Home2Suites by Hilton is making sustainability and stewardship a priority through a variety of initiatives. "From the inside-out, Home2 Suites will demonstrate Hilton’s commitment to being a community pillar through best practice and responsibility," says Bill Duncan, global head, brand management, in a statement. "We are aligning our business with what guests want from a hotel by providing follow-through in what we promise and how we interact with our surroundings."
The sustainable efforts start with landscaping standards that include indigenous-only plants to eliminate the need for excessive irrigation. Guests are greeted with a front desk featuring a solid-surface countertop called Grenite, which comprises 85 percent pre-recycled and 100 percent post-recycled materials. This material is echoed in the food service area known as Home2MKT and high-top tables within the main gathering area called the Oasis.
In the Oasis, displayware is made of recycled glass and bamboo containers, a renewable material, while breakfast serviceware utilizes china over disposable options. Each hotel will have a recycling program, and guestrooms will feature a tote for carting recyclables to designated receptacles. Other community spaces such as the swimming pools will be maintained with natural saline materials over chemicals.
The Home2 Suites carpet standard calls for a product that is a minimum of 65 percent recycled content, in tile form, and uses a glue-free installation process. Also, the carpet manufacturer must have Green Label certification and meet the industry Sustainable Carpet Standard – Platinum level.
Guestrooms utilize recycled materials and energy-saving techniques. The beds will feature pillows and a quilted blanket containing recycled content for fiber fill. Rooms will be stocked with laundry bags, writing pens, and notepads that are recycled product and/or biodegradable. Additionally, the Working Wall countertop will be reconstituted stone made up of granite scraps. Embedded in the Working Wall, all in-room appliances will be required to have an Energy Star rating. Energy reduction is also sustained through the light fixtures, which will contain CFL bulbs.
Reductions of waste and usage of natural resources are essential elements to the guest bathroom experience. Featuring low-flow showerheads, the showers will be equipped with bulk shampoo and bath gel in an effort to decrease waste. The bathrooms will also feature a dual flush and Water Sense-rated toilet that uses 20 percent less water than a typical unit.
