Recently awarded the International Hotel & Restaurant Association's Environmental Award for Sustainability, the Willard has embarked on a Sustainability program entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." The holistic plan is comprised of numerous interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Please visit www.willarddc.com/sd, a useful guide to the Willard's sustainability programs.

Recent Willard Sustainability Press Releases

The Willard Green Meeting Guide

Eco-Elegant Willard Green Meeting Conserves and Inspires

Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years - A Holistic Program for a Sustainable Landmark Hotel

Willard InterContinental, First Hotel in the Nation's Capital Supported by 100% Wind Power

Going Green Behind the Wheel! Hybrid Transportation at theWillard InterContinental

 

Eco-Elegant Willard Green Meeting Conserves and Inspires

Washington D.C. May 7, 2008 -- A leader in Sustainable Hospitality© the Willard InterContinental in Washington D.C. has unveiled its Willard Green Meeting, a multi-optional, eco-conscious meeting structure which incorporates environmental considerations throughout all stages of a meeting, minimizing negative impacts while raising awareness. Crafted to planner's specifications, The Willard Green Meeting offers sustainable food, beverages, supplies, amenities and team-building eco-opportunities, all within a luxurious, urban environmentally-friendly hotel setting. A Willard Green Meeting Guide is available for planners on www.washington.interconti.com.

"As many organizations undertake numerous corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, The Willard Green Meeting serves to reflect our clients' objectives by helping to neutralize environmental footprints and enhance consciousness," said Hervé Houdré, General Manager. "We have designed a product built upon our own fundamental green practices, enhanced with natural sounds, tastes, textures, fragrance and hands-on charitable opportunities, all of which serve and support meeting goals.

The Willard Green Meeting offers stimulating sustainable menus, "eco-vision breaks", team-building environmental experiences, eco-ice-breakers and well-being exercises, among other delightful eco-friendly offerings for meetings, conferences and events. Special features of The Willard Green Meeting include delightful, "Eco Vision" Breaks - nature-focused meeting breaks which provide attendees the opportunity to experience through delicious foods, sights and sounds, local and exotic environments in need of care and preservation. Themes currently include the Eco Break, DC Experience and Mount Vernon breaks.

Clients will also be offered inspiring team building eco-opportunities that go beyond their meeting. The Willard is linked to several local and national organizations which support the community and the environment. Opportunities such as a cherry tree planting ceremony at the national tidal basin with the National Park Service's National Capital Cherry Tree Replacement Fund; a Pershing Park clean-up with the National Park Service; or an Anacostia River Patrol cruise and conservation presentation by the Earth Conservation Corps, are among the offerings which subject to availability, can be customized to fit with meeting schedules.

Citing the Willard's considerable ecological accomplishments, the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) recently awarded the Willard InterContinental with its Environmental Award for Hospitality Sustainability. The hotel has laid the foundation of sustainability for future generations of hotel employees, guests, friends and stakeholders through Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years. The program's holistic approach encompasses scores of interwoven sustainable efforts. Some of the hotels achievements include 100% wind energy to power hotel, 10% reduction in electricity consumption due to the use of CFL Compact fluorescent lights, conversion to green cleaning products, elimination of oil-based paints, 123 tons of recycled waste, 17 tons of composted organic waste and 100,000 gallons of water savings, among others.

Images and a PDF copy of The Willard Green Meeting Guide are available upon request. Please contact Meredith Goldberg at 202.637.7304.

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of the nation's capital, just two blocks from the White House, the Willard InterContinental is near the Smithsonian museums and the downtown business and theatre district. The Willard is an American institution that has hosted almost every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce, in 1853. It was at the Willard that Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic, where President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term "Lobbyist," and where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King finished his renowned "I Have A Dream" speech. The Willard epitomizes world-class hospitality as the hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world's business, cultural, social and political sectors. The hotel boasts 332 large, elegant rooms including 40 suites, fine and casual dining, afternoon tea and the luxurious, I Spa at the Willard. The classic hotel combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology.
Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W Washington D.C. 20004, for reservations call 202-628-9100, 1-800-827-1747, Web site: www.washington.intercontinental.com

Recently awarded the International Hotel & Restaurant Association's Environmental Award for Sustainability, the Willard has embarked on a Sustainability program entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." The holistic plan is comprised of numerous interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Please visit www.willarddc.com/sd, a useful guide to the Willard's sustainability programs.

