Cousteau tapped as BLLA CEO Panel moderator for discussion on “State of the Industry” in Hospitality Sector

Famed explorer and environmentalist set to launch his carefully crafted collection of bath and body care products for planet-savvy hotel guests

Melbourne, Australia August 31, 2011 – Famed explorer, environmentalist and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau will be a featured guest at this year’s Hospitality Design Boutique Exposition & Conference to be held in the Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA) Pavilion at the Miami Beach Convention Center September 13-14.

Mr. Cousteau is partnering with Concept Amenities and Maricoid to introduce a carefully crafted environmental collection of bath and body care products for planet-savvy hotel guests across the world. This unique collection – Jean-Michel Cousteau by Maricoid – is inspired by the beauty and wonders of the oceans and reflects Cousteau’s life-long commitment to the environment.

Apart from attending the exclusive global launch of the new line at Concept Amenities’ booth in the BLLA Pavilion at 10 a.m. on September 14, Mr. Cousteau will also be signing copies of his book, My Father, The Captain. Select members of the press will receive a signed book along with a set of the guest amenity samples.

Mr. Cousteau will also serve as the BLLA CEO Panel moderator for a discussion of the “State of the Industry” in the Hospitality Sector, where he will address specific questions including environmental issues in hospitality.

Eighteen months in the making, the Jean-Michel Cousteau collection is the brainchild of Maricoid, an innovative Australian skincare brand. Pure organic marine ingredients are used from Marinova, an Australian biotechnology company which researches marine plants for use in medical, nutritional and skin care applications.

The son of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society – a non-profit marine conservation and education organization – in 1999 to carry on his father’s pioneering work. He serves as a global diplomat for the environment, and has produced more than 80 films and television program including the recent award-winning television series Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures for PBS.

For decades, Cousteau and his team have conducted the Ambassadors of the Environment education program in more than seven countries. And he has lent his name and scientific expertise to the design of numerous green hotels around the world – most notably the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort.

It is only fitting this devoted champion of the environment has now joined forces with Concept Amenities – a world leader in the supply of environmentally responsible guest amenities – to create a new, eco-friendly line of guest amenities.

“Like Jean-Michel Cousteau, our commitment to environmental research stems from the belief that we can make a solid contribution towards the improvement of environmentally friendly consumer products,” says Michael Matulick, managing director at Concept Amenities. “In fact, this is the world’s first global product launch that addresses and helps solve the problem of plastic wastage in the hospitality industry.”

The branded Jean-Michel Cousteau by Maricoid collection has been designed with distinctive features that include:

• Paraben free liquids and soaps specially formulated with 100% organically certified seaweed extract from pristine Tasmanian waters.
• Biodegradable packaging with artwork that softly mirrors a love of the ocean.
• A comprehensive line of liquids, soaps and accessories to compliment any luxury hotel accommodation and suit all guest bathroom amenity needs. These include nourishing shampoo, hydrating conditioner, soothing body lotion and relaxing body wash in 1.4 fluid ounce sizes.

Vegetable based soaps contain raw materials sourced from established plantations. Moisturising lotion features grapeseed oil and organic aloe vera extract. Fragrance notes include traces of tropical coconut and apple, and sweet florals.

And all ingredients and packaging components are biodegradable.

“Our planet is a living organism,” explains Cousteau. “We have the capacity to design our own future, and bring our values and actions in line with ecological necessities. This is the commitment we need to make to the world, now.”

For more information visit conceptamenities.com or contact Steve Duggan Director Marketing & Communications steve@conceptamenities.com 613 9580 9977 or Darleen DeLisle, VP Marketing & Communications, (954) 629.5593; darleen@conceptamenities.com

About Concept Amenities
Naturally Australian since 1983
Concept Amenities prides itself as a world leader in the supply of naturally better guest amenities that deliver on quality, luxury, style and environmental solutions. For over 28 years we have established expertise in all areas from design and formulation to production, dispatch and delivery.

Our comprehensive range of exclusive hotel toiletry collections, each with its own distinctive appeal, contain the finest formulations created using natural botanical ingredients, sophisticated fragrances and a rich array of organic extracts to truly nourish the skin, body and soul,  Our packaging is biodegradable, and recyclable, with a care for the environment.

About Ocean Futures Society

The mission of Ocean Futures Society is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean’s vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet. Founded by Jean-Michel Cousteau, OFS is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. with offices in Paris, Lucca, Italyand San Paola, Brasil. For further information, go to: www.oceanfutures.org.

About Maricoid

Maricoid is an Australian brand founded by an experienced team of skincare professionals. It is the brainchild of James Dunne and Craig Williams who envisaged a range of high quality and purely organic products, in harmony with the environment and manufactured to therapeutic standards.

For the Maricoid range James and Craig have sought to utilize unique bioactive ingredients in very high quality, cosmetically appealing formulations.

The highest benchmark has been set for the Maricoid range requiring only extracts involved in leading edge scientific research into their anti-aging, skin lightening, anti-viral, skin healing, hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory characteristics.

The Maricoid team draws global experience from their previous involvement with several well-regarded skincare companies such as L’Oreal, LVMH, GlaxoSmithKline, Ego Pharmaceuticals and Estee Lauder.

For further information, go to www.Maricoid.com.

About Marinova

Marinova is a progressive Australian biotechnology company focused on developing innovative medical and nutritional applications from marine plants. The company is based inTasmania, a pristine natural environment and home to some of the cleanest waters in the world.

Marinova has state of the art research laboratories and a specialist extraction facility, which is the first of its kind in the world.

Marinova leads the world in the development and production of fucoidan compounds for nutraceutical, skin care and pharmaceutical applications.

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