Outrigger and its guests help the environment by collecting 15 tons of recyclables in 2015

RELEASE NUMBER 06/16

WAIKIKI, HONOLULU, HAWAII – Outrigger Hotels and Resorts announced today that seven of its Waikiki properties collected 15 tons of recyclables in 2015, reducing its carbon footprint and doing its part to protect the environment. Recycling efforts are just one part of the company’s global conservation action plan, OZONE (Outrigger’s Zone).

Currently, more than 60 percent of the world’s coral reefs are under immediate threat from climate change, overfishing, and land-based pollution such as aluminium cans and plastic bottles that can be recycled. To make a positive impact on reef conservation, in 2015 Outrigger Enterprises Group established OZONE, a global conservation initiative, to preserve the health of coral reefs and oceans surrounding the iconic beach destinations of Outrigger Resorts.

“We are passionate about sustainability and are proud of our continuing efforts to preserve and protect our environment,” said Bitsy Kelley, vice president of corporate communications. “Through our Waikiki recycling program and other conservation initiatives across our global portfolio, we hope to do our part to keep not only Hawaii, but the world’s natural environment healthy for generations to come.”

An added community benefit of Outrigger’s recycling program in Waikiki is that the redeemable deposit on each container collected as part of the state of Hawaii’s Hi5 redemption program is donated to Parents and Children Together (PACT), a local non-profit organization that provides social services to families in need. For 2015, Outrigger donated more than $41,000 – making it its highest donation to date.

Over the past seven years, Outrigger owned and/or managed properties in Waikiki, including Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, OHANA Waikiki East, the former OHANA Waikiki West and OHANA Waikiki Malia hotels, as well as Embassy Suites by Hilton® – Waikiki Beach Walk® and Holiday Inn Resort® Waikiki Beachcomber, have recycled more than 177 tons or 354,000 pounds of aluminum, plastic, paper and glass.

Guests staying at Outrigger properties are encouraged to participate in sustainability efforts by leaving recyclables in a designated bin, which is placed in each guestroom, to later be collected. All beach toys, such as Boogie boards, swim fins, goggles and more that Outrigger guests leave in their rooms at checkout are donated to the military for service member families to enjoy. In addition to its recycling initiative, Outrigger promotes sustainability in a number of ways such as: recycling cardboard, paper, linens and towels; tinting windows; using more efficient CFL and LED lighting; installing air conditioning sensors on lanai doors, more efficient guest-room appliances and recycling metal materials.

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