Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach Hotel Offers Free Haircuts To Support Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup Efforts

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL - May 13, 2010 – Residents along the Gulf Coast planning on getting a haircut this weekend may want to hold off until next Monday (May 17) when they can not only get a free haircut but help stem the flow of pollution from the oil spill disaster that is threatening the entire region.

The Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach (top left photo)(http://www.ftwaltonbeach.hamptoninn.com/) in partnership with Matter of Trust (www.matteroftrust.org), an ecological non-profit organization, will sponsor free haircuts Monday, May 17th from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The hair clippings will be used to create booms and mats that absorb and contain the oil. Hair is a natural absorbent of oil and the mats and booms can be reused up to 100 times.

Although the Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach, located at 1112 Santa Rosa Boulevard, is in an area currently not affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, communities are coming together to help with the Gulf’s oil spill cleanup efforts.

The goal is to collect as much as 100 cubic feet of hair which will produce at least 125 hair booms.

“Our Gulf Coast beaches are some of the most magnificent in the world,” said Hampton Inn Director of Sales Jeniffer Ward. “We live and work here and want to do everything we can to help ensure that we preserve this beautiful region.”

Area hair stylists volunteering for the “Hair Because We Care” Cut-a-Thon include stylists from Smart Style Family Salon, Raspberry Attic, Brava Hair Studio, Delores Delaney The Salon, Lather Lounge, Sheer Madness, Salon Chic and A Heavenly Place for Hair.

Other sponsors include Coca-Cola®, Jenkins Transfer & Storage, Big Day Events, Helen Back, Adonna’s Bakery, and Advance Lawn.

Area businesses and individuals are contributing towards services, supplies, transportation and storage so the booms can be made on-site and then shipped out as quickly as possible.

The Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach hotel is designated a green lodging property from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection through the Green Lodging Program.

Located directly on the white-sand beach along Florida’s Emerald Coast, the newly renovated hotel features complimentary daily hot breakfast, local calls and wireless internet access.

Other amenities include an outdoor heated pool, exercise room, and waterfront recreation. For more information, visit www.ftwaltonbeach.hamptoninn.com. The Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach is operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts (www.ihrco.com), the nation’s largest independent hotel management company.

Contact: Jeniffer Ward, Director of Sales, Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach, Phone: (850) 301-0906

Email: Jeniffer.Ward@ihrco.com