Marriott University of Maryland University College Inn Leads the "Green Movement"...

Marriott University of Maryland University College Inn Leads the "Green Movement" for Local Hospitality

ADELPHI, Md.--(Business Wire)--
Defending its position as an eco-friendly hospitality leader,
Marriott's University of Maryland University College Inn and
Conference Center (UMUC ICC) announces its "green standards." These
standards are designed to allow meeting participants to have
eco-friendly gatherings and help reduce their environmental impact.
This announcement comes on the heels of Marriott International's
announcement last month of new eco-friendly meeting products and
services that it will be rolling out later this summer.

The average three-day meeting at a Marriott hotel attended by
1,000 people produces more than 12 tons of trash, uses 200,000
kilowatts of power and consumes 100,000 gallons of water. "We believe
these statistics can be changed through some innovative initiatives
that we have put into place that are not seen in other hotels in our
area," says Michael McCarthy, general manger of Marriott's UMUC ICC.
"For instance, our composting program removes approximately 1,000
pounds of food waste from the trash stream a day. This waste is sent
to a composting farm where it's mixed with leaves and other natural
matter to help it break down into soil rich in nutrients."

Although others are talking green, Marriott UMUC ICC has built on
its already existing eco-friendly policies. And this, it turns out, is
not just good citizenship, but good business. According to a recent
survey by Deloitte of 1,155 business travelers, 34 percent "seek out
hotels that are environmentally friendly;" 38 percent have "researched
green lodging facilities" and 28 percent said they would be willing to
pay more to stay in a green lodging facility. And according to the
Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, 43 percent
of association meeting planners and 36 percent of corporate planners
expect to hold a "green" meeting this year, and 73 percent of buyers
say they "deliberately avoid destinations known to have poor
environmental records."

What is Marriott UMUC ICC doing to lead the change to "green"
meetings? They use recycled note pads in meeting rooms, have reduced
the use of bottled water, reduced the amount of linen used, have a
vigorous on-site and guest room recycling program and compost about
1,000 lbs. of food waste a day. In their guest rooms the hotel has
implemented a guest room linen and towel reuse program, installed
water saving devices and eco-friendly lighting, utilize non-toxic
cleaning agents, an environmentally friendly procurement policy, and
unused guest shampoo or toiletries are donated to a local family
emergency center. In food preparation, UMUC ICC uses reusable linens,
dishes and cutlery, recycled products in the cafeteria, organic or
locally grown produce as well as organic beer and liquor. To create
and implement these ideas the hotel has established a hotel "green
team" trained in environmental initiatives that bring the latest
trends to the hotel.

Marriott's UMUC made headlines as the nation's first official
"green" hotel when it was certified in 2005 by the US Green Building
Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
program. The hotel and the University are members of the American
College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and has
pledged to reduce the University's impact on the environment. Marriott
UMUC continues to be proactive in making going "green" part of its
daily business.

Marriott
by
Remey Communications
Sandra Remey, 301-929-3554
Cell: 301-467-9024

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