The downtown Radisson Hotel is kicking off a top-to-bottom "eco-friendly" renovation that its new managers say will be good for business and the environment.

The first thing to go into the recycling bin is the name.

After 15 years, hotel owner Shiba Investments and managing partner Karim Merali are no longer affiliated with Radisson. As of Wednesday, the 177-room hotel is now called the Adoba Eco Hotel, the first property to wear the new brand, licensed by Atmosphere Hospitality Management of Colorado.

When the sign changes, it will be a new look for the downtown skyline and the 1981 property, owned since 1995 by Shiba.

Plans include a new menu that debuts today at the Enigma restaurant with organic and locally sourced dishes, including organic chicken alfredo, organic grass-fed beef filet mignon, elk tenderloin and a vegan vegetable napoleon.

Also to come are a complete renovation of all guest rooms, to be finished in May, with environmentally friendly furnishings and bedding, such as eucalyptus fiber sheets and a remodeling of the 445 Lounge, including a second-level upstairs where the swimming pool used to be. The lounge project is scheduled to be finished by fall.

The hotel hopes to become certified under the LEED program of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Adrienne Pumphrey, who owns Atmosphere Hospitality with her husband, Jim Henderson, said the company aims to reduce the hospitality industry's heavy carbon footprint by using improved hotel-management practices and software to limit the use of water, power, paper and chemicals while still providing guests a luxury experience.

Pumphrey said guests will say, "This is green? This is so fantastic."

The rooms have been redesigned by Antonio Ballatore, the winner of the fourth season of HGTV's "Design Star" competition, who now has his own show, "The Antonio Treatment." Pumphrey described the look as "sexy eco-luxury."

Pumphrey said a general contractor for the project has not been chosen.

The changes will give the former Radisson a new marketing strategy that could help it differentiate it from its downtown competitors: the recently renovated 143-room, historic 1928 Hotel Alex Johnson; the 205-room Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn, a full-service convention center, which has also recently had a makeover; and the 99-room Howard Johnson, which has a pool but no restaurant.

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Source: Radisson.com