Barbara Bahny David
P. 202.637.7309
E. barbara.bahny@ihg.com

Meredith Goldberg
P. 202.637.7304
E. meredith.goldber@ihg.com
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Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years - A Holistic Program for a Sustainable Landmark Hotel

Washington DC, January 31, 2007 -- Under the leadership of General Manager, Hervé Houdré, the Willard InterContinental has embarked on a sustainability program for the American landmark hotel entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." Based on the triple bottom line of Economic Viability, Social Responsibility and Environmental Protection, the holistic plan is comprised of interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness.

The program has been designed to lay the foundation for future generations of Willard employees, guests and stakeholders. Acknowledging the hotel's environmental efforts, the Willard recently received the 2007 International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) Environmental Award, and General Manager Houdré, the 2007 Downtown DC Business Improvement District's Downtown Citizen Award. “We envision our invaluable American landmark hotel to be a standard bearer in the industry for its commitment to local, national and international communities,” said Houdré.

Houdré, who has written a white paper entitled, Sustainable Hospitality © Sustainable Development in the Hotel Industry , and his team, have put into place a five-year roadmap that defines and quantifies the near-term SD goals for the hotel. The roadmap is divided into four subjects, Governance, Economic Viability, Social Responsibility and Environment. Each subject has associated projects and target years indicating the level of project completion expected in said time. The roadmap is flexible and designed as a working tool, rather than a theoretical matrix, forecasting the savings and impact of our sustainability actions.

Together with a Sustainability Team and a Director of Facilities who acts as the Willard's SD champion, the Willard has embarked on several initial projects encompassing the three “P's” - People, Profit, and Planet. These include:

• Project BLUE – Designed to conserve water and reduce detergent use for towels and sheets. Savings are applied to a revival program for the local Anacostia River, targeting both an environmental and a social challenge by providing youth employment and education to over 5,000 youth and adults. The hotel also serves Willard co-branded RESTORE Water; a portion of the proceeds goes to restoring both the Anacostia River and the Chesapeake Bay.
• Project GREEN - Willard employees have “adopted” Pershing Park, helping clean and provide compelling public arts programming by providing a venue for local artists and young art students. The hotel offsets the carbon footprint of traveling employees by purchasing Cherry Trees to be planted at the National Tidal Basin.

Energy – Now 100% of the Willard InterContinental hotel's electricity is garnered from renewable wind power through the purchase of “Green” certificates. We use CFL (compact fluorescent lighting) throughout the hotel which reduces energy consumption by 9% per year – a practice now adopted by all InterContinental hotels.   Since its inception in 2006, the Willard was able to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by almost 2,730,000 lbs of CO2, which is equal to the removal of 268 cars from the road. We have light sensors in offices and office restrooms designed to reduce energy consumption. A Hybrid vehicle is now available for guest transportation in an attempt to reduce emissions on the road.

• Recycling and Composting - We compost food and recycle waste material, fluorescent light bulbs, parts cleaner, food grease, batteries, computers, old paint and guestroom furniture.
• Project HEALTH: Since its inception in 2006, over 40 employees participated in weight loss and exercise programs resulting in the cumulative loss of over 248 pounds, and 11 employees have successfully quit smoking.

The Willard InterContinental's environmental program achievements include:

• 100% wind energy to power hotel.
• Water free urinals – 100% water reduction. In its first year, 2005, the Willard was able to save over 95,000 gallons of water. Our projected savings by 2009 are over 1 million gallons of water.
• Green chemicals for our in-house laundry.
• Removal of PERC for our valet dry-cleaning – 100% removal of these non-renewable chemicals.
• 30% of all papers consumed on property are recycled.
• Efforts on the hotel's behalf have resulted in 123 tons of recycled waste and 17 tons of composted organic waste, plus a reduction in non-recyclables from 1029 tons to 864 tons.
• 100% elimination of oil-based paints.
• Water free urinals, sensory faucets in public bathrooms, room light sensors in offices.
• Over 50 million oysters planted in Chesapeake Bay since partnering with RESTORE Water
• Through hotel support projects, 20 employees were successful in quitting smoking and 25 employees were responsible for losing a total of 116.4 lbs in 2006.
• Conversion to CFL (compact fluorescent lighting) throughout the hotel, reducing energy consumption by 9% per year – reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by almost 2,730,000 lbs of CO2, which is equal to the removal of 268 cars from the road. CFL conversions have now been adopted by all InterContinental hotels.  
• A Hybrid vehicle is available for guest transportation to help reduce emissions on the road.

