
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 27, 1993                   TAG: 9306270195
SECTION: HORIZON                    PAGE: F-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HOTEL CHAINS GO GREEN

Travelers who want to be ecologically responsible soon may be given the option of having their towels and linens changed every three days instead of daily at major international hotels. And some lodging chains are beginning to provide cosmetic items in reusable dispensers instead of little disposable containers.

Inter-Continental Hotels Group, which recently spearheaded an environmental initiative with 10 other major hotel companies, has introduced a 134-point checklist of procedures in its environment manual for 103 hotels. Among the new measures: no animal-tested bathroom products; products are packaged in recyclable and recycled containers; laundry is returned in baskets.

Other participants in the International Hotels Environment Initiative are Forte, Hilton International, Accor, Holiday Inn, ITT Sheraton, Marriott, Ramada, Omni, Conrad and Meridien.

In the name of conservation, many German hotels now have printed messages (in German) posted on bathroom mirrors advising guests who are willing to reuse their towels to place them back on racks. Towels left on the floor or in the tub will be replaced daily, the German National Tourist Office advises.

- Newsday

by CNB