(Seattle, WA) March 29, 2007 -- In 1884, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was founded on an enduring connection to the land and communities where we do business.  Remaining true to this principal, the company took a proactive approach in 1990 with the launch of its industry-leading Green Partnership program. This comprehensive initiative to minimize the impact of hotel operations on the environment addresses key issues including waste management, water and energy conservation, habitat protection, purchasing, employee and guest education and community outreach. In addition to publishing “The Green Partnership Guide,” a “going green” handbook for the hospitality industry, individual Fairmont properties are innovating with food re-distribution and composting, tree-planting days, lighting retro-fits and a wide range of other everyday activities, special events and capital investments that protect their communities and the planet.

Today, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, along with its 50-plus sister properties, continue to grow environmental stewardship from setting expectations with external vendors, to daily business decisions affecting hotel construction, operations, renovation and training. 

It Is Easy Being Green

Seattle Steam: The Fairmont Olympic Hotel uses steam produced from Seattle Steam Co. for heating and for hot water. Seattle Steam is also updating their facilities to replace a natural gas-fired boiler with one that uses recycled and "urban" wood as its fuel. Burning wood can reduce global warming gas emissions by more that 50,000 metric tons per year, the equivalent to removing the emissions from about 11,000 cars. In addition, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel recovers condensation for use in our in-house laundry machines, which saves water and electricity.

Energy conservation: Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are currently being used in public spaces around the hotel, such as hallways and meeting rooms, and in some guest rooms. This spring, all 450 guest rooms will be retrofitted with over 4,500 new CFLs. According to ClimateCrisis.net, replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. With the install of the CFLs in the hotel, approximately 650,000 lbs or 337.5 tons of carbon dioxide will not be emitted into our atmosphere.

Waste minimization and recycling: Corporate Recycling Systems (CRS) has implemented custom-tailored Sustainable Comprehensive Waste Reduction and Recycling Programs for over 25 large industrial and commercial clients. Currently the company is creating a customized program for The Fairmont Olympic Hotel to reduce solid waste disposal costs and increase recycling volumes and revenue. Each department, from the kitchen to housekeeping, will identify opportunities to minimize waste and increase recycling, and CRS will create programs that are easily integrated into the day-to-day operations of the hotel in order to meet those goals. In each guest room, the hotel provides recycling bins, as well as in the back of house, where employees are encouraged to recycle. Large signs label each bin, helping to easily identify what items get recycled and which bins they need to be placed in.

Seattle’s Wet Waste Program: The Fairmont Olympic Hotel composts as much wet waste (food) as possible by separating it and sending it out to Cedar Groove composting. In as little as 90 days they break down the wet waste into usable products like mulch. In Seattle, hotels are not required to compost materials, but recognizing the value of such a program, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel is hoping to uphold the same objectives.

Eco-Meetings: The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, in conjunction with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, offers an Eco-Meet program that minimizes harm to the environment during meetings, conferences and similar events. At The Fairmont Olympic we offer recycling, energy-efficient lighting and an energy-efficient HVAC system. Partially used amenities and household goods are distributed to local shelters or charities. Similar to guests in our restaurants, groups and travelers for business meetings can request organic beverages, sustainable seafood choices and vegetarian options.  

Eco-Experiences

Whale of a Time: Guests are whisked away to the San Juan Islands via floatplane where they enjoy a whale watching expedition, tour of The Whale Museum and lunch in a local restaurant; and they'll even be able to adopt their own orca whale. The Orcas in the Pacific Northwest have been added to the Endangered Species List and $100 from every package booked is donated to the Whale Museum. The package also includes two nights in a spacious suite and breakfast for two in The Georgian. All the travel details are taken care of, even transportation to and from the floatplane terminal. The package starts at $1,190 plus tax for two people. For reservations, guests may call 206-621-1700 or visit www.fairmont.com/seattle. As a result of these package bookings in 2006, over $2000 was donated to The Whale Museum.

Lakes to Locks: Seattle is a cosmopolitan city surrounded by majestic mountains and Puget Sound’s extensive waterways – a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Experience the Sound from South Lake Union to the Chittenden Locks on kayaks, while learning first-hand from a guide about our local waterways and sustainability in the region. Along the way, guests will glide past Seattle's famous houseboats, pass Fisherman's Terminal, see Seattle’s local sea lion colony, cruise past the Westpoint Lighthouse and finish at Golden Gardens Park where guests admire an unobstructed view of the Olympic Mountains. Upon returning to Executive Suite accommodations, guests can enjoy a $75 credit to either The Georgian or Shuckers, which use locally farmed and organic ingredients. Included in the package is a Go Zero certificate from The Conservation Fund, offsetting carbon emissions from the entire package. For every package booked, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel will match the Go Zero certificates, donating money to plant trees in the Pacific Northwest. The package starts at $550 plus tax for two people. For reservations, guests may call 206-621-1700 or visit www.fairmont.com/seattle.

Organic, Locally-farmed and Sustainable Cuisine and Beverages

Green Eats: The Fairmont Olympic’s two restaurants and lounge offer a local culinary experience that highlights flavors and ingredients of the Pacific Northwest. Executive Chef Gavin Stephenson creates seasonal menus using abundant native fruits, vegetables and herbs, not to mention an expansive variety of fresh fish and seafood from the region. This spring the restaurants will  also begin carrying organic wines.

Blooming Tea: The Terrace Lounge offers a unique and visual tea experience with organic Blooming Teas. Hand picked and sewn premium tea leaves, Blooming Teas are tied with cotton thread into various shapes and bundles. When steeped in water for two to five minutes, the leaves slowly expand and the flowers delicately unravel into a bouquet of breathtaking shapes. The Terrace Lounge offers three handcrafted premium white and green teas and one black tea. White tea is the least processed form of tea undergoing almost no transformation.

DRY Sodas: DRY is an all-natural, non-caffeinated soda that is flavored with fruit and herb extracts, and sweetened with a small amount of pure cane sugar. Seattle-based DRY Soda Co. offers four flavors: kumquat, rhubarb, lemongrass and lavender. These sodas are available in all of our restaurants, banquets or through in-room dining.

During the 6th Annual Global Travel and Tourism Summit in Washington, D.C., Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was named winner of the prestigious 2006 Global Tourism Business Award. Presented by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTCC), the global business leaders forum for the travel and tourism industry, the award recognizes and promotes the world's leading examples of best practice in responsible tourism development.

Footsteps from Seattle’s most exciting attractions, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel combines traditional warmth with 21st century convenience and personalized service.  Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the beautifully restored 450-room hotel blends classic ambience and Italian renaissance architecture with state-of-the-art amenities, including high-speed wireless Internet access in public spaces, complimentary Internet service in all guest rooms, 24-hour in-room dining, 24-hour concierge, a fully equipped health club with indoor swimming pool and complimentary house car service throughout downtown. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Fairmont Olympic received its 23rd consecutive AAA Five Diamond Award in 2007. The hotel is also listed on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2007 Gold List and Travel + Leisure’s 2007 The World’s Best Hotels.

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For more information, please contact:

Meg Paynor
Public Relations Manager
Tel: (206) 287-4056
Fax: (206) 623-2271
Email: meg.paynor@fairmont.com