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The Pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality for centuries. According to legend, captains of New England would mount a pineapple on their fence posts when they had a safe return from sea.  This served as an invitation for family and friends to visit and share a meal together.  Today, the pineapple serves as a symbol for the highest quality in hospitality
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Opening the Door to Green

Pineapple helps the hospitality industry unlock sustainability with
Green Earth Green-Key cards, key packets and key sleeves


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Saint Charles, Missouri � SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 � A few years ago, looking for ways to improve its environmental standing and promote its green policies to guests, the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort in northwest Washington switched to a recyclable guestroom keycard. The keycards let guests know the resort takes its commitment to going green seriously and guests appreciated the hotel�s efforts to operate in a more-sustainable manner.

While the concept was great on paper, the keycards didn't work that well. Made of a recyclable cardboard, they didn�t hold up well to the wear-and-tear sustained by electronic guestroom keys. And once they were damaged, they ceased to work entirely.

Six months ago, the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort switched to Green Earth Green-Key� cards from Pineapple Hospitality, the premier distributor of "Green" Hotel Products and Marketing Programs for the Hospitality Industry. Since then, Hotel Manager Samuel Askew says the cards have been fantastic.

"The Green Earth Green-Key cards are great. They are environmentally clean and sustainable � and they work," Askew says. "They perfectly fit the needs of our resort, and they are better for us in terms of both functionality and cost."
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Ray Burger
[email protected]
 (636) 922-2285
"Hotel keycards are one of the first and most-prominent ways to make an impression on your guests," says Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality. "Being so upfront with your guests about the importance of the environment can really help distinguish your property as an innovator and environmental leader. It gets guests thinking about what you do, and what they can do to be more 
eco-conscious � every time they open a door."

Green Sleeves, Key Packets

Also now available from Pineapple Hospitality are coordinating Green Earth Key Packets and Key Sleeves. They are a perfect compliment to the Green Earth Green-Key cards. Made from recycled paper and soy-based inks, these can be customized for your property to further let your guests know you support a Green Earth.

The Key Sleeves protect the key cards. And the Key Packets give you further room to promote and inform guests about your hotel's environmental policies.

"Our Green-Key cards have sparked a lot of discussion from our guests, and prompted us to keep literature readily available on the ways we are being environmentally responsible," Askew says. "Most of our guests recognize the keycards are a sustainable product, so we decided not to brand the cards as ours. They are beautiful cards, and make a lot of sense for who we are and what we do. We let them stand on their own."

Steve Mannik, General Manager for the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center in Bartlett, N.H., agrees that the Green Earth keycards, sleeves and packets have been a great way to let guests know all of the green steps the property has taken over the years.

"Our guests have become more conscious of our actions, and often not only comment on what we are currently doing to become more green, but also on how we could be doing better," Mannik says. "So much of what we do is behind the scenes, so it�s great to have an opportunity like this to put a green product right in guests� hands."

Mannik says he first learned about Green Earth keycard products at a conference this past spring. When the hotel's stock of room keys was running low, he explored all available green options. Initially, he was a bit worried because sometimes green products come with a hefty price. However, in the case of GreenEarth Green-Key cards, sleeves and packets, the hotel saved money by making the change.

"As the �going green� phenomenon developed, for us it began as a push to use our efforts as a marketing tool with the expectation of gaining more market share," Mannik admits. "But as we attend conferences, read articles, and listen closely to our guests, we now have a true desire to lessen our impact on our beautiful mountain environment."

Jody L. Hughes, Rooms Division Manager for the Sheraton Iowa City Hotel & hotelVetro, adds that her hotel also chose Green Earth key products to reduce the property's environmental footprint and attract eco-conscious travelers. The property also has added pens made from recycled plastic and uses natural and organic bathroom amenities.

"After seeing our keycards, guests keep telling us, 'Wow � that's cool,' and 'Great idea!'" Hughes says. "The eco-conscious traveler is reducing, reusing and recycling at home, and now we're letting them know they can do the same thing at hotelVetro, adding value to their stays."

�Key� Features 

Three varieties of the Green Earth Green-Key cards are available from Pineapple Hospitality: 

  • The Green Earth bioPVC, which is a thermoplastic polymer that biodegrades in only nine months to five years. The bioPVC is fully customizable for your property, with an appearance and performance identical to ordinary keycards.
  • The Green Earth Agri is a keycard made from earth friendly corn. It is 100% biodegradable and comes from renewable crops.
  • Green Earth reNew is a 100% recycled PVC keycard. Its front surface is coated with white soy-based ink, which accommodates exacting design requirements.

