Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel in Miami Launches EarthCare Week Celebration

As the world prepares to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel in Miami announces a week-long series of environmental, service-focused events and activities for guests, staff and the local community.

EPIC is one of 51 hotels and 52 restaurants across the country helping to honor Kimpton’s 30 year commitment to environmental responsibility and care by bringing Earth Day to new heights with the launch of Kimpton’s EarthCare Week, from April 15 – 22, 2011.  The celebration comes as the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) announced recently that one of the fastest and most promising green industries is sustainable tourism, with travelers paying increasing attention to green travel service suppliers, and opting for more green travel choices.

EarthCare Week is a national Kimpton celebration that builds upon the company’s devotion to environmental responsibility and will inspire guests to give back to the local communities when they stay, eat and play with Kimpton.  In Miami, local community members, hotel guests and restaurant diners can participate in Kimpton EarthCare Week events via the following scheduled activities hosted by EPIC:

Friday, April 15 – Friday, April 22:

·       Pedometer Days: to promote a more environmentally-friendly and healthier alternative to driving, EPIC is encouraging guests to walk during “Pedometer Days.”  Pedometers will be made available at the front desk and progress will be tracked during daily wine hour, with prizes awarded to guests, and their pets, who log the most steps.

·       Restaurant Launch Weekend: In partnership with the local and organic, Paradise Farms, Area 31 presents the following specially-created “100% organic EarthCare Week” five- course menu for guests priced at $55 per person and offered exclusively for dinner:

o       Green Crunch Vegetable Salad with Watermelon Radish & Rhubard Vinaigrette

o       Heirloom Carrot Soup with Chic Pea Fritter & Hanni’s Goat Cheese

o       Toasted Quinoa with Poached Quail Egg, Smoked Tofu, and Pickled Spring Onion

o       Braised Faro with Kale, Creamed Adzuki Beans, & Roasted Oyster Mushrooms

o       Staff Picked Carambola with Passion Fruit & Caramel

Sunday, April 17:

    ·       Community Service Project Day:  EPIC Hotel employees will spend a day at “Roots in the City,” an urban farm in Overtown, FL.  There, the group will cultivate, plant, weed and seed throughout the three-acre plot of land, in an effort to help maintain and sustain the urban farm for the local community.

      Monday, April 18:

      ·       Round-Up Recycle Day: EPIC Hotel invites the community to drop off their unwanted electronics for recycling.  Local electronics retailer, Best Buy, has agreed to handle the recycling and will offer a gift card for items turned in.

      ·       Yoga on the Lawn: Between 6:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., Exhale spa will hold a complimentary Vinyassa Flow with a live DJ on the EPIC lawn for guests and employees to encourage outdoor activity, health and wellness.

      Tuesday, April 19:

        ·       Plant a Tree: A team from EPIC will conduct a special tree-planting ceremony on the Trust for Public Land Miami Circle Historical Site located across from the hotel.

          ·       Lights Out Power Hour: From 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., EPIC Hotel will host wine hour by candlelight to conserve energy.

            Wednesday, April 20:

            ·       Community Awareness Day: EPIC Hotel will welcome second graders from local elementary schools, courtesy of the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, to meet with EPIC’s Director of Engineering, who will educate them on energy conservation and recycling.

            Thursday, April 21:

            ·       EPIC Hotel will host a fundraising and awareness-building event for the Trust for Public Land on the 16th floor pool deck from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.  Attendees and guests will enjoy complimentary cocktails from Bacardi, complimentary organic wines from Naked Winery, and complimentary hors d ‘oeuvres.  A donation is encouraged to attend the event, which will also include a silent auction.  All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Trust For Public Land.  Local environmentally-conscious businesses and vendors will also be showcased during the event.  To attend, or for more information, contact Christina Loria @ Christina.loria@epichotel.com or 305.967.7303.

            “Since our opening in 2008, EPIC has maintained its commitment to environmental responsibility, doing its part to contribute to a more sustainable world,” said Joe Schwingler, EPIC’s general manager.  “We are pleased to participate in Kimpton’s EarthCare Week while encouraging our guests, staff and the local Miami community to do their part as well.”

            In April 2010, Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel earned its Silver level Green Seal certification in recognition of its environmental responsibility.  Green Seal certification is an important third-party validation of Kimpton’s more than 100 environmentally responsible operational practices. Under Kimpton’s EarthCare program, the company is able to more effectively measure its nationwide reductions in waste, energy and water consumption.

            Kimpton’s innovative EarthCare initiatives date back to the company’s inception in 1981 and include several industry firsts such as in-room recycling bins and the use of non-toxic cleaners brand-wide.  Diners at Kimpton restaurants have access to increased sustainably produced wine selections on menus, can take advantage of in-house purified water through a national partnership with Natura® and enjoy sustainable seafood dishes in accordance with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.  In 2010, under the direction of master sommelier Emily Wines, Kimpton introduced a Wines on Tap program at restaurants across the country to provide fresh wine by the glass, strengthen relationships with local vineyards, conserve corks and reduce waste.  New initiatives that were recently added to Kimpton’s more than 100 daily environmental practices include converting certain paper products to Fiberstone, a tree-free, water-free, natural paper alternative and converting to printer ink with a 70/80 ratio of bio-renewable content (higher BRC than soy ink).

            To learn more about Kimpton EarthCare Week events and happenings at EPIC, visit www.EPIChotel.com To learn more about Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and other EarthCare Week events going on at other Kimpton Hotels, please visit www.lifeissuite.com, www.Facebook.com/Kimpton and www.Twitter.com/Kimpton.

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