decade searching out the worldâs most innovative sustainable tourism projects, I would have bet my last dollar that this road would never lead to Las Vegas, where âalternative energyâ is more apt to be the name for the newest cocktail rather than a conservation strategy. Yet here I am on the Strip, staring at neon lights turning the night into day and passing billboards for million-dollar jackpots and a Lady Gaga concert. Iâm headed to CityCenter, a new resort complex whose six U. S. Green Building Council LEED floral certifications make it the single largest concentration of eco-rated buildings in North America. âMassive,â is my first thought as I enter the expansive lobby of Ariaâ"CityCenterâs 4,004-room flagship hotel. It houses a riverâ"84 feet long, Maya Linâ"designed, and made entirely from recycled silverâ"that is part of a multimillion-dollar art collection. C...