EconomicallyFriendlyHotels. com Rates Washington DC's Willard with Five "Green Trees" For the Hotel's Extensive and Creative Green Initiatives
Sage Blossom Consulting recognizes the Willard InterContinental's creative sustainable initiatives. Urban and historic hotels often struggle with adopting as many green actions as they would like because of constraints placed on them, so finding other ways to be green takes more initiative. The Willard InterContinental has done just that, shown great initiative and creativity in greening its operations.
Ridgway, Colorado (PRWEB) November 26, 2008
Sage Blossom Consulting, a leader in environmental hotel consultancy, has noted Washington DC's' Willard InterContinental remarkable in its extensive and creative green initiatives, making it one of the most sustainable hotels in the country. Kit Cassingham, an environmental hotel consultant in Ridgway, Colorado, and a member of the board of directors of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), noted the extensive efforts of the historic property during a recent behind-the-scenes 'green' tour before a recent ISHC event.
"The growing hotel trend is 'green,'" says Cassingham, who noted that conference coordinators are looking closely at hotels' environmental actions when contracting a destination for group meetings, as government and corporate mandates are increasingly specifying the use of green hotels for meetings and travel. "The ISHC held a function at the historic Willard hotel, which is near the White House, and experienced the first class service, hospitality and food, the fantastic event just shows that a five-star property can be simultaneously green and elegant."
Cassingham was given a behind-the-scenes 'green' tour of the Willard before the event, and pronounced the hotel one of the greenest urban hotels she has ever seen. "And there are quite a few green chain hotels," Cassingham said with a laugh. After her tour of the Willard, Cassingham said the hotel has instituted so many initiatives, it has gone beyond merely green. "The Willard is going beyond greening, moving toward true sustainability," Cassingham said. "Every department participates with enthusiasm to reduce power, water and waste consumption, and to increase reliance on local and healthy products. It's a true model for hotels in general, let alone a chain hotel."
"It's a top-down approach, Willard InterContinental General Manager Hervé Houdré not only buys in to the change, he's leading it", Cassingham said. "Houdré cares equally about his guests and the environment," she added.
The Willard gets a five "green tree" rating on Sage Blossom Consulting's database of green hotels - http://www. EnvironmentallyFriendlyHotels. com (http://www. EnvironmentallyFriendlyHotels. com) - and is "working its way to six as it adds other sustainable actions," Cassingham said. The highest possible rating on the site is seven, and only three of its 3,500 hotels have reached that rating.
Becky Silver
970-596-2732
Http://www. SageBlossom. com (http://www. SageBlossom. com)
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