The Fairfield Inn & Suites in Augusta, Maine, was the first of its kind to open with the vibrant and fun interior design package titled "Green Tea."

The hotel decided to take that theme a step further. With the increasing global awareness for sustainable business practices, the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Augusta incorporated programs that led to obtaining the State of Maine Environmental Leader Certification.

"We are proud that our facility has accomplished this level of achievement," said GM Tim Armstrong, "It's the right course to take with our staff, for our guests and for the world we live in. Our management company feels strongly in taking on the responsibilities of being green."

Maine Course Hospitality Group, based in Freeport Maine, runs the Augusta Fairfield Inn & Suites. Chief Operating Officer, Sean Riley stated, "Our team met with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection this past June and learned what was required to receive state certification and the many benefits that go along with being part of this program."

From there the employees at the Augusta Fairfield formed a task force and went to work. That included developing an environmental policy, changing chemicals in both the laundry and cleaning supplies to safer products, establishing a full hotel recycling program and installing misers on vending machines to save energy. These were just a few items of the criteria needed in completing the state workbook that led to the required points for participation. The hotel is currently certified until 2010 and intends to continue to implement initiatives to retain this status.

"It has been a great learning experience for us and fulfilling in the sense that we are doing a small part for the big picture" said Sean Riley. "We are planning on expanding this process to our other properties as we continue to grow."

Maine Course Hospitality Group (www.mchg.com), also operates the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Brunswick, Maine; Courtyard by Marriott in Portland and Bangor, Maine; Hampton Inn & Suites in Rockland, Maine; Comfort Suites of Freeport, Maine; Econo Lodge Inn & Suites in Augusta, Maine; Best Westerns in Freeport, Maine and Hampton, N.H.; and the Muddy Rudder Restaurants in Yarmouth and Brewer, Maine.