Marriott SpringHill Suites Receives Blue Community Certification for Sustainability Efforts

Special Celebratory Event Set for October 2, 2019

The Marriott SpringHill Suites in New Smyrna Beach will be honored for its continued sustainability efforts at an upcoming celebration at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. A no-host cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m. The event will take place at the Brannon Center, located at 105 S. Riverside Drive in New Smyrna Beach. Media and the general public are invited to attend.

SpringHill Suites recently received the “Blue Community Certification for Hotels & Resorts” from the Blue Community Consortium. The Blue Community Consortium seeks to protect oceans, coastal habitats, and marine environment in Florida through implementing sustainable tourism strategies. The group’s strategies were developed in conjunction with the Walt Disney Animal, Science, and Environment Team and the One Planet Living framework.

SpringHill Suites in New Smyrna Beach is now the highest-ranking hotel in Florida within the Blue Community group. The hotel is an industry leader in community involvement, building disaster reduction, waste management, and planetary boundaries. Out of the 17 categories measured for the certification, SpringHill Suites scored as an advanced or industry leader in all but one.

Jamie Dudley, the regional director of operations for Strand Hospitality Services/SpringHill Suites, said the hotel has implemented a number of sustainable practices, such as eliminating plastic straws and sponsoring staff and community beach clean-ups.

“Springhill Suites by Marriott is dedicated to the concept of sustainability for several reasons. First and foremost, the “local culture” of New Smyrna Beach shares our corporate vision of environmental responsibility. Our efforts to create a sustainable earth is a concept that allows us to propel into the future with a clear conscious and a sense of accountability to nature. The changes we make at our properties, including making good choices and being a good example for our community, will influence our guests to make environmentally friendly choices. We are truly honored to be an industry leader in Florida for the Blue Community,” said Dudley.

About the New Smyrna Beach Area The New Smyrna Beach area includes the communities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Osteen and Port Orange in east Central Florida. New Smyrna Beach is an eclectic mix of old and new; of subtle sophistication and bohemian soul that is as “real” as Florida gets. It occupies a notable place in history as the second oldest city in Florida, site of the largest single attempt at British colonization in the new world. In 2018, New Smyrna Beach celebrated its 250th birthday. The city’s barrier island is recognized worldwide for its incredible surf with Surfer magazine recently touting it one of the “Best Surf Towns in America” and National Geographic magazine including it in its “World’s Top 20 Surf Towns”. Accommodations range from charming bed and breakfast inns to family-size condominium units and oceanfront hotels. Natural attractions include 17 miles of sandy beaches from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Canaveral National Seashore and North America’s most diverse estuary – the Indian River Lagoon. Two distinct downtowns along Flagler Avenue and Canal Street and connected via the Waterfront Loop welcome visitors with independent restaurants, unique shops, artisanal coffee shops and art galleries.

For more information, please visit www.VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600. Follow @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter, Facebook.com/VisitNewSmyrnaBeach or @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram for the latest news. Download the free New Smyrna Beach Mobile App for iPhone and Android to receive this information on-the-go.