Element Ewing-Hopewell Becomes NJ’s First LEED-Certified Hotel

Ewing is now the proud home of New Jersey’s first LEED-certified hotel.

Element Ewing Hopewell, an eco-chic boutique hotel where smart green practices enhance a refreshing, relaxing guest experience, has earned a coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, it was announced today.

Designed to be "green from the ground up”, Element hotels blend nature-inspired smart design, inspiring public spaces, and comfortable modern touches. Element, from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), made history with its 2008 launch by becoming the first major hotel brand to mandate that all its properties pursue LEED certification. Element serves as Starwood’s green innovation lab, where sustainable practices are tested before migrating to other brands.

With Element Ewing Hopewell’s certification, four Element hotels in North America now boast LEED accreditation. For Starwood, the hotel becomes the 15^th in its worldwide portfolio to earn LEED certification – the most of any global hospitality company.

The certification reflects Element Ewing Hopewell’s dedication to sustainability. All 127 guest rooms are outfitted with EnergyStar-qualified kitchen appliances, eco-friendly bath fixtures, and recycling bins for paper, plastic, and glass. The property minimizes waste with recycled paper towels in the kitchen, filter systems for drinking water to replace plastic bottles, and silverware and glassware instead of disposable products. Showers feature dispensers for shampoo/conditioner and body wash, rather than wasteful mini-bottles. Throughout the hotel, eco-friendly design enhances comfort, quality, and performance.

Physical spaces use materials that are both sustainable and inviting, from stylish carpets with up to 100% recycled content to low-VOC paint that enlivens walls without harming indoor air quality. Oversized windows and open layouts flood the space with natural light, supplemented by compact fluorescent bulbs that shed a soothing glow while using about 75% less energy than conventional bulbs. Green cleaning products help keep Element sparkling clean and healthy for both people and the planet.

For the added convenience of eco-minded travelers, the hotel recently installed a ChargePoint electric-vehicle charging station, which Element has been rolling out at properties nationwide. The property even offers a special thank-you to green-minded guests, providing priority parking spots for hybrid cars.

"Our LEED certification is gratifying because it recognizes our team’s efforts to conserve resources and reduce waste. But even more important, guests keep telling us how much it means to them,” said Perry Hansen, general manager of Element Ewing Hopewell. "There’s a real appreciation among guests for all of the thoughtful practices that have become an integral part of the Element experience.”

Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty-Select Brands, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., agreed. "LEED certification is a terrific achievement for the Element Ewing Hopewell team, a real win for New Jersey, and a meaningful milestone for our guests. The hotel’s certification proves that green practices can enhance every aspect of a hotel’s operation, from providing great guest experiences to enriching a neighborhood.”

Expanding on its long-term commitment to conservation and sustainable operations, Starwood in 2010 announced plans to significantly reduce energy and water consumption at every one of its hotels within a decade. Starwood will aim for a 30 percent reduction in energy use and a 20 percent decrease in water consumption per available room by 2020. The initiative will apply to all of Starwood’s owned, managed, and franchised hotels around the world.

About Element Hotels

Element hotels are green by design and inspiring by nature. Element’s energizing, eco-chic environment offers bright public spaces, smart design, and modern touches. Every Element property is also a high-performance building where sustainable practices reduce waste and conserve resources. Appealing and comfortable green features enhance the guest experience, from filtered water replacing bottled H20 to low-VOC paints and cleaning products that improve indoor air quality to healthful all-saline pools more healthful than conventional chlorine. Even the ubiquitous "Do Not Disturb” sign has been replaced with Element’s now-famous environmentally-friendly magnet. Element also shares a "whole living” philosophy based on keeping life clean, simple and balanced. To help guests stay active and healthy, each property offers complimentary wellness programs and healthy food options. All Element hotels also feature a Bikes-to-Borrow program, which encourages guests to stay energized every day during their stay.

Element, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest^® program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1051 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element^SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.