Clean and Green

Leonard Karp, executive vice president and COO of Philadelphia International Medicine, wanted to market nine hospitals in the City of Brotherly Love to south-of-the-border neighbors in Brazil when he held his reverse trade mission last June. “We were focusing on the opportunities to do business,” says Karp, “so it was very important that they stay in a hotel that really showcases the city.”

He also wanted to provide a healthy meeting environment, so he turned to the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia, which recently was renovated for eco-friendliness.

Karp says his attendees “liked the idea of going into an environmentally conscious hotel. In Brazil, it's like the 1940s in regard to smoking, so they really appreciated that it was a totally nonsmoking hotel.” During their stay, attendees also enjoyed the filtered fresh air in the meeting rooms, and the “organic sleep systems” (organically grown cotton is used for all upholstered furniture and bedding).

“They went home feeling very good about the city,” says Karp.

How good? “Let's put it this way,” Karp says. “As a result of the good feelings they got during their stay in Philadelphia — and the hotel was a big part of that — the bottom line is that we're very close to finalizing some contracts. We will be using that hotel again.”