With the exact same specifications as traditional plastic cards, Green Earth Green-Key cards are compatible with all hospitality locks. They:

  • Feature excellent print quality;
  • Are available in CR-80 (standard) and CR-50 (narrow) sizes;
  • Offer easy customization for your property�s graphic standards;
  • Double as excellent public relations tools for your brand(s); and
  • Come with coordinating keycard packets and sleeves to further let guests know you support a green Earth
"Every person creates trash and waste every day. For our resort, that's multiplied by 85 people or more occupying our 85 guestrooms," says Askew. "That's why it is so important to do what we can to cut down on waste."

"In my experience with Pineapple, I've found they are the No. 1 vendor in terms of sustainability. That's why I trust Pineapple to provide wonderful new products that our guests like, and that contribute to both a greener future and greener bottom lines."

About Pineapple Hospitality
Headquartered in Saint Charles, Missouri, Pineapple Hospitality� is an EPA ENERGY STAR� partner bringing fresh ideas to hospitality guests� doors and owner/operators� bottom lines � including FreshStay® (www.freshstay.com), EcoRooms & EcoSuites (www.EcoRooms.com) Environmentally Sensitive Amenities�, EO®, Neutrogena®, Earth Perfect and greenSPA� amenities, AVIVA and WAVE dispensers, Energy Efficient Lighting and Controls, Custom Linen & Towel Re-Use Programs, Green Key Cards, Green Earth Key Cards, Energy Management Systems and Controls, High Performance  showerheads, the Nature�s Mist� deodorization system, Zero Odor, and dozens of other products and programs. For more information, please visit www.pineapplehospitality.net, or call us at 636-922-2285.

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Contact:

Ray Burger
President
Pineapple Hospitality, Inc.
[email protected]t
 (636) 922-2285
www.pineapplehospitality.net
 