Some of Houdré's inspiration came from the nation's 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, who occupied the White House in the early 1900s when the construction of the New Willard Hotel took place. Roosevelt was a devoted supporter of social causes and one of the nation's first conservationist leaders. In burgeoning 20 th century America, the term “Sustainability” had certainly not yet come into vogue, but President Roosevelt's many actions to preserve America 's natural beauty and environment and his pioneering work on behalf of children and the disadvantaged embodied the ideals of current day sustainability initiatives.

 

Willard InterContinental, First Hotel in the Nation's Capital Supported by 100% Wind Power

October 3, 2007, Washington DC -- The Willard InterContinental, Washington DC's premiere historic luxury hotel, is now powered by 100% wind energy. Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM) and a leader in renewable electricity, supplies the 332-room landmark hotel with 100% wind renewable energy credits, making the Willard the first urban luxury hotel in the United States to be fully supported in this sustainable manner.

Pepco Energy Services provides the Willard InterContinental Washington with nearly 7.1 million kilowatt hours of 100% wind renewable energy certificates. The Loyalton Group, an energy risk management firm in Washington, D.C., facilitated the contracts, under which Pepco Energy Services will supply renewable energy certificates from Sterling Planet. Electricity produced from renewable resources reduces the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), a key greenhouse gas. Wind energy is particularly effective in reducing greenhouse gases, because there are no air emissions associated with operating wind generators.

The Willard has embarked on a Sustainability program entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." The holistic plan is comprised of interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness “We are pleased to be increasing the Willard InterContinental Hotel's environmental commitment through our recent purchase of wind energy from Pepco Energy Services,” said Hervé Houdré, General Manager. “This fits as one of many components of our Sustainable Development strategy.”

“Pepco Energy Services commends the Willard InterContinental Hotel for purchasing 100% wind renewable energy credits,” said John Huffman, Chief Operating Officer of Pepco Energy Services. Pepco Energy Services currently supplies 100% renewable resources to the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum on Ellis Island, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters, located in Washington, D.C.

 

Going Green Behind the Wheel! Hybrid Transportation at theWillard InterContinental

Washington DC, September 18, 2007 – As part of the Willard InterContinental's ongoing commitment to sustainable development, the luxury downtown hotel will now offer guests an alternative mode of transportation in the form of a 2007 Toyota Camry four-door Hybrid sedan.

The program, which began on September 1, is first of its kind to be offered in the DC hotel market. The elegant black with gray leather interior hybrid represents an eco friendly alternative to the standard town car or taxi and is available by appointment for hotel guests only at a minimal fee. The car is available for anywhere within Washington DC, and to Regan and Dulles International Airports. Service is also offered to Virginia and Maryland.

The Camry Hybrid utilizes a four-cylinder gasoline engine, and its fuel economy is 40 miles to the gallon in the city and 38 miles to the gallon on the highway. The power steering, brakes, and heater/air conditioning are all electric, which allows the car to run on the electric motor.

The hybrid vehicle program is just one of the many environmentally conscious choices the hotel has made since embarking on a sustainability agenda entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." Based on the triple bottom line of Economic Viability, Social Responsibility and Environmental Protection, the holistic plan is comprised of interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. The program has been designed to lay the foundation for future generations of Willard employees, guests and stakeholders . “We envision our invaluable American landmark hotel to be a standard bearer in the industry for its commitment to local, national and international communities,” said Herve Houdré, General Manager.

The Willard has embarked on a Sustainability program entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." The holistic plan is comprised of interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W Washington D.C. 20004, for reservations call 202-628-9100, 1-800-827-1747, Web site: www.washington.interconti.com

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of the nation's capital, just two blocks from the White House, the Willard InterContinental is near the Smithsonian museums and the downtown business and theatre district. The Willard is an American institution that has hosted almost every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce, in 1853. It was at the Willard that Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic, where President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term “Lobbyist,” and where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King completed his renowned "I Have A Dream" speech. The Willard epitomizes world-class hospitality as the hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world's business, cultural, social and political sectors. The hotel boasts 332 large, elegant rooms including 40 suites, fine and casual dining, afternoon tea and the luxurious, I Spa at the Willard. The classic hotel combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology

 

Willard InterContinental
Barbara Bahny-David
T. 202.637.7309
E. Barbara.bahny@ihg.com

or

Pepco
Kim Price
T. 703.253.1839
E. kprice@pepcoenergy.com