Going Green Behind The Wheel!

As part of the Willard InterContinental's ongoing commitment to sustainable development, the luxury downtown hotel will now offer guests an alternative mode of transportation in the form of a 2007 Toyota Camry four-door Hybrid sedan.

The program, which began on September 1, is first of its kind to be offered in the DC hotel market. It offers the elegant black with gray leather interior hybrid vehicle on a fulltime basis, from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The car is stationed outside of the hotel as an eco friendly alternative to the standard town car or taxi. Hybrid service is available on a first come, first serve basis for hotel guests for a moderate fee. The car is available for anywhere within Washington DC, and to Regan and Dulles International Airports. Service is also offered to Virginia and Maryland.

The Camry Hybrid utilizes a four-cylinder gasoline engine, and its fuel economy is 40 miles to the gallon in the city and 38 miles to the gallon on the highway. The power steering, brakes, and heater/air conditioning are all electric, which allows the car to run on the electric motor.

The hybrid vehicle program is just one of the many environmentally conscious choices the hotel has made since embarking on a sustainability agenda entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." Based on the triple bottom line of Economic Viability, Social Responsibility and Environmental Protection, the holistic plan is comprised of interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. The program has been designed to lay the foundation for future generations of Willard employees, guests and stakeholders. "We envision our invaluable American landmark hotel to be a standard bearer in the industry for its commitment to local, national and international communities," said Herve Houdré, General Manager.

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of the nation's capital, just two blocks from the White House, the Willard InterContinental is near the Smithsonian museums and the downtown business and theatre district. The Willard is an American institution that has hosted almost every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce, in 1853. It was at the Willard that Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic, where President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term "Lobbyist," and where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King wrote his renowned "I Have A Dream" speech. The Willard epitomizes world-class hospitality as the hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world's business, cultural, social and political sectors. The hotel boasts 332 large, elegant rooms including 40 suites, fine and casual dining, afternoon tea and the luxurious, I Spa at the Willard. The classic hotel combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology

The Willard has embarked on a Sustainability program entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." The holistic plan is comprised of interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W Washington D.C. 20004, for reservations call 202-628-9100, 1-800-827-1747, Web site: www.washington.interconti.com