Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn Receives 2009 Green Initiative Award

The DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) awarded the Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn-Lombard (1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn; 630-629-6000) the 2009 Green Initiative Award, accepted by the hotel at the DuPage CVB's 20th Anniversary Annual Meeting & Luncheon at noon Friday, October 2 the Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, Ill. The bureau recognized the hotel's environmental commitment, including sustainable programs like guest recycling, insulated low-E glass windows and energy-reducing boilers. The committee also acknowledged the hotel's adjacent restaurant, Glen Prairie, serving locally-sourced, seasonable fare from local farmer's markets.

At the event, DuPage CVB's executive director, Skip Strittmatter, presented the award at the luncheon in front of an audience of 275 people, all members, partners and supporters of the bureau. The Crowne Plaza's general manager, Kim Wicker, and director of sales Diana Dowdy accepted the award on behalf of the hotel.

"We are honored and delighted to accept this award from the Dupage Convention and Visitors Bureau," said Wicker. "The Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn-Lombard has strived to offer a 'green' alternative to our guests, and we are grateful to accept this award for our efforts."

The Crowne Plaza Glen Ellyn-Lombard opened in August 2008 as the first "green" Crowne Plaza in the Chicago area. The hotel's linen reuse program, use of regional vendors, hybrid transportation, CFL light bulbs and more, make it an environmentally conscious property. Daniel Ovanin, executive chef of Glen Prairie, makes three visits weekly to local farmer's markets to source the freshest ingredients for the restaurant. The restaurant also promotes sustainability and "green" living by using recycled paper for its menus and employing only 100% compostable and biodegradable materials for its take-out supplies. This is the first award from the DuPage CVB for the hotel.

The property, located at 1250 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, Ill., is owned by Glen Ellyn Hospitality, LLC, and managed by F & F Realty. For more information or to book a reservation, please call (630) 629-6000 or visit www.cpglenellyn.com.

Glen Prairie Featured on CBS Weekend Morning News

Daniel Ovanin, executive chef of Glen Prairie (1250 Roosevelt Rd., Glen Ellyn; 630-613-1250), was featured on CBS 2's weekend morning news Saturday, April 18. He spoke with anchor Mike Puccinelli about what it's like to be a green restaurant and use locally-sourced products, and he also demonstrated how to make Glen Prairie's Spiced Grilled Missouri Catfish, one of the new dishes off the restaurant's newly launched spring menu.

Mike and Daniel also showed off three of Glen Prairie's other unique dishes-- Glen Prairie's Signature Meatloaf, Baby Wedge Salad and Grilled Dakota Farmed Bison Ribeye. Don't forget to celebrate Earth Day at Glen Prairie. The management and staff at Glen Prairie are committed to demonstrating sustainable living through energy and resource conservation, so on April 22, the restaurant will turn off or dim any non-essential lighting, set the cooling system temperature in publica areas at 72 degrees and make additional efforts wherever possible with staff to create awareness of sustainability.

In case you missed the segment, you can view it here: http://tinyurl.com/cqqyvt.