Hilton Launches Major Expansion of Industry’s Largest Soap Recycling Program to Help Communities in Need
1,370 Hotels Will Now Participate, including All 750 Properties in Its All Suites Brands; Program Has Already Donated more than Four Million Bars of Soap
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MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced that all 750 properties across its All Suites brands will recycle discarded soap and amenity bottles and donate them to reduce hygiene-related illnesses for communities in need. Marking the first time in the industry this is required as a brand standard, it is a major expansion of what is already the industry's largest soap recycling program that will now include 1,370 hotels participating across Hilton's portfolio.
Hilton's All Suites brands include Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton. They comprise nearly 15 percent of Hilton's current portfolio and 29 percent of its pipeline, and the new brand standard will nearly double the number of hotels participating in the soap-recycling program.
Through its partnerships with Clean the World and other organizations, Hilton's hotels have already collected more than one million pounds of partially-used soap, which have been recycled into more than four million new bars of soap. This process has also prevented more than 570 tons of waste going to landfills. In addition to supplying the soap, these organizations educate people about the importance of hygiene and handwashing.
Hilton President & CEO Christopher J. Nassetta visited a hospital yesterday to deliver recycled soap while in Guayaquil, Ecuador for SAHIC (South American Hotel Investment & Tourism Conference).
"As part of our mission to be the world's most hospitable company, we are strongly committed to helping communities around the world through our Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy, including our industry-leading soap recycling program," said Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton. "Nearly two million children die every year from preventable hygiene-related illnesses, and simple handwashing could cut these rates by nearly 50 percent."
Through the program, hotels' partially-used soaps and amenities are shipped to Clean the World's collection and recycling centers. There they are processed, remanufactured into new soap bars and prepared for distribution to homeless shelters, community centers and medical facilities in impoverished communities around the world.
"Across our All Suites portfolio, we are extremely proud to become the first three major hospitality brands to make soap recycling a brand standard when it goes into effect later this year," said Bill Duncan, global head, All Suites brands. "We look forward to this commitment making a significant impact on this incredibly important cause."
"The success of Clean the World hinges on the support of great partners like Hilton," said Shawn Seipler, founder and CEO, Clean the World. "This major expansion of Hilton's soap recycling program will contribute to saving the lives of thousands of children every year."
The All Suites brands will also invite their followers on social media to spotlight the positive impact handwashing can have on global health. Surrounding Global Handwashing Day on October 15, photos, videos and posts can be shared with the hashtags #SuiteSuds and #GlobalHandwashingDay. For more information on Hilton's All Suites brands, visit EmbassySuites.com, HomewoodSuites.com and Home2Suites.com.
In addition to its soap recycling program, Hilton leads many other sustainability initiatives, including not allowing microbeads in any of its amenities globally. For more information about Hilton's Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy, visit cr.hiltonworldwide.com.
CONTACT:
Astrid Egerton-Vernon
Hilton
astrid.egerton-vernon@hilton.com
+1.917.488.9599
Kristen Wells
Hilton
kristen.wells@hilton.com
+1.571.421.6655
About Clean the World
Clean the World is a social enterprise dedicated to the mission of saving millions of lives around the world while simultaneously diverting hotel waste from landfills. The organization collects discarded soap and other hygiene products from more than 4,000 hotel and resort partners and operates recycling centers in North America, Asia, and Europe. Clean the World provides hygiene education and microlending to make handwashing and local soap purchases a lifelong habit in developing regions. Through its hygiene kit program, Clean the World provides personal care items to relief organizations throughout North America. Since 2009, more than 35 million bars of Clean the World soap have been distributed in 100 countries. More information: http://www.cleantheworld.org.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 17 world-class brands comprising nearly 5,900 properties with more than 939,000 rooms, in 114 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2018 world’s best workplaces list, and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its 100-year history. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, more than 94 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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