MEDIA CONTACTS:
Claire Kunzman / Elyse Eisen
Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications
305.444.4033
claire@cam-pr.com / elyse@cam-pr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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HYATT KEY WEST RESORT AND SPA INTRODUCES FOOD. THOUGHTFULLY SOURCED. CAREFULLY SERVED
Resort joins in industry-leading, global effort and new philosophy to provide ?sustainable and responsible food and beverage choices for guests and associates
KEY WEST, Fla. (June 20, 2012) – Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa proudly announces its participation in Hyatt's worldwide launch of Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served. This new philosophy, the first of its magnitude by a global hospitality brand, is focused on sourcing and providing healthy food and beverage options that are good for Hyatt guests and associates, the local communities in which they reside and the planet. With this long-term strategy, which will guide food and beverage planning on all levels, Hyatt Key West will work to anticipate and satisfy the evolving preferences of its guests, ensuring that Key West visitors have more options to fit their needs and lifestyles.
Driven by insights and in-depth research, Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served. is grounded in three pillars:
¬ The first pillar is focused on healthy people and is implemented by providing portion-controlled, balanced offerings and natural ingredients prepared with nutrient-preserving cooking techniques. Examples include reducing the hamburger size from eight ounces to seven ounces of meat; mandating gluten-free and vegetarian options on all menus; offering Stay Fit Cuisine menu items on full-service brand menus; and providing natural bacon, organic produce and hormone-free milk as menu options.
¬ The second pillar is focused on a healthy planet by ensuring sustainable purchasing and operational practices, which are intended to improve the long-term health of people and the planet. Examples include sourcing sustainable seafood; planting chef's gardens on property; introducing recycling programs that include repurposing wet waste to feed for local farmers; and using new to-go containers and packaging.
¬ The final pillar is intended to support healthy communities by sourcing from local suppliers as well as sharing knowledge at schools and actively supporting farmers' markets and other community events. Examples include hosting farmers' markets; sponsoring local culinary schools to participate in competitions; and mandating that five local ingredients be utilized on the menu.
"We want to meet the needs of our present guests without compromising what's best for future generations of travelers," said General Manager Lin Schatz. "This new effort to support the health of our guests, planet and local community is at the core of every food and beverage decision we make. We are evolving the way we purchase and serve food because we feel it's what our guests deserve."
HEALTHY PEOPLE
Implementation of the Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served. philosophy, which began in the U.S. in mid-2011, includes sourcing and serving meat without supplemental growth hormones or antibiotics, cage-free eggs, sustainable seafood and fresh, local ingredients that reflect the season and local flavors. Hyatt Key West has already been serving sustainable seafood for the past year and has added several regionally-inspired items to its menus. Sample dishes include breakfast ceviche, pecan sweet potato crusted yellowtail snapper and grilled Florida lobster with chorizo risotto. The resort is also reducing the use of ingredients with high amounts of sodium and additives and serving beverages with natural sweeteners such as agave nectar.
HEALTHY PLANET
As a part of the new global endeavor, Hyatt Key West is taking steps towards creating a cleaner footprint on the environment. This more responsible approach includes purchasing "green" containers for take-away food. The resort is replacing its Styrofoam clamshells and carry-out plastic bags with the following eco-friendly products:
¬ White paper bags, which are 100 percent reusable, recyclable and biodegradable
¬ Renewable and compostable sugarcane clamshells, which are grease- and cut-resistant alternatives to traditional petroleum-derived plastics or foam – Sturdy and versatile, these clamshells can handle a wide variety of foods. Made from reclaimed and rapidly renewable sugarcane fibers, the product is 100 percent renewable, BPI-certified compostable and ASTM compliant.
¬ New eight-ounce containers, which are 24 percent post-consumer recycled content – Evolution World™ Hot & Cold Food Containers perform exceptionally well for a wide variety of foods, help save natural resources and reduce waste that would otherwise be landfilled.
HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served. is a key component of the health and wellness pillar of Hyatt Thrive, Hyatt's global corporate responsibility platform designed to enable thriving communities.
As an outgrowth of the company's core values, Hyatt properties will continue to partner with local community groups to organize volunteer efforts and provide fundraising support, all in an effort to improve the economic future of the people and businesses in the communities where Hyatt hotels are located. As a part of this global initiative, Hyatt Key West actively participates in the local high school's Prostart program, which involves teaching young students about healthy cooking and assists them in becoming professional culinarians. The resort is also introducing a series of cooking classes at a local women's shelter. The new program will teach menu planning for families based around Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served.'s three pillars.
To further demonstrate its dedication to Food. Thoughtfully Sourced. Carefully Served., Hyatt has joined forces with Partnership for Healthier America (PHA), which will hold Hyatt accountable for continuously improving the nutritional profile of children's food menus at full-service managed Hyatt properties across the U.S. over the next 10 years. This pledge marks the first of its kind by a hospitality company to PHA.
About Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa
Located within walking distance of the world-famous Duval Street and Key West's top restaurants and attractions, Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa is a sanctuary on the Gulf of Mexico. The tropically-inspired, full service resort features 118 spacious rooms with private Gulf-view balconies, Hyatt's signature Grand Bed, deluxe bathrooms and wireless Internet access. Other amenities include Jala Spa, which blends the natural delights of the local culture with the science of wellness; a 24-hour StayFit@Hyatt gym; and an outdoor swimming pool with spacious sundeck. Fresh favorites of the Keys are on the menu at the casual Blue Mojito Pool Bar and Grill and the classic SHOR American Seafood Grill. For more information or for reservations, visit keywest.hyatt.com or call 1-800-55-HYATT. For the latest news from the resort, visit facebook.com/hyattkeywest or follow us on Twitter @hyattkeywest.
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