ATT REGENCY ATLANTA CREATES NEW BUZZ ON PEACHTREE ST.
Atlanta’s hotel, host to presidents, CEOs and celebrities, welcomes thousands of “busy” new guests and plants a peach tree on Peachtree Street
ATLANTA (July 10, 2013) – Hyatt Regency Atlanta is creating some buzz with the opening of a new rooftop bee garden, the largest of its kind on Peachtree Street.
The bees will live 25 stories above historic Peachtree Street on the roof of Hyatt Regency
Atlanta’s International Tower, directly underneath its iconic blue dome.
The garden will include two hives hosting thousands of bees, from queens to workers. The bees will produce honey each year, which will eventually be served in Hyatt Regency Atlanta’s restaurants, Sway and Twenty-Two Storys, and sold in its 24-hour Market.
The bees will be part of Hyatt Regency Atlanta’s new rooftop garden, which will grow tomatoes, beans, peppers and other vegetables and a full selection of fresh herbs, all to be served in the hotel’s restaurants. The garden also will grow flowers and trees to help support the bees- including a peach tree on Peachtree Street.
“We’ve had the honor of hosting royalty before, but I’m really excited about these new queen bees,” said Joe Hindsley, General Manager of Hyatt Regency Atlanta. “Our new bee garden is another example in our hotel’s long history of providing something new and innovative to delight our guests.”
The rooftop garden reflects Hyatt Regency Atlanta’s commitment to sustainability. Plants are grown in organic soil with compost from the hotel’s food waste composting program. Beds are mulched with recycled rubber tires. The plants are watered by a drip irrigation system using rain and condensate water collected in re-purposed storage containers.
Solar-powered LED lights provide illumination.
The bees come to Hyatt Regency Atlanta from a partnership with the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association, an organization that assists beekeepers and raises awareness about struggling bee populations.
Hyatt Regency Atlanta Executive Chef Martin Pfefferkorn created the bee garden as part of Hyatt’s “Food.Thoughtfully Sourced.Carefully Served.” initiative, which promotes serving local, healthy ingredients in Hyatt dining experiences. The garden was also started to support local farmers and bees.
“The local farmers that supply the vegetables and produce we serve everyday depend on healthy bee populations,” Pfefferkorn said.”This is our small contribution to raise awareness and help our local growers.”
Hyatt Regency Atlanta is a member of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Georgia Grown program, and relies on Georgia and Southern growers for its meat, vegetables, fish and other produce.
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About Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Recently completing a $65 million transformation, Hyatt Regency Atlanta has been a city landmark since its inception in 1967. Hyatt Regency Atlanta is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta on Peachtree Street. The 1,260-room hotel is the first atrium hotel in the world and is one of the nation’s premier convention and tradeshow facilities with 180,000 square feet of ballroom, exhibit, meeting and hospitality space. For reservations or more information about Hyatt Regency Atlanta, please visit: www.atlantaregency.hyatt.com or call: 404-577-1234.
