Home2 Suites By Hilton Engages “Good Steward” Best Practices

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. December 31, 1969

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 - Home2 Suites by Hilton, a mid-tier, extended-stay hotel concept targeting the savvy, value-wise guest has focused on branding efforts and design standards on integrating, when possible, a sustainability focus to provide a greater guest experience and sense of stewardship.

“From the inside-out, Home2 Suites will demonstrate Hilton's commitment to being a community pillar through best practice and responsibility,” said Bill Duncan, Global Head, Brand Management, for Home2 Suites by Hilton. “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.”

Upon arriving at a Home2 Suites, guests can take note of the good steward components the hotel demonstrates through exterior and interior examples. The best practices 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 counter top called Grenite, which is comprised of 85 percent pre-recycled and 100 percent post-recycled materials allowing for a VOC-free surface. This material is echoed in the food service area known as Home2MKT and high top tables within main gathering area called The Oasis.

Continuing through The Oasis gathering space, guests will come to expect standard good steward features that ensure low environmental impact. The displayware is comprised of recycled glass and bamboo containers, a renewable material. The breakfast serviceware continues this trend by utilizing China over disposable options. Every hotel will be required to have a recycling area not just in The Oasis, but also the vending and back-of-house areas. Each guestroom will be provided with a tote for carting recyclables to these designated receptacles. Other community spaces such as the swimming pools will be maintained with natural saline materials over chemicals.

The good stewardship does not stop at the gathering spaces, but continues through the corridor and guest rooms. The Home2 Suites carpet standard calls for a product that is a minimum of 65 percent recycled content. The carpet must be in tile form that uses a glue-free installation process. Also, the carpet manufacturer must have the Green Label Certification and meet the industry Sustainable Carpet Standard - Platinum level.

Reductions of waste and usage of natural resources are essential elements to the guest restroom experience. The showers will be equipped with bulk shampoo and bath gel in an effort to decrease waste in addition to low-flow shower heads. These bathrooms will also feature a dual flush and Water Sense rated toilet that uses 20 percent less water than a typical unit.

In the Home2 Suites' guestrooms, utilization of recycled materials and energy-saving are each supported. 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 note pads which are recycled product and/or biodegradable. Additionally, the Working Wall countertop will be reconstituted stone comprised 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 light bulbs.

Home2 Suites forecasts 100 properties open by year-end 2012, with 60 to 70 per year thereafter. Immediate focus will be on U.S. development, with expansion into Canada, Mexico and abroad in subsequent years.

To learn more about Home2 Suites by Hilton, including site plans, room layouts and brand facts, visit www.Home2Suites.com. For information about franchising opportunities, visit www.HiltonFranchise.com.