Continental to Update Presidents Club Lounges
Mar 31, 2010, 11:02 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
Continental to Update Presidents Club Lounges
HOUSTON, April 1, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) will begin renovating its airport lounges with a new environmentally friendly format starting this summer. The new Eco-Lounge format will include environmentally friendly lighting, furniture, as well as sustainable refreshments. Over the next five years, all 22 Presidents Club locations in the United States will be renovated to the new Eco-Lounge format.
The first Eco-Lounge will be unveiled in Continental's New York hub at Liberty International Airport in Terminal C. Once remodeled, this lounge will feature a green roof for insulation, skylights for natural lighting, as well as environmentally friendly compact fluorescent lighting in all work areas. Furniture will be updated with high-density cloth seating made from sustainable cotton built on frames made from recycled plastic bottles. Recycling and composting bins will be placed throughout the lounge, and the family area will feature environmentally friendly toys and books for children.
"Continental has been committed to the environment for years," said Michelle Barton-Holmes, Continental's Vice President of Environmental Responsibilty. "By updating our lounges to the new Eco-Lounge format, we can help decrease our environmental impact here as well."
In addition to lounge amenities, Continental will also begin using environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaning products supplied by Simple Green in all of its Eco-Lounge locations. These cleaning products with a Green Seal (SM) certification will reduce the number chemicals released into the environment, while effectively cleaning lounge surfaces.
Eco-Lounge locations will also begin offering updated snacks from companies using environmentally friendly practices, such as the Dancing Deer Baking Company and Rondele, which prides itself on its 5.6 GoodGuide rating for envronmental responsibility.
"Continental is already ahead of its competition in terms of environmentally friendly lounge amenities," said Barton-Holmes. "While our competitors have been polluting the environment for years with power-hungry cappuccino machines, Continental is able to efficiently brew several gallons of traditional coffee at a time, then keep it it lukewarm for hours in thermos-style containers without having to draw any power from the grid or threatening our polar ice caps with unnecessary heat generated by steaming milk."
In addition to environmental benefits, many of Continental's new initiatives will save money as well. To assist with this endeavor, Continental enlisted the help of the Kellner Group, a Houston-based consulting firm that specializes in identifying business minutiae at the expense of the big picture.
"One of the exciting new developments we've proposed is to raise the temperature of all lounge refrigerators to the local jurisdiction health department legal maximum," said Larry Kellner, founder of the Kellner Group. "In addition to saving several pounds of carbon emissions, we project this would save Continental about $2,000 a year in utility costs over its domestic club network, while only marginally increasing the risk of foodborne illness."
Another of Kellner's recommendations is to replace the legacy CRT-style monitors that lounge agents use with power-saving EnergyStar flat-panel monitors. Continental estimates the average agent spends 32 minutes rebooking each customer. "Over the course of a year, the carbon emissions saved from replacing these monitors during customer rebooking alone would be equivalent to the amount of carbon emissions produced if someone drove a 1972 Ford Pinto from New York/Newark to Los Angeles/Burbank, up to San Francisco/Oakland, down to Miami/Fort Lauderdale, up to Cleveland/Akron, over to Boston/Providence, and then back to New York/Newark," said Continental's President/CEO Jeffrey/Jeff Smisek from his home/ranch in Houston/Katy, Texas.
Customers can view Continental's Eco-Lounge renovation progress at continental.com.
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 133 domestic and 135 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 airports in 175 countries through its 26 member airlines. With more than 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.
Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For nine consecutive years, FORTUNE magazine has ranked Continental as the top U.S. airline on its "World's Most Admired Companies" airline industry list. For more company information, go to continental.com.
SOURCE Continental Airlines
The first Eco-Lounge will be unveiled in Continental's New York hub at Liberty International Airport in Terminal C. Once remodeled, this lounge will feature a green roof for insulation, skylights for natural lighting, as well as environmentally friendly compact fluorescent lighting in all work areas. Furniture will be updated with high-density cloth seating made from sustainable cotton built on frames made from recycled plastic bottles. Recycling and composting bins will be placed throughout the lounge, and the family area will feature environmentally friendly toys and books for children.
"Continental has been committed to the environment for years," said Michelle Barton-Holmes, Continental's Vice President of Environmental Responsibilty. "By updating our lounges to the new Eco-Lounge format, we can help decrease our environmental impact here as well."
In addition to lounge amenities, Continental will also begin using environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaning products supplied by Simple Green in all of its Eco-Lounge locations. These cleaning products with a Green Seal (SM) certification will reduce the number chemicals released into the environment, while effectively cleaning lounge surfaces.
