Eco-drinks - the latest green hotel innovation

We've seen eco-friendly buildings from Crowne Plaza, eco-friendly toiletries from NH Hotels and even organic uniforms from Scandic, but now one hotel chain has gone even further by introducing an eco-friendly drinks menu.

Wyndham, which operates over 7,000 hotels around the world, is rolling out the green bar menu for guests in its US and Caribbean hotels so that customers can enjoy a tipple knowing that they are contributing to the environment.

The menu itself is produced using natural and recycled materials, which isn't that unusual, but what's inside is where it really gets interesting.

Every Wyndham hotel will customize the menu to offer local and regional products, as well as a selection of organic wines, cocktails and spirits.

The signature cocktail, for example, is the TRU Blue, a martini made with TRU organic vodka, Fruit Lab organic orange liquor, fresh lemon juice and naturally blue-tinted syrup.

"We have always been passionate about supporting the environment, preferring foods that are organic or embrace sustainable practices," explains Fernando Salazar, Wyndham's food and beverage boss.

"Extending that philosophy to the Wyndham spirits, beer and wine program, and subsequently its menu, was a natural evolution of this core value."

Every page on the menu also includes an "Eco Tip" to enlighten and educate guests about the environment.

Wyndham's effort reflects a broader shift in the hotel industry to cater to the needs of eco-conscious guests - and it's a trend that shows no sign of abating.

According to the recently-released result of the American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2010 survey, 44 percent of the 9000 US hotels questioned already have or were working towards some sort of green certification.

http://www.wyndham.com/

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