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Press Releases
CONTACT:
Thomas Wingham Kristin Nielsen
Doubletree Hotels Media Relations Doubletree Hotel Durango
703-883-5315 970-382-3910
thomas.wingham@hilton.com kristin.nielsen@hilton.com
DOUBLETREE HOTEL DURANGO RECEIVES GREEN SEAL® LODGING SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION
Comprehensive Environmental Certification Makes Colorado Doubletree® Largest Certified, Sustainable Hotel In The State
DURANGO, Colo. – August 26, 2010 - The Doubletree Hotel Durango in southwest Colorado announced today that the property has earned a Green Seal® GS-33 Silver Lodging Sustainability certification. The 159-room property is the third Doubletree and the largest hotel in the state of Colorado to receive this designation, which includes a rigorous set of criteria that encourages hotels to adopt some of the most comprehensive and environmentally sustainable standards and practices in the hospitality industry.
“Located in such a scenic destination where the beauty of nature truly surrounds us every day, our entire team at the Doubletree Hotel Durango clearly understands the implications of how everything we do throughout our hotel can ultimately have a measurable impact on the world in which we live,” says Peter Marshall, hotel general manager. “Several months ago, our hotel team began the journey to make a conscious and measurable effort in becoming an eco-business that we hoped could be a model of conservation in our city, in our state and in our industry. Our new Green Seal Silver Lodging Sustainability certification is our proud first step in this long-term plan.”
Green Seal, an independent, nonprofit environmental standard setting and certification organization, certifies hotels based on a very stringent list of environmentally protective policies. This list includes state regulatory compliance, as well as specific requirements such as waste minimization; refuse and recycling; water and energy efficiency; and conservation management. Since 1995, Green Seal has partnered with the lodging industry to promote environmentally responsible products and practices within lodging properties. Green Seal enacted the GS-33 Lodging Certification Program to help travelers, meeting planners, and government and corporate travel buyers identify environmentally responsible lodging properties.
The Doubletree Hotel Durango spent the past year making the necessary changes and improvements to meet the Green Seal requirements. As part of the certification process, each department underwent an extensive operations audit covering nearly every aspect of the hotel’s business. The hotel has instituted a “Green Team” of employees who spearhead the property’s efforts to implement sustainable practices and to keep fellow employees informed of these measures. Initiatives implemented include waste minimization, reuse, and recycling; energy efficiency and conservation; management of fresh water resources and waste water, and reduction and handling of hazardous substances; environmental purchasing policies and much more. As a result, the hotel has diverted 61% of its overall waste stream from landfills, composts an average of 7,600 pounds per year, reduced water use by 37% and reduced electricity use by 18%.
The Green Seal Silver Lodging Certification achieved by the Doubletree Hotel Durango reinforces Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to integrate sustainability as a measure of hotel performance. By the end of 2011, the hotelier will fully implement LightStay, Hilton Worldwide’s proprietary system developed to calculate and analyze the environmental impact of every property within its portfolio
More than 3,600 properties within the hotelier’s global portfolio of brands will use LightStay, making the company the first major multi-brand company in the hospitality industry to require property-level measurement of sustainability. Consequently, measurement of sustainability performance will become a brand standard, on the same level as service, and evaluated accordingly as part of regular, property-level reviews. Within its portfolio of owned hotels and corporate offices Hilton Worldwide has committed to reduce energy consumption by 20%, reduce CO2 emissions by 20%, reduce waste output by 20% and reduce water consumption by 10% as part of a program of five-year reductions (2009 – 2014) from direct operations.
The Doubletree Hotel Durango has not simply stopped its sustainability at Green Seal certification; the hotel is taking the lead in a number of local and regional community projects. The hotel is a proud partner of the La Plata Electrical Association’s Green Power initiative and more than 50% of the hotel’s electricity is generated from renewable wind-generating resources across the Western United States.
The hotel will also convert 10 of their rooms into PURE Allergy Friendly Rooms in October of 2010. This cutting edge purification system can dramatically improve air quality and enhance the hotel experience. In addition, the unique allergen filtration system and deluxe bedding encasements -- including virtually allergen free pillow and mattress covers – protects from irritants and pollutants.
“Sustainability rests on the principles that every person must make use of our earth’s precious resources today without compromising the ability of future generations to enjoy them, as well,” said Kristin Nielsen, hotel director of sales. “We hope that today’s travelers recognize our sustainability efforts by looking to us as a hotel of preference in the market for everything from large scale special events to a simple weekend getaway. We know this is the right thing to do. We can’t do it all at once, but we want to make sure we’re doing all that we can to make a difference.”
Nestled in the San Juan Mountains along the Animas River, the Doubletree Hotel Durango is located in the heart of downtown within walking distance of the legendary Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and several unique shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. World-class whitewater rafting, alpine skiing, mountain biking and golf can be found just moments away from the Doubletree. The extraordinary history of Mesa Verde National Park and Aztec Ruins National Park are just a day trip away.
To find out more about our Doubletree collection of more than 40 green-certified hotels, please visit our Think Trees website at www.doubletree.com/thinktrees. For more information on the Doubletree Hotel Durango or to make reservations, please call 503-281-6111, or visit our hotel website at http://durango.doubletree.com.
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About Doubletree Hotels
With a growing collection of contemporary, upscale accommodations in more than 230 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations worldwide, Doubletree Hotels are distinctively designed properties that provide true comfort to today’s business and leisure travelers. From the millions of delighted hotel guests who are welcomed with the brand’s legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in to the advantages of the award-winning Hilton HHonors® guest reward program, each Doubletree guest receives a satisfying stay wherever their travels take them. To make reservations at any Doubletree hotel, travelers can visit our website at www.doubletree.com, contact their preferred travel professional or call 1-800-222-TREE in the U.S. and Canada.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 91 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,600 hotels and 592,000 rooms in 81 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.
