Hilton Americas-Houston Becomes Green Seal Certified Property

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. July 23, 2009

HOUSTON, TX, July 22, 2009 - Hilton Americas-Houston, the city's largest hotel, has received the unique distinction of becoming the first hotel in the state of Texas to achieve Green Seal certification. Demonstrating environmental leadership in operations and purchasing, the downtown Houston convention hotel reduced their environmental impact and improved sustainability in accordance with stringent guidelines set out by Green Seal in order to obtain the coveted certification. This certification confirms that Hilton Americas-Houston complies with the environmental and performance requirements of the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties - Silver level.

Joining only four other Hilton Family hotels in the United States that have thus far achieved Green Seal status, Hilton Americas-Houston underwent an extensive "greening" of the property as all team members joined in to reduce the hotel's overall carbon footprint. To qualify for Green Seal certification, a hotel must demonstrate sustainable practices in the following areas: waste minimization, reuse & recycling; energy efficiency, conservation & management; management of fresh water resources; waste water management; hazardous substances; and environmentally sensitive purchasing. Certification requires an initial evaluation by Green Seal, including an on-site audit of the property, and annual monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance.

Just some of the many initiatives in effect at the Hilton Americas-Houston to reduce the hotel's environmental impact as a Green Seal certified property include:

• Recycling plastic, paper and aluminum

• Composting food waste

• Replacing current guest room lighting with energy efficient, Compact Florescent Lighting (CFL)

• Recycling florescent light bulbs

• Reusing copy paper to minimize waste

• Setting copy machines to default to double-sided printing

• Purchasing recycled copy paper

• Giving guests the opportunity to recycle in their guest rooms

• Using 2.2 gpm water conserving faucets, 1.6 gfl water conserving toilets and 2.5 gpm water conserving showerheads

• Using nontoxic and biodegradable cleaning products

• Following an environmental purchasing policy

• Using environmentally responsible suppliers

• Using materials made from post-consumer recycled content

• Replacing disposable food service items with biodegradable items

• Turning off lights in areas that are not occupied

• Installing on/off lighting timers in low traffic and low occupancy areas

• Recycling liquid shortening

• Recycling toner cartridges

• Recycling batteries

• Serving water only on-request in the outlets

• Offering guests the option to reuse towels & linens for multiple nights

• Donating partially used amenities to local shelters

• Replacing equipment, as needed, with Energy Star rated models

• Donating leftover food to local shelters, at customer's request

Since the inception of Hilton Americas-Houston's food composting project, approximately 152 cubic yards, about 154 tons, have been shipped to be composted at Nature's Way, a Houston area company. In the past four months, 56 tons of cardboard and over 96,000 gallons each of paper, mixed plastic and metal cans have been recycled. In the past 12 months, 14,000 pounds of kitchen oil has been recycled, for a total of seven tons.