Largest LEED Gold Certified Hotel in the World
Hostmark's Holiday Inn Mart Plaza
SCHAUMBURG, IL, September 24, 2009 - Hostmark Hospitality Group, one of the nation's largest third-party hotel management companies, is pleased to announce that one of its managed properties, The Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, is the largest hotel in the world and first hotel in the city of Chicago to receive its LEED(R) Gold Certification (Existing Buildings, Operations & Maintenance) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-EBOM). LEED(R) certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
"Hostmark Hospitality Group is honored that the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza has been recognized as the first hotel in Chicago to receive LEED(R) Gold Certification," said Brian Tkac, Vice President, Marketing and Revenue, Hostmark Hospitality Group. "As an international operator, we recognize the importance of sustainability and reducing environmental impact, and we know that our guests appreciate the steps we take to make our hotels more 'green.'"
The 521-room hotel recently underwent a $20 million redesign that included extensive ecological measures including installing solar film on many of its windows to reduce solar heat gain and reduce air conditioning load on the building. Additionally, 60% of facility alterations & additions (renovation) and 48% of furniture purchases for the hotel met third-party LEED sustainability criteria building-wide.
The Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza has also adopted a Sustainable Purchasing Policy that gives preference to LEED-qualified green products for cleaning supplies, office supplies, furniture, electronic equipment, lamps, and renovation materials. Such measures reduce the environmental impact of materials acquired for use in the ongoing operations, maintenance, and future upgrades of the hotel. Other sustainability initiatives have been adopted at the hotel including a Solid Waste Management Policy that requires recycling or other diversion of ongoing consumables, durable goods, facility alterations and additions
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