Eco-Lounge locations will also begin offering updated snacks from companies using environmentally friendly practices, such as the Dancing Deer Baking Company and Rondele, which prides itself on its 5.6 GoodGuide rating for envronmental responsibility.
"Continental is already ahead of its competition in terms of environmentally friendly lounge amenities," said Barton-Holmes. "While our competitors have been polluting the environment for years with power-hungry cappuccino machines, Continental is able to efficiently brew several gallons of traditional coffee at a time, then keep it it lukewarm for hours in thermos-style containers without having to draw any power from the grid or threatening our polar ice caps with unnecessary heat generated by steaming milk."
In addition to environmental benefits, many of Continental's new initiatives will save money as well. To assist with this endeavor, Continental enlisted the help of the Kellner Group, a Houston-based consulting firm that specializes in identifying business minutiae at the expense of the big picture.
"One of the exciting new developments we've proposed is to raise the temperature of all lounge refrigerators to the local jurisdiction health department legal maximum," said Larry Kellner, founder of the Kellner Group. "In addition to saving several pounds of carbon emissions, we project this would save Continental about $2,000 a year in utility costs over its domestic club network, while only marginally increasing the risk of foodborne illness."
Another of Kellner's recommendations is to replace the legacy CRT-style monitors that lounge agents use with power-saving EnergyStar flat-panel monitors. Continental estimates the average agent spends 32 minutes rebooking each customer. "Over the course of a year, the carbon emissions saved from replacing these monitors during customer rebooking alone would be equivalent to the amount of carbon emissions produced if someone drove a 1972 Ford Pinto from New York/Newark to Los Angeles/Burbank, up to San Francisco/Oakland, down to Miami/Fort Lauderdale, up to Cleveland/Akron, over to Boston/Providence, and then back to New York/Newark," said Continental's President/CEO Jeffrey/Jeff Smisek from his home/ranch in Houston/Katy, Texas.
Customers can view Continental's Eco-Lounge renovation progress at continental.com.
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 133 domestic and 135 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 airports in 175 countries through its 26 member airlines. With more than 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.
Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For nine consecutive years, FORTUNE magazine has ranked Continental as the top U.S. airline on its "World's Most Admired Companies" airline industry list. For more company information, go to continental.com.
SOURCE Continental Airlines
Mar 31, 2010, 11:04 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: UA Pleb, HH Gold, PWP General Secretary
Posts: 23,199
The most believable so far.
Mar 31, 2010, 11:09 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: EWR, BNA
Programs: CO Silver/UA 2P, HHonors, SPG Gold
Posts: 45
Mar 31, 2010, 11:21 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
Well done... definitely a few good laughs in there! ^
Mar 31, 2010, 11:21 pm
#6
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,032
I heard from Charlie the other day that they're also doing away with all alcohol at the PCs to follow this green movement. Since everyone drinks their alcohol cold or with ice, this will significantly cut down on the ice needed and CO2 emitted.
Mar 31, 2010, 11:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ROA
Posts: 40
Continental is able to efficiently brew several gallons of traditional coffee at a time, then keep it it lukewarm for hours in thermos-style containers
while only marginally increasing the risk of foodborne illness.
Continental estimates the average agent spends 32 minutes rebooking each customer.
drove a 1972 Ford Pinto from New York/Newark to Los Angeles/Burbank, up to San Francisco/Oakland, down to Miami/Fort Lauderdale, up to Cleveland/Akron, over to Boston/Providence, and then back to New York/Newark,
SOURCE Continental Airlines
^^^
Mar 31, 2010, 11:52 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 49
Nice one !
If i dont see a link , I dont beleive it LOL !
With all the UA/CO thing xD!
If i dont see a link , I dont beleive it LOL !
With all the UA/CO thing xD!
Apr 1, 2010, 12:12 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 169
April Fools, No way there going to put a PR out at 1 in the morning
Apr 1, 2010, 12:20 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Denver,CO (Duh)
Programs: UA, AA, CO
Posts: 1,172
The fact you failed to include your usual "CO sucks" mantra was enough for me to know it was fake.
Apr 1, 2010, 6:34 am
#11
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
Well Done
(All done for less than $250.)
Apr 1, 2010, 6:37 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
entropy beat you by 1 hour 2 minutes.
Apr 1, 2010, 6:56 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat
Posts: 11,500
Will they paint the doors bright green?
Apr 1, 2010, 8:02 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
nice one channa!
cova - he's on the west coast, so it wasn't quite Aprl 1, don't hold it against him!
cova - he's on the west coast, so it wasn't quite Aprl 1, don't hold it against him!
Apr 1, 2010, 8:17 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: CLEVELAND AREA
Programs: -UA 1K-Hilton Diamond-
Posts: 210
good one ^