Spa Products in the News

MicroCotton® Green EarthTM Towel by Cypress is Towel of the Future - Newly re-engineered bath towel leads the way in green hospitality’s new eco-economy, offering a unique combination of luxury, efficiency and earth-friendly properties

Sheffield, Mass. — July 14, 2008 — Cypress Hotel & Spa, the leading designer and manufacturer of luxurious bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the hospitality and spa industry for over 25 years, today announced that their exclusive MicroCotton® Green EarthTM towel has been re-engineered to be even more absorbent, durable and eco-friendly. The recent improvements make Cypress’ Green Earth towels a one-of-a-kind bath amenity for green-conscious hoteliers, as well as a more luxurious amenity for hotel guests.

“In today’s eco-economy, it is critical for hotels to reduce energy usage and expenditures,” stated Gene Faul, Cypress founder and CEO. “However, most hoteliers have been reluctant to implement the use of ‘green’ or organic linens because they are typically not as soft, durable or luxurious as traditional ones. Our new Green Earth towels offer superior absorbency and substantial weight comparable to the highest quality cotton towels, while providing very significant savings in the laundry process. No other company or product in the hospitality market has been able to reach this ideal balance of economy and luxury.”

While many hotels have established towel reuse programs as a best practice, these programs are sometimes difficult to communicate to guests and housekeepers. Recent studies show that while 83% of hotels have a reuse program in place, guest participation is mediocre at best.

“Rather than address ways to change guest behavior and expectations, we decided to look at the towel itself and see how we could address the conservation of energy, water, detergents, and systems to help hoteliers reduce costs without sacrificing guest satisfaction,” stated Faul. “We’ve listened to guests, to hoteliers, to housekeepers and everyone involved. I believe that our new Green Earth towel will change the way towels are produced and marketed in the future.”

Green Earth towels are made from super-fine, Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton, which is known for contributing to the sustainable consumption of cotton. ELS cotton is also recognized worldwide for its superior softness, absorbency, durability and luxurious feel. Green Earth towels are 160% bulkier than traditional combed cotton towels of the same weight, while having much less mass than traditional combed towels. Due to the higher ratio of surface area to towel weight, they absorb more water. Due to their lower mass, however, Green Earth towels cost significantly less to launder, saving up to 30% in water consumption, using less detergent and taking 10-20% less drying time. This reduces hotel operational costs, while also reducing environmental impact.

Green Earth towels are manufactured in a state-of-the-art, bio-waste powered, zero discharge facility that produces no emission of effluents into the local water tables. The process also incorporates Control Union-certified, sustainable, eco-friendly dyes and chemicals to reduce impact on the environment, and are shipped in 100% natural and bio-degradable / recyclable packaging.

“We have worked very hard to develop the most environmentally responsible towel on the planet… and now we’ve made it even better. The technologies and systems utilized in the development of the Green Earth towel are destined to be the new benchmarks, and the team at Cypress is very proud of that fact,” stated Faul.

For more information, please contact Gene Faul at (413) 229-3012, email ichief@aol.com, or visit www.cypressbathrobes.com.

About Cypress Hotel & Spa
Cypress Hotel & Spa is the premier designer and manufacturer of luxurious bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the hospitality industry. Founded in 1980 by Gene and Karen Faul, they have provided the finest bathrobes to the world’s most prestigious properties for over a quarter of a century. Today Cypress carries a full line of robes, linens and accessories. Their products can be found at leading hospitality properties, spas, cruise lines, and at America's finest retailers, including Saks 5th Ave., Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Paul Stuart.

Acquired in 1987 by Russell-Newman, Inc. of Denton, Texas, Cypress Hotel & Spa is headquartered in Sheffield, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.cypressbathrobes.com.