Client Success Story
How the Westin St. Francis Elevates the Guest Experience With a Sustainable Welcome Gift
Nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s iconic Union Square, the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square has long been known for its historic charm and elevated guest experience. In recent years, the property has also become a leader in Marriott’s sustainability community by championing waste reduction, thoughtful amenities, and planet-forward operations.
As part of their commitment to creating meaningful, measurable environmental impact, the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square partnered with Fill it Forward to introduce branded, reusable water bottles as a core part of their destination fee program. Today, every guest has the option to receive a beautifully designed Cupanion Bottle at check-in. This amenity not only enhances their stay but also aligns with the hotel’s long-standing sustainability promise.
A Sustainable Amenity That Elevates the Guest Journey
Upon arrival, guests are greeted at the front desk and offered a reusable Cupanion Bottle, branded with the Westin St. Francis logo and local landmarks, designed to seamlessly fit into their travel experience. What began as a simple welcome gift has become a signature touchpoint that sets the tone for a more environmentally responsible stay.
The initiative fits naturally into the hotel’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes robust food recovery and waste reduction programs, energy-efficient operations, and water refill stations throughout the property. Providing a reusable bottle is a tangible way for travelers to participate in these efforts, creating a sense of shared responsibility between the hotel and its guests.
“Every decision we make should represent not just great guest service, but good stewardship. Our team is committed to walking the walk—making sustainable practices visible, accessible, and meaningful for every guest who walks through our doors. The Fill it Forward program is one of the ways we’re leading by example within our community.”
Clifton Clark,
General Manager at the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
A Branded Bottle With a Purpose
The hotel’s custom-branded Cupanion Bottle does more than replace single-use plastic—it becomes a connected sustainability experience.
Each bottle features a Fill it Forward Tag that lets guests track their reuses, view their positive environmental footprint, and unlock charitable donations to clean water, reforestation, and ocean conservation projects around the world via our app. With every reuse, guests contribute to a global mission while enjoying a thoughtful, high-quality amenity they can continue using long after their stay.
This blend of sustainability and storytelling has resonated deeply with travelers. Guests appreciate that the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square is not only providing a useful, modern amenity but inviting them into a program that reflects the hotel’s values of well-being, community, and environmental care.
Turning a Destination Fee Into a Value-Driven Experience
For many properties, destination fees have become a challenge to communicate. The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square chose to flip the script by transforming the fee into a way to offer tangible value and impact.
By including the reusable bottle as an optional guest-facing benefit, the hotel creates a moment of delight at check-in while reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. This transparency and added value have strengthened guest satisfaction, especially among travelers who prioritize eco-conscious experiences.
Front desk associates play an active role in storytelling, sharing why the program matters and encouraging guests to use the bottle throughout their stay. It’s become an easy, organic way to showcase the hotel’s sustainability leadership in an authentic and memorable way.
Driving Change Across the Property and the Community
The success of the reusable bottle program has sparked further sustainability conversations within the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square team. Departments across the property—from foodservice to housekeeping—have been inspired to rethink single-use items and identify more opportunities to reduce waste.
And the impact is already adding up:
- 4,060 reuses logged
- 121.80 lbs of waste diverted
- 24.36 lbs of ocean pollution prevented
These measurable results demonstrate how a simple guest amenity can create ripple effects across the property and throughout the wider community. The Westin St. Francis has become a model for other Westin and Marriott properties looking to adopt sustainable guest offerings supported by visible, trackable impact.
A Small Gift That Unlocks Big Impact
The partnership between Fill it Forward and the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square has created a powerful, guest-centered sustainability program—one that blends convenience, storytelling, global giving, and measurable impact.
With each reuse, guests help reduce single-use plastics, support charitable projects, and contribute to the hotel’s broader environmental goals. And with each stay, the Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square continues to demonstrate what it means to lead with purpose.
A simple reusable bottle has become a meaningful part of the guest experience, and a shining example of how hospitality brands can inspire positive change—one reuse at a time.
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