About 11 months ago, I arrived back to Orlando International Airport after another long business trip. I was flying back from Minneapolis, a city I visited frequently during my past business life. When I arrived back on this trip, I did something a bit different compared to my normal arrival routine. I was determined to walk into a nearby hotel to present the very first version of Clean the World’s recycling program.

I eyed a hotel that was very familiar to me. As a platinum Priority Club member, 90% of my hotel visits were at various Intercontinental Hotel Group hotels such as Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza’s and Hotel Indigo’s. I garnered up enough “guts”, and confidently walked into the Holiday Inn Select- Orlando Airport. I asked for the General Manager. Peter came from around the back of the desk and gave me his time. We spoke for about 15 minutes and the rest, as they say, is history!

So I get a special warming in my heart when an IHG hotel joins our recycling program. In addition to staying with them so frequently over the last 6 years, it was also a lot of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza bar soap that was used in my kitchen to experiment with our first recycling processes. (a story for another blog is how I actually got that soap… and I didn’t steal it!)

We are welcoming three new Intercontinental Hotel Group properties, representing three distinct IHG brands to our family:

Lets start our IHG- Clean the World tour in Abingdon, Virginia with the Holiday Inn Express, found here: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/abnex. In addition to being environmentally friendly, the Holiday Inn Express in Abingdon features a pet friendly property nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. With all of the clean and fresh features Holiday Inn Expresses are known for, our recycling program is a great fit for this 80 room property. If you are traveling on I-81 be sure to stop by and say “Thank you” to George and Angel for their participation in our Life Saving and Planet Saving recycling program!

Now southward to the beautiful Treasure Coast of Florida… Lets welcome the Holiday Inn Port St. Lucie to Clean the World Recycling Family. Their web presence is located here: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/PSLFL.  Located on the historic US 1, the Holiday Inn Port St. Lucie is buzzing now as the New York Mets spring training camp, only minutes away, is ready to go into full swing. In addition, championship golf, deep sea fishing, Jensen Beach, and Hutchinson Beach are right around the corner. The Treasure Coast is rightly named and with four properties in the area now on our recycling program, it is incredibly clear that they are very committed to protecting their beautiful environment, adding to your vacation pleasure. Make sure to book with Lisa on your next visit to Port St. Lucie.

And now to come full circle, just one light up the road from where our Clean the World journey began 11 months ago, is our newest IHG hotel- one of my favorite brands, the Crowne Plaza- Orlando International Airport. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/mcohn?&stopredirect=true.  A truly beautiful and complete property located minutes from the airport and right in the middle of the Central Florida action is one of our newest partners. With a newly renovated fitness center, gorgeous outdoor pool perfect for catching Central Florida rays, restaurants and lounges both on the property and within walking distance, you will no doubt enjoy the Crowne Plaza experience the hotel brand is kown for. Special thanks to Shawn and Mark for implementing our recycling program and offering your guest yet another quality feature that makes the Crowne Plaza the special hotel that it is!

And from a special place in my heart for taking care of me for so many years- Thank you Intercontinental Hotel Group properties that are joining Clean the World’s Hospitality Recycling Program!