Five Winds International and Business Evolution Consulting Announce Merger
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - February 18, 2010 - Global sustainability consultancy Five Winds International, and sustainability hospitality consultants Business Evolution Consulting (BEC) have announced that BEC has been merged into Five Winds International. The addition of a San Francisco office expands Five Winds International's geographic reach to nine locations worldwide. The merger also expands the firm's service offerings within the hospitality sector, adding to its expertise within the consumer products, automotive, electronics, government/public, and building and construction sectors.
Five Winds International is a market leader in sustainability consulting with organizations that are committed to integrating sustainability goals into their core business objectives. The firm works on behalf of clients to increase share holder value and address key business drivers by enabling them to understand, improve, and succeed in their initiatives. The services provided to achieve these goals include Sustainability Strategy, Management Systems, Carbon Accounting, and Product Innovation and may incorporate key Five Winds software tools such as GaBi and SoFi to integrate and automate these efforts. Their existing client list includes organizations such as Coca Cola, SC Johnson, DuPont, 3M, Carnival, General Motors, Black and Decker, Herman Miller, UTC, and the California EPA. The firm employs consultants around the work in a network of 2 offices in Europe, and 7 offices in North America.
Upon announcing the merger, Five Winds Director John Heckman said, “Despite this economy, we continue to experience growth from companies realizing there are real business benefits from adopting and incorporating sustainability principles into their primary business objectives. Business Evolution Consulting was built on these principles and therefore provides a natural fit in addressing existing opportunities, expanding our growth in the Western United States, and providing strategic expertise within the hospitality sector.” On the benefits of the merger, Jeff Slye, CEO of Business Evolution Consulting, said “I am excited to find a partner that aligns so strongly with the business value around sustainability principles. We've enabled clients to save and earn millions of dollars by properly understanding and then embracing sustainability goals and Five Winds International is the perfect entity for expanding our reach to a larger and broader market.”
About Five Winds International
Five Winds International was formed in 1998 and is a management-consulting firm that helps organizations improve the economic, environmental, and social performance - the sustainability - of their operations, products, and services. Five Winds International's strength is helping integrate environmental and social considerations into the core business activities of organizations. For private sector companies these activities include strategy development, product design, operations, supply chain management, sales, marketing, and capital investment. In the public sector, core business activities include policy and program development, performance measurement, service delivery, operations, and procurement. The Five Winds International team has background in business strategy, engineering and material science, industrial design, environmental science, resource economics, social performance measurement, and government policy. The firm provides an international perspective through its offices in the United States, Germany, and Canada, and through projects with clients such as Dow Corning, Alcoa, Nike, Unisource Canada, and Royal Dutch Shell. More information about Five Winds International can be found on their web site: www.fivewinds.com
About Business Evolution Consulting
Business Evolution Consulting (BEC) enables companies to generate additional revenue and achieve operational efficiencies and cost savings by implementing sustainability initiatives. BEC is a sustainability consulting firm and domain experts within the hotel, restaurant, and hospitality industries. They have created and led 'greening' programs for over 90 hotels and restaurants across the United States and Canada, including for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants and Destination Hotels and Resorts. BEC is an Advisory Board member for the American Hotel and Lodging Association's (AHLA) Sustainability Task Force and was the strategic advisor to the launch of the National Restaurant Association's sustainability efforts. More information about BEC can be found on their web site:
www.businessevolutionconsulting.com
For further information, please contact John Heckman at 303-885-1025
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 
