Willard InterContinental Washington DC wins Condé Nast Traveler 2009 World Savers Award
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Willard InterContinental Washington DC wins Condé Nast Traveler 2009 World Savers Award

August 26, 2009 // Franchising.com // Washington DC - Condé Nast Traveler announced the winners of the magazine's third annual World Savers Awards, naming Willard InterContinental Washington DC overall winner in the City Hotel category. The hotel, located one block from the White House, is 100% wind powered. It is also noted for a wide range of initiatives including extensive recycling and composting, water well donations to South Africa and South Dakota, contributions to the Anacostia River clean-up, and hosting proms for disabled youth.

Condé Nast Traveler's World Saver Award honours travel companies from around the world for their leadership in social responsibility in five key areas: poverty alleviation, cultural and/or environmental preservation, education programmes, wildlife conservation, and health initiatives. The hotel's award-winning programme, Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years, is a holistic plan comprised of interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Visit www.willarddc.com/sd, for InterContinental Willard's 2008 Sustainability Report and a comprehensive guide to its sustainability efforts.

"Despite these challenging economic times, corporate social responsibility is as important as ever," Condé Nast Traveler Editor-in-Chief Klara Glowczewska said. "The travel industry is on track to generate US$7.3 trillion in revenue this year-a number that represents an enormous opportunity improve our planet, and our World Savers Awards recognize those companies turning that potential into a reality."

The 2009 World Savers Awards are featured in the September issue of Condé Nast Traveler (US edition), out on newsstands. World Savers Awards winners including Willard InterContinental Washington DC will be recognized at an award ceremony on 21 September 2009, at the annual Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Congress in New York City.

World Savers Awards Methodology: To determine the award finalists and winners, Condé Nast Traveler editors reviewed over 100 applications and narrowed them to 36 finalists. An independent panel of 20 judges, comprised of leaders from the travel industry and non-governmental organisations, rated how applicants exercised social responsibility in five key areas: poverty alleviation, cultural and/or environmental preservation, education programs, wildlife conservation, and health initiatives. There were eight different categories: small hotel chains, large hotel chains, city hotels, small lodges and resorts, large lodges and resorts, tour operators, cruiselines, and airlines. This year, judges also looked at overall scores, to give credit to companies with admirable programmes in a number of areas.

Judging Panel:

Ralph Buckley, director, International Centre for Ecotourism Research, Griffith University, Australia

Bill Chameides, dean, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University

Laurie David, NRDC trustee; environmental activist; co-producer, An Inconvenient Truth

Dorinda Elliott, deputy editor, Condé Nast Traveler

Marcia Gay Harden, environmentalist; Oscar-winning actress

Karl Holz, president, Disney Cruise Line

Martha Honey, co-director, Center for Responsible Travel

Kara Hurst, managing director, East Coast, Business for Social Responsibility

Neel Inamdar, senior adviser, ecotourism, Conservation International

Rob Katz, CEO, RockResorts/Vail Resorts

Ron Mader, director, Planeta.com

Bill Marriott, chairman and CEO, Marriott International

Hitesh Mehta, landscape architect and sustainable tourism planner, HM Design

Brian Mullis, president, Sustainable Travel International

Bruce Poon Tip, CEO, Gap Adventures

Kate Roberts, vice president, Population Services International

Andrea Ross, director of tours/marketing, Journeys Within

Shannon Stowell, president, Adventure Travel Trade Association

Tensie Whelan, president, Rainforest Alliance

Brook Wilkinson, consumer news correspondent, Condé Nast Traveler

Timothy Wirth, president, United Nations Foundation

About Willard InterContinental Washington DC

An American institution and leader in Sustainable Hospitality, the Willard InterContinental is located in the heart of the nation's capital on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House, the Smithsonian museums and the downtown business and theatre districts. The Willard InterContinental is the Washington D.C. hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world's business, cultural, social and political elite. The hotel's 332 well appointed large guestrooms include 40 elegant suites. Dining options include The Willard Room fine dining restaurant and Café du Parc, the popular French bistro with seasonal outdoor seating and traditional Afternoon Tea in Peacock Alley. The luxurious Red Door Spa offers a wide array of pampering treatments. The classic Willard InterContinental combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology.

"Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years" is a holistic sustainable hospitality program in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Winner of the DC 'Mayor's Environmental Excellence Award for "Outstanding Achievement by a Hotel" for its environmental stewardship, innovative best practices, pollution prevention, and resource conservation, the Willard is noted particularly for it's 100% wind power, 191 tons of recycling, 37 tons of composting, donated water wells to South Africa and South Dakota, contributions to the Anacostia River clean-up, "Adoption" of a local school and park, hosting of proms for disabled youth and building of a DC Habitat for Humanity house.

About InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has 158 hotels, located in more than 60 countries with local insight that comes from over 60 years of experience. At InterContinental we believe that superior, understated service and outstanding facilities are important, but what makes us truly different, is the genuine interest we show in our guests. Our desire is to help guests make the most of their time. We connect our well-travelled guests to what's special about a destination, by sharing our knowledge so they enjoy authentic experiences that will enrich their lives and broaden their outlook.

About IHG

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,300 hotels and almost 630,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 44 million members worldwide.

IHG has nearly 1,600 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 140,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

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