The Hamilton Park Hotel & Conference Center in Florham Park, New Jersey, is doing its share not only to conserve water but also to engender eco-consciousness among meeting attendees. The hotel has designed a coaster that doubles as a water preserver. The water saver, designed to be placed on the neck of a bottle, says: “Place this saver over your water bottle and our staff will not remove it, conserving water and saving resources for future recycling.” The hotel also places large water dispensers in meeting break areas so attendees may refill their bottles with cold water if desired.

The concept for the water preserver was developed by Hotel Manager Amy Wickenheiser. Formerly responsible for the property's conference planning and operations, Wickenheiser has an intimate knowledge of meetings and room changeover.

Since its inception in the spring, meeting attendees— who reportedly think it’s very clever—have consumed 25 percent fewer bottles of water each month, resulting in less plastic waste and significant cost savings.