To continue the 150th Hilton Garden Inn hotel opening celebration, the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/Courthouse Plaza will grow an indoor garden with the 4th grade class at Francis Scott Key Elementary School, teaching students the many facets of gardening and the importance of the global environment.
Ms. Marjorie Meyers, principal at Francis Scott Key Elementary School, was presented with two garden-themed gift baskets filled with a potpourri of vegetable and floral seed packets at the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington/Courthouse Plaza hotel grand opening—to announce the garden project that hotel team members, teachers and students will embark on during the fall season. Kevin Robert, hotel general manager, Adrian Kurre, senior vice president—brand management, Hilton Garden Inn, and Valerie Kelsey, president, National Gardening Association presented the garden gift baskets that includes 150 seed packets symbolizing the 150 Hilton Garden Inn hotels across North America.

“Our Hilton Garden Inn hotel team members look forward to growing an indoor garden with the 4th grade class and building a relationship with the students and teachers,” said Kevin Robert, hotel general manager. “The indoor garden includes a GrowLab which will allow the class to raise vegetables, flowers and herbs right in their own classroom while teaching them about the importance of the environment in which they live.”

The hotel joins more than 30+ Hilton Garden Inn hotels throughout North America working with local students to grow school gardens—all to recognize the relationship between Hilton Garden Inn and the National Gardening Association (NGA) and to celebrate NGA`s 30th anniversary.

“We`re thrilled that Hilton Garden Inn hotels across the country are planting school gardens to commemorate our 30th anniversary,” said Valerie Kelsey, president, National Gardening Association. “We are truly appreciative of Hilton Garden Inn and its team members for their enthusiasm and dedication to this worthy program.”

NGA worked with Hilton Garden Inn to develop a special garden education package, with all the tools necessary for hotel team members and the participating schools to grow an indoor or outdoor garden. Each participating Hilton Garden Inn location will donate this education package to their local school, provide personal teamwork and dedication, and grow this special relationship of a school garden together.

“Since our program launched earlier this year, many of our hotels have grown successful school gardens,” said Adrian Kurre, senior vice president - brand management, Hilton Garden Inn. “Each of our hotels is proud to work with the students in their local community in this hands-on activity that provides future generations the opportunity to take ownership and pride in an educational project that grows right along with their learning.”

Hilton Garden Inn received the distinguished “Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Price Hotel Chains with Full Service” award in the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study(SM). The Hilton Garden Inn brand is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises approximately 2,000 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world`s best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Company(R) and Homewood Suites(R) by Hilton.
To find out more about Hilton Garden Inn hotels or make reservations, please visit our Web site at www.hiltongardeninn.com or call 1-800-HILTONS from the U.S. and Canada.

The National Gardening Association, based in South Burlington Vermont, is a non-profit organization committed to educating our youth about the importance of gardening and environmental responsibility. Through gardening, NGA promotes the advance of multi-disciplinary learning and scientific literacy and creates partnerships that restore and enhance communities.

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