- The ultimate cosmopolitan experience for environmentally aware travelers -
 
TORONTO, May 30, 2008 - Eco-savvy travelers can now enjoy luxury, style and a commitment to sustainability when they visit two premier hotels, The Fairmont San Francisco and The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Lexus have teamed together to create two “Lexus Hybrid Living Suites” geared for eco-conscious visitors. Both leaders in sustainable efforts, Fairmont was the first major hotel chain in North America to embrace environmental stewardship in its daily operations through the implementation of its own Green Partnership Program, while Lexus is the only luxury automotive company selling low-emission hybrid vehicles, creating their own Hybrid Living initiative (www.lexus.com/hybridliving). 

Guests can sleep, eat and drink sustainably in these unique suites, with every aspect of the room meticulously planned with the environment in mind, incorporating ideas and products from Lexus Hybrid Living partners. For those who wish to explore the area in the comfort of a low-emission luxury car, suite visitors can also enjoy complimentary use of a Lexus LS 600h L that spoils the driver, not the environment. Leading the way, San Francisco and D.C. guests will receive a Green Guide, which recommends environmentally friendly activities in the destination, including suggested highlights found on the Lexus Hybrid Living website.

Responsible for both designs is LA-based eco-designer Kelly LaPlante (www.kellylaplante.com), who used organic materials and rapidly renewable resources, such as bamboo, in the creation of the suites. LaPlante incorporated bedding by Coyuchi Organic, pillows and comforters by Sleep & Beyond, as well as eco-friendly paint by Benjamin Moore Aura for both the D.C. and San Francisco suites. Other furnishings and products were sourced from local vendors for a true reflection of the region and to benefit the local community. Both suites also feature custom made items constructed with pieces of leather recycled from Lexus vehicles, such as a coffee table in San Francisco designed by LaPlante herself and a unique painting by Jon Wassom, the owner of the Touchstone Gallery in D.C.

The Fairmont San Francisco Hybrid Living Suite:
 The Lexus Hybrid Living Suite at The Fairmont San Francisco features wrap around windows offering guests postcard-worthy views of the city including the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Chinatown.  The windows of the corner suite have been designed to allow natural light to stream in, reducing the need for artificial lighting and marrying the sumptuous eco-friendly quarters with the beauty of the outdoor environment. All fixtures in the room utilize compact fluorescent lights, also found throughout the hotel’s 591 newly renovated guestrooms and suites. Highlights of the décor include furniture by Kelly LaPlante and the Kenneth Cobonpue collection, eco-friendly fabrics by Q Collection, an organic mattress system by Suite Sleep, and organic towels and robes by Nandina. In many other ways, The Fairmont San Francisco has adopted eco-conscious operations, including composting excess food and leftovers, providing complimentary parking for hybrid vehicles and converting kitchen grease to bio-dynamic fuel.

The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Hybrid Living Suite:
The Fairmont Washington, D.C. Lexus Hybrid Living Suite was designed to give visitors the feeling of walking into a black and white photograph but offers color highlights throughout, via paintings by local gallery owner Jon Wassom. Highlights of the D.C. suite décor include furniture by jak and Kelly LaPlante, 100% recycled polyester drapes by Robert Allen, salvaged birch tree installations by studio JEFRË, as well as Icestone countertops made from 100% recycled concrete and glass. The suite resides on the Fairmont Gold floor, offering the highest level of service including its own private concierge team, Fairmont Gold Lounge with complimentary breakfast, free high speed Internet access and a private check-in and check-out area, among other amenities. The historic city center hotel also implements other green initiatives including green cuisine restaurant menus with local and organically grown food and wines, in-room recycling, and energy efficient lighting and equipment, sourcing ten percent of the energy from wind farms located in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Now through December 30, 2008, guests staying in either Lexus Hybrid Living Suite can enjoy packages that allow for a fully “green” experience, including:

• The Fairmont San Francisco - Eco is the New Chic package featuring suite accommodation, use of the Lexus LS 600h L, complimentary parking and a bottle of organic wine upon arrival. Rates start from $869 plus tax per night.  To book the Lexus Hybrid Living suite, please call 415-772-5147.

• The Fairmont Washington, D.C. - Eco Power Package features a one-night stay in the suite, use of the Lexus LS 600h L hybrid luxury vehicle, complimentary parking, a bottle of organic wine and local artisan cheese upon arrival. The Fairmont Washington, D.C. will make a $100 donation to National Geographic Society with the purchase of each Eco Power package. Rates start from $999 plus tax per night.  To book the Lexus Hybrid Living suite, please call 202-429-2400.  
 
For more information on both the San Francisco and Washington D.C. Lexus Hybrid Living Suites, visit www.fairmont.com.