Omni Dallas Hotel Outlines Sustainability Plans

DALLAS, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Omni Dallas Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Dallas, has outlined its sustainability plan which will lead to the property's LEED Silver New Construction (NC) certification upon opening. The plan includes use of recycled and regionally-sourced materials, reduced construction pollution and water conservation initiatives.

"Earning the LEED Silver New Construction status will be a tremendous accomplishment – one made possible by the tremendous efforts of the City, Matthews Southwest, Balfour/Russell/Pegasus, 5Gstudio_collaborative, BOKA Powell, Vivian-Nichols Associates and every team member who has a hand in keeping the project focused on sustainability," said Nils Stolzlechner, general manager of the Omni Dallas Hotel. "These efforts will continue upon the hotel's opening to provide an eco-friendly environment for our associates, guests and the community."

Scheduled to open early in 2012, the property has employed a recycling program for all construction waste. The Omni Dallas Hotel is also utilizing recycled and regional materials throughout the construction process. For example, the interior design for the hotel's three-meal-a-day restaurant, Texas Spice, includes reclaimed timber and brick. Additionally, certified wood is being used for 50 percent of the wood-based material to encourage environmentally responsible forest management.

The hotel's design will reduce the amount of storm water run-off with a 25,000-gallon cistern to capture water as a means of irrigation in lieu of city water, limiting the use of potable water and other resources. The northwest corner of the property will feature a rain garden designed to help with run-off. Furthermore, the water softener system is tied to the cooling tower – which helps the efficiency of the system – and will reduce water and chemical usage, both will have a positive environmental impact.

The hotel sits in an area with a significant public transportation infrastructure, thus inhibiting the number of car commuters and reducing pollution, and upon completion, the property will have numerous bike racks and onsite changing rooms. All of the 720 parking spaces provided will be covered, which limits the heat island effect.

Other sustainable efforts include:

• Roof materials feature solar reflective indexes to help with heat island effects.
• Systems for lighting and thermal control. Examples include guest rooms equipped with a key switching system where guests put the room key into a slot to turn on lights and have control of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. When removed, the HVAC system sets back to a preset temperature and the lights automatically shut off.
• The indoor air quality management plan will reduce Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems resulting from construction, and the team is using low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) products such as paints, adhesives and carpet systems.

The project is overseen by numerous LEED accredited professionals, ranging from the design-builders staff to various engineers and consultants. Balfour/Russell/Pegasus, the construction company responsible for the project, hired a LEED consultant to ensure the project is built to meet the credit requirements established by the US Green Building Council.

About the Omni Dallas Hotel

Scheduled to open in early 2012 connected to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel offers a luxurious, warm and sophisticated design which reflects the essence of Dallas with a contemporary, reflective glass exterior and native textures, art and other materials enriching the interior. Upon opening, guests and locals alike will have access to five culinary selections, including the celebrated Bob's Steak & Chop House, The Owner's Box and a farm-to-table restaurant, Texas Spice, for a casual dining experience, as well as retail space, lounges, a signature Mokara Spa, urban pool deck and more. In-room technology will include flat screen TVs as well as TV monitors embedded within the bathroom mirrors. The LEED Silver New Construction project includes utilization of recycled materials, irrigation supplied by recycled water, water-saving fixtures, guest room energy management systems and more. Connected via a skybridge to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel will incorporate over 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Included among its 21 meeting rooms are the grand and junior ballrooms, encompassing 32,000 and 15,000 sq. ft. respectively. The hotel will comfortably accommodate groups of more than 3,300 attendees at any given time. For more information about the Omni Dallas Hotel, please visit omnidallashotel.com or call 214-744-6664.

About Omni Hotels & Resorts / Hotel Operator

Omni Hotels & Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest experiences that take guests on "A Total Departure" to 50 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each Omni showcases the local flavor of the destination while featuring four-diamond services, signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique wellness options. Known for its award-winning, personalized service, Omni leaves a lasting impression with every customer interaction, with a heightened level of recognition and rewards delivered through its Select Guest loyalty program and the company's "Power of One" associate empowerment program. The brand is frequently recognized by top consumer research organizations such as J.D. Power and Associates, which ranked Omni as "Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains" in its 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study(SM).

To get additional information or book accommodations, visit omnihotels.com or call 1-800-The-Omni.

SOURCE Omni Hotels & Resorts