The Green Restaurant Association Integrates Its Certified Green Restaurants(R) Badges Into Business Listings Nationwide on Citysearch

NEW YORK, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting April 22, Earth Day 2010, the Green Restaurant Association announces that Citysearch , one of America's most popular online local guides, will feature Certified Green Restaurant® badges on its business listings nationwide. With the launch of a new search filter, users can sort by Certified Green Restaurants® to find local restaurants with the Certification seal.

The Green Restaurant Association, a national non-profit organization, will help Citysearch bring transparent, real green information to their users. With a 20-year-old restaurant certification program, the GRA's expertise is incomparable within the restaurant industry.

"Gone are the days of simply searching for a great date restaurant, or an Italian fine-dining location in your neighborhood," says Michael Oshman, Founder and CEO of the Green Restaurant Association. "Consumers want to know what their green dining options are, and Citysearch has acknowledged that demand by adding Certified Green Restaurants® to their search criteria. They're committed to providing consumers with a transparent, legitimate way to find these restaurants, and that's what makes them a leader in the listing website arena."

To earn the Certified Green Restaurant® distinction, restaurants must meet the requirements of the GRA's rigorous, points-based program:

• Accumulate a total of 100 Points
• Meet minimum points in 6 of the 7 environmental categories
• Have a full-scale recycling program
• Be free of Polystyrene Foam (aka Styrofoam)
• Complete the GRA's yearly education requirement

Media inquiries: please contact GRA Communications Manager, Colleen Oteri, at 617-737-4425, or email [email protected] or Citysearch's Brandi Willard at 310.360.4602 or email [email protected]

Visit dinegreen.com for more information on the GRA's certification standards.  

About Citysearch, LLC

Citysearch, LLC is the leading online local media company, meeting the changing needs of consumers, publishers and local advertisers. Citysearch, LLC enables consumers to stay connected with access to neighborhood restaurants, bars, shopping, beauty and professional services information nationwide through its premium local brands, which include Citysearch.com, Urbanspoon and Insider Pages. The largest local content network, CityGrid, connects consumers and merchants across the Web, by distributing local content to publishers. Citysearch, LLC is an operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI). For more information, visit www.citysearch.com

About the Green Restaurant Association

The Green Restaurant Association (GRA) is the only official certifier of Green Restaurants® in the country. The national non-profit organization was founded in 1990 to shift the restaurant industry toward ecological sustainability. For 20 years, the GRA has pioneered the Green Restaurant® movement and currently works with over 650 restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada. With a transparent and turnkey Certification system, the GRA has made it easy for thousands of restaurants to profit and become more environmentally sustainable. As the industry standard for Greening restaurants, the GRA has the world's largest database of environmental solutions for the foodservice industry. In 2009, the New York State Restaurant Association announced its official endorsement of the GRA, joining EPA Energy Star for Small Business, Environmental Defense Fund, and several other national environmental groups. The GRA has been featured on CNN, NBC Nightly News, NPR, and in The New York Times, and The Washington Post. For more information visit www.dinegreen.com.

SOURCE Green Restaurant Association