The First Facility Management Blog

The Miami Airport Marriott is recycling more than 300 tons of building materials taken from one of its properties for use in one of its new properties. The upscale, 366-room Miami Airport Marriott, which will undergo a major renovation next year, is part of a concept from Marriott, in which three different Marriott properties–the Miami Airport Marriott, the Courtyard by Marriott and a planned Residence Inn–are located together on one campus for business and leisure travelers.

When the Fairfield Inn on the campus was demolished earlier this year to make room for the Residence Inn, the Miami Airport Marriott recycled more than 90% of the building materials from the demolition, totaling approximately 6,800 cubic yards. Steel, concrete, copper, and other materials were recycled and will be used in the construction of the new 175-room Residence Inn and the Courtyard by Marriott 300-room expansion project.

The crushed concrete alone will be the sub-base to construct the foundation on the new Marriott site. “We at the Miami Airport Marriott believe it is important to not only give back to the community, but also to make use of existing resources,” said general manager John Mulrey. “By recycling steel, concrete, and other materials, the Miami Airport Marriott saved hundreds of tons of materials from littering our nation’s landfills.”

The recycling program is one of the efforts that the Miami Airport Marriott is making to protect the environment and sustain the earth’s natural resources. The hotel recycles all paper and cardboard products; installed compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of traditional fluorescent bulbs, and has in effect a successful linen reuse program saving hundreds of gallons of water annually. In addition, the property will provide preferential parking spaces for guests driving hybrid automobiles.

Other Items Donated To Local Rescue Mission
The Miami Airport Marriott also donated numerous household items, valued at $100,000, from the Fairfield Inn to the Miami Rescue Mission. Executives with the hotel donated the furniture, blankets, air conditioning units, and other household goods to assist the longstanding Miami Rescue Mission, which helps the poor and homeless find shelter and jobs.

“Thank you for the wonderful donation of hotel room furniture and miscellaneous items,” the Reverend Nelson R. Bloem, industrial division manager for the Miami Rescue Mission, wrote in a letter to the Miami Airport Marriott.

The Miami Airport Marriott is also involved in the local community through work with: Adopt a Station in conjunction with the Marriott South Florida Business Council; Marriott International’s “Spirit to Serve” program; Children’s Miracle Network; the Food Bank; and Habitat for Humanity.