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Also See: Planting Seeds of Sustainability; Pineapple Hospitality pledges to donate $1 for every attendee at upcoming AH&LA events, helping fund the Nature Conservancy's tree-planting initiatives in the Amazon / June 2009
Choice Hotels� Comfort Suites and Cambria Suites Brands Benefit from Going 100% Smoke-free and Joining the FreshStay.com Network / April 2009
Green Your Gray Matter; 2nd Annual Green Lodging Education Week to be held March 16 -23, 2009 / March 2009
FreshStay Enables Travelers to Choose Clean Air for Lodging; Health oriented travelers breathe easier by booking their hotel stay on FreshStay.com / March 2009
FreshStay Members Recognized For Their Commitment to Clean Air; FreshStay.com unveils Certificate of Recognition for its growing family of 100% smoke-free accredited lodging partners / January 2009
Expanding Eco-Education; Pineapple Hospitality teams with BITAC to bring green solutions to one of the industry�s premier educational events / December 2008
Stop the Presses: Smoke-free lodgings on the rise; With the number of smoke-free lodgings growing at a record rate, FreshStay.com sets a goal to grow to 10,000 non-smoking properties before the end of 2009 / December 2008
Hotel Industry Veteran Rick Henrikson Joins the Atlantis Hospitality Group / December 2008
10 Green Ways to Deal with a Tough Economy; Pineapple Hospitality offers numerous products and services to enhance your guest experience and lower operating costs / October 2008
Atlantis Rising; A trio of experienced hospitality leaders join Atlantis Hospitality Group - a new consulting firm dedicated to providing cost-effective solutions to specific hotel operational needs / July 2008
10 Ways for Hoteliers to Celebrate Earth Day 2008 / April 2008
Refreshing Leadership; Four Carlson Hotels Worldwide locations join FreshStay?/ April 2008
Taking Green Mainstream; As the sustainability movement continues to escalate, Pineapple Hospitality's EcoRooms& EcoSuites adds green leader Q Hotel & Spa as a new member and recruits two top talents to serve as Advisors -Bernadette V. Upton and Ray Hobbs / March 2008
Pineapple Hospitality Proclaims March 9-15 Green Lodging Education Week; Three major hospitality conferences during the week of March 9-15 will make green a priority / January 2008
FreshStay - The World�s Largest Directory of Lodging Properties featuring Better Indoor Air Quality celebrates 2nd Anniversary / January 2008
Green Heat For the Holidays: The innovative Buffet Burner from Pineapple Hospitality is so hot it can help keep the environment cool / November 2007
Three's Company; Pineapple Hospitality's EcoRooms & EcoSuites adds three new members to its Board of Advisors, providing additional environmental insight and perspective for the hospitality industry / October 2007
Fresh Impressions; Many hotels listed on FreshStay.com® are finding success by going beyond providing smoke-free environments and offering guestrooms, meeting rooms and public spaces with Indoor Air Quality IAQ enhancements / October 2007
Green Leaders: EcoRooms & EcoSuites new Board of Advisors hopes to raise the environmental standards of the hospitality industry, educate consumers and differentiate green from 'greenwashing' / August 2007
Guaranteed Non Smoking = Guaranteed Success; FreshStay® Version 2.0 a Huge Hit With Guests & Hoteliers / July 2007
Another �Green� Tool For Hotels� Eco Toolboxes; Guests and hoteliers alike rave about the quality of Environmentally Sensitive AmenitiesTM from Pineapple Hospitality / June 2007
Turning Up the Heat; Pineapple Hospitality Adds the Buffet Burner Electric Chafing Dish Heater to its Growing Line of Cost-effective, Environmentally-friendly Hospitality Solutions. / June 2007
Attention Frequent Breathers�: FreshStay® Version 2.0 Features Major Web Site Redesign & Fully Integrated Booking Process; At the all-new FreshStay, Frequent Breathers can find and book smoke-free hotel reservations worldwide / May 2007
Choice Hotels Comfort Suites Brand To Go Smoke Free May 1, 2007; The decision adds another 433 U.S. hotels to the ever-growing ranks of FreshStay.com's directory of smoke-free lodging facilities worldwide / April 2007
Better Designs Today For a Greener Tomorrow; Design sustainability expert David Oakey to headline the March 14th Green Hospitality Conference hosted by Lodging Hospitality and Pineapple Hospitality, Inc. / March 2007
Bacteria-Ridden Remote Controls Are The Likely Place for Guests to get a Cold or Flu / February 2007
The Triple Win: greenSPA� Amenities Benefit Hotels'Guests, Properties' Profits and the Environment; Hotels from coast to coast reduce waste to preserve our planet / January 2007
The Triple Bottomline: Fresh BulbTM Eliminates Odors, Cuts Energy Costs and Reduces Global Warming; Pineapple Hospitality announces its Winter Light Sale / January 2007
Global Growth; The FreshStay.com online directory/network of smoke-free lodging properties connects a growing number of owner/operators with travelers from across the globe / December 2006
FreshStay® Reports 2,700% Gain in Smoke-free Hotels; With 2,300 Marriott properties' going smoke free, more than 5% of U.S. hotels will be 100% non-smoking / August 2006
Springfield�s Krystal Aire Inn & Suites Introduces Another Fresh Idea; All Non-Smoking Hotel Installs Energy Efficient, Odor-Neutralizing Light Bulbs / August 2006
FreshStay® Online Network Unites Hotels Worldwide,Fuels Smoke-Free Movement: Kentucky is the 48th state to join the FreshStay® union of nonsmoking lodging properties / June 2006
Turn Trash into Cash; Pineapple Hospitality® and Midas Consulting Identify Eight Red Flags For Hotel Operators to Improve Environmental Practices and Reduce Waste Management Expense / June 2006
PURE Solutions Signs On As A Corporate Sponsor Of FreshStay�; FreshStay�'s rapidly growing online directory of non smoking hospitality properties is the perfect match for the PURETM Rooms program, which converts guestrooms to allergy-friendly rooms within 24 hours / May 2006
Pineapple Lights Up Hotels' Bottom Lines; Hospitality Properties Reap Significant, Sustained Economic Benefits By Embracing Environmentally-Friendly, Energy-Efficient Bulbs; Lighting Retrofits Reduce Costs & Bolster Guest Satisfaction / May 2006
Top 5 States and Top 10 cities for Non Smoking hotels in the U.S.; www.freshstay.com adds 25 non-smoking properties during April -California is the number 1 state and Seattle the number 1 city / May 2006
Zontec� Sponsors FreshStay.com to Identify Best Places Where Guests Can �Breath Easy, Sleep Great�� / April 2006
200 Smoke Free Hotels Join the www.freshstay.com Online Directory in 1st Month/ March 2006
120 Smoke Free Hotels Join the www.freshstay.com Online Directory in 1st Month / February 2006
Fresh Air: The New Hospitality Amenity; Pineapple Hospitality Launches FreshStay�, an Online Directory of Hotels Offering Better Indoor Air Quality / January 2006
Gift of the Year: Pineapple Hospitality�s Energy $aving Trifecta / December 2005
Pineapple Hospitality is Now the Exclusive U.S. Supplier of Environmentally Sensitive Amenities�  / November 2005
Got Pineapple? Hotelier-turned-industry-innovator Ray Burger Launches Pineapple Hospitality� � bringing fresh ideas and business-building products and programs to your guests� doors and your bottom line / September 2005


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