Hilton Worldwide Announces Mattress Recycling Program

More than 85 percent of each hotel mattress to be recycled into products

MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide announced today a new mattress recycling program in coordination with the installation of new Serta mattresses and box springs. Available immediately across all brands in the U.S, the program will recycle approximately 85 percent of our hotels’ mattresses and box springs into various products rather than being diverted to a landfill.

“Our hotels have purchased more than 50,000 mattresses in the past two years in the U.S. alone,” said Randy Gaines, vice president, engineering operations for the Americas at Hilton Worldwide. “This program presents a great opportunity for our hotels globally, offers a cost savings to owners and underscores Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to further reduce our waste output.”

In partnership with DH Hospitality, mattresses will be recycled into other products, including:

-Steel Springs: Tools, Automobiles, Construction Materials
-Wood: Tempered Flooring, Particle Board Shelving and a variety of Pressed Wood Products
-Cotton Fibers: Oil Filters, Mats and Stuffing
-Quilt Scrap: Carpet Padding

Additionally, through LightStay, the company’s proprietary management system, hotels will be able to report and track the progress of its mattress donation and provide additional items during room renovations to Good360 a program that helps identify local nonprofits in need of cased goods. Last month, Hilton Worldwide reported its 2011 results and announced it has achieved its five-year goal to reduce waste by 20 percent, two years ahead of schedule.

DH Hospitality is a single source turnkey provider offering recycling, installation, liquidation, transportation and warehousing services nationwide. The company will install and remove mattresses for Hilton’s properties ensuring that hotel operations are not affected by the replacement program. DH Hospitality will also ensure that all components of the mattress and box springs are being recycled, not resold or re-covered, by requiring recycling centers to provide a certificate of recycling.

This initiative further supports Hilton Worldwide’s mission to Travel with Purpose and provides shared value to its business and communities around the world. Together with its global partners, the company focuses on: creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening communities where it operates; celebrating cultures and the power of travel; and living sustainably through the measurement, analysis and improvement of its use of natural resources.

For more information on Hilton Worldwide’s sustainability initiatives, visit http://www.hiltonworldwide.com/corporate-responsibility/sustainably.

About LightStayTM
LightStayTM is a proprietary system developed to calculate and analyze sustainability performance. LightStay measures multiple utility and operational metrics such as (but not limited to) energy, water, carbon, housekeeping, paper product usage, waste, chemical storage, air quality and transportation. In addition, LightStayTM provides social networking tools that allow properties to communicate and share information, and features a “meeting impact calculator” element that calculates the sustainability impact of any meeting or conference held at a property.

About Hilton Worldwide Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,900 hotels and timeshare properties, with 640,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.