11.17.08
Sheraton Orlando North Hotel Goes "Green" with Florida Green Lodging Program Designation
 

Contact
Michael J. LaCosta, Vice President
Beckerman Public Relations
(908) 781-6420, michaelj@beckermanpr.com

Maitland, Fla. (November 17, 2008) – The Sheraton Orlando North Hotel has always been an environmentally friendly hotel that conserves natural resources. That commitment to the environment has now been formally recognized, as the hotel became a designated member of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Lodging Program.

To become a designated member of the Florida Green Lodging Program, hotels must implement a variety of green practices. At the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel, these practices include water conservation, a linen reuse program, energy efficiency achieved with ENERGY STAR® appliances, and programmable thermostats. The hotel also reduces waste by providing the opportunity to recycle, purchasing items in bulk, purchasing recycled materials, and by recycling ink and toner cartridges. In addition, the hotel uses green cleaners and high efficiency air filters.

“This designation is the result of an ongoing conservation commitment from all of our associates and the hotel’s owners,” said Peter Valenzuela, general manager of the Sheraton Orlando North. “It’s an honor to receive our One Palm designation and our goal is to carry that commitment to the Three Palm level over the next two years. We’re thrilled by this challenge and will work collectively to make it a reality.”

Launched in 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program (www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging) establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. There are three levels of designation, including One Palm, which designates that a hotel/motel must have completed the core green lodging activities; Two Palm for maintaining One Palm status for at least 12 consecutive months; and Three Palm for maintaining Two Palm designation and demonstrating continual improvement for three consecutive years.

The Sheraton Orlando North, a joint venture of AMC Delancey Group, Inc. and The Paramount Hotel Group, is a 390-room conference hotel located in the heart of the bustling Maitland, Fla., business corridor, just five miles north of downtown Orlando. The hotel’s tropical atmosphere immediately sets guests at ease, giving them a sense of comfort and belonging as they gaze at the dramatic fountain in the newly renovated atrium. The luxurious guestrooms and suites, newly designed by Ralph Lauren and Sheraton, feature dark mahogany and walnut furnishings and Sheraton’s amenities including high-speed Internet access, flat-panel LCD television, mini refrigerators, spacious work areas and the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed®, a nine-layered custom-designed ensemble featuring an exquisitely comfortable, plush mattress, fluffy down hypoallergenic pillows, crisp cotton sheets, cozy blanket and signature blanket and duvet.

The 296,000-square-foot property also features 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate up to 900 people, a 24-hour business center, state-of-the-art fitness center, restaurants, bar, concierge lounge, game room and outdoor swimming pool with dramatic water features including fountains, a waterfall and a Jacuzzi. The hotel (www.sheratonmaitland.com) is close to downtown Orlando, golf courses, shopping, restaurants and entertainment, the Orlando International Airport and major Orlando theme parks.

About Paramount Hotel Group
Paramount Hotel Group, founded in 1999, is a premier hotel management and development company that specializes in value-oriented management of full and limited service hotels nationwide. As an independent operator, Paramount team has successfully managed hotels under every major brand including Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, Sheraton, Crown Plaza, Holiday Inn, Ramada and Howard Johnson. The company is headquartered in Fairfield, N.J., and manages and/or has ownership interests in 27 properties with more than 3,000 rooms.

About AMC Delancey Group
AMC Delancey Group, Inc. is a leading real estate investment and development firm that pursues value-added projects with strategic partners throughout the United States. Based in Philadelphia, the company’s programmatic approach focuses on viable, long-term investment strategies with partners who share a commitment toward improving quality of life. While focusing on the senior living sector through its affiliate Delancey Senior Living, AMC Delancey also has investments in hotel, office, retail, multi-family, and mixed-use assets, as well as land development. For more information, visit www.amcdelancey.com .

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