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Two New Courtyard Hotels To Receive LEED Certification |
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Portland, Ore., and Chevy Chase, Md. Hotels to Be Certified Gold by U.S. Green Building Council |
Two Courtyard by Marriott hotels on opposite coasts -- Chevy Chase, Md., and Portland, Ore. -- will make eco-history today as they are recognized simultaneously via webcast (www.courtyardgreencoast2coast.com) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ). This milestone puts Courtyard -- with more than 830 hotels worldwide -- on track to deliver a LEED hotel prototype that will be cost-effective for hotel owners and franchisees to develop.
"I applaud these two hotels and their owners for making the choice to build the most environmentally-sound properties possible and paving the way for more Courtyard hotels to be LEED -certified," said Arne Sorenson, president and chief operating officer of Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) , and co-chair of the company's Executive Green Council. "Within just 12 - 24 months, these hotels will recover the upfront costs that were needed to make them LEED -certified through energy conservation and other cost-savings."
Environmentally-conscious hotels also provide a competitive edge with consumers, according to the U.S. Travel Association. In a consumer survey by the USTA and Ypartnership, nearly half (48%) of travelers say that continuing to support environmentally-responsible travel service suppliers is a necessity, even in an economic downturn.
Currently, the U.S. lodging industry has just over 20 LEED -certified hotels. Marriott alone has 50 hotels registered for LEED with the USGBC.
"As one of the most recognized hotel brands, Marriott has a unique opportunity to educate the hundreds of thousands of customers who visit each year about high-performance, energy-efficient, healthy green buildings," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "Courtyard by Marriott's Portland location is an important addition to the growing family of LEED-certified buildings."
The 256-room Courtyard Portland City Center, owned and operated by Sage Hospitality, is located at 550 South Oak Street in downtown Portland and will officially be certified LEED -Gold from the USGBC today. The hotel draws all of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind and hydroelectric power, reducing its energy consumption by 30 percent. Compared to a typical Courtyard hotel, the property has reduced water consumption by 26 percent -- enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool -- primarily through dual-flush toilets.
The hotel, which recycled more than 75 percent of the waste created during the construction process, is designed to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent. All waste from the kitchen is composted and the hotel converts its used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. Employees wear the latest green fashion trend -- uniforms made out of recycled plastic bottles.
The 226-room Courtyard by Marriott Chevy Chase, owned by Grosvenor USA Limited, is located at 5520 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, Md., and is celebrating its grand opening today after a $35 million renovation. The hotel is the first LEED -Gold registered hotel in Montgomery County, Md., and expects full certification before year-end.
With 100 percent of the building's energy provided by wind power, the hotel projects its water and energy consumption to be 40 percent and 21 percent less than average, respectively. Eco-highlights include a reflective roof, in-room recycling, and a solar panel that powers the hotel's trash compactor. The hotel also offers multiple transportation options, including an onsite hybrid Zipcar, bicycle racks and both Metro and bus routes within walking distance.
Courtyard by Marriott was the first lodging brand exclusively designed for business travel by business travelers. The brand's new Refreshing Business lobby is open, bright and contemporary. A signature element of the new lobby is the exclusive GoBoard(TM), a 57-inch LCD touch screen packed with local information, maps, weather and news, including business and sports headlines. The touch screen technology allows guests to easily find restaurants, local attractions and directions. Guests can also connect to free WiFi and there are ample electrical outlets throughout the lobby to power digital devices.
Dining has been completely redesigned with The Bistro - Eat. Drink. Connect., offering high quality, healthy menu options for breakfast, and light evening fare, including snacks, wine and beer so guests can unwind. To learn more about the new Courtyard lobby through guest-guided tours and to stay up-to-date on the latest brand news, visit www.gocourtyard.com/buzz or the Courtyard Hotels Twitter page.
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