Hilton Portland Earns Prestigious 'Green Key'
Certification Based on Strong Commitment to Environmental Practices
PORTLAND, OR, January 7, 2010 - The Hilton Portland & Executive Tower
announced today that the property has been certified under the Green Key Eco-Rating
Program. The Hilton was awarded four Keys on a scale of five Keys, and is the first
hospitality property in Oregon to receive this designation. This rating is based on the Hilton
Designed specifically for hotel operations, the Green Key Eco-Rating Program is a comprehensive environmental audit that is self-administered by the staff at the participating property, covering a broad range of operational areas and sustainable practices. The answers are then tabulated and the property is awarded a ranking of 1 to 5 Keys. The property also receives a comprehensive report that includes recommendations, best practices and potential areas for improvement and savings, and a listing on the www.greenkeyglobal.com website, as a resource for environmentally conscious travelers. To avoid the risk of score inflation, Green Key includes random, on-site verification of audit results.
“The Hilton Portland was one of the properties eagerly awaiting Green Key's migration from Canada to the United States, which is typically a good indication of a hotel's commitment to sustainable operations,” said Zach Conen, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Green Key Global. “The property's 4-Key rating is an even better indicator of their environmental leadership and commitment, both nationally and within the Hilton family.”
The foundation of the Green Key Program is its focus on sound sustainable practices specifically for the lodging industry. It was developed by a leading environmental engineering firm with support from the Canadian Government. The program has also received praise from the U.S. Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE), the Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and the Rainforest Alliance and is listed in the American Hotel & Lodging Association's (AH&LA) Green Resource Center.
“Being rated as a Green Key property is very important to us,” explains Doug Brecht, who directs marketing for the Hilton. “We have heard more and more requests for sustainable practices from our guests and meeting planners, and are working diligently to meet those needs in our daily operations. This Eco-Rating serves to validate our progressive efforts to implement sustainable measures, and provides valuable insights into areas where we have opportunity for improvement.”
The Hilton Portland is considered a leader in sustainable hospitality on the West Coast. It was the first Hilton in the U.S. to earn a Green Seal GS-33 certification in 2007. It is in its third year of an ambitious four-year sustainability effort, which includes measures to increase energy and water conservation, diverting food waste into composting, expanded recycling, installing a new high efficiency HVAC system, and purchasing more eco-friendly cleaning products.
The Hilton Portland & Executive Tower is located in the heart of the city center, one block away from the MAX Light Rail system. The largest hotel in the state, the Hilton consists of two separate buildings and combined offers 782 guest rooms, 66,000 square feet of meeting space and two on-site restaurants. For more information, please call 503.226.1611, or visit our website at www.portland.hilton.com and www.tourhiltonportland.com.
The Green Key Eco-Rating Program is the first of its kind to rank, certify and inspect hotels and resorts in North America based on their commitment to sustainable “green” operations. The program was originally developed for the Hotel Association of Canada by a leading environmental engineering firm with funding from the Canadian Government. In the United States Green Key is a joint partnership between the Hotel Association of Canada and LRA Worldwide, Inc. Visit them at www.GreenKeyGlobal.com.
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 90 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. Our brands are comprised of more than 3,500 hotels in 81 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, 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