Home Green Hotel Focus Radisson Blu Mall of America Now Home to Bee Colonies

Radisson Blu Mall of America Now Home to Bee Colonies

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MINNEAPOLIS—Radisson Blu Mall of America announced that it has officially become the first hotel in the metro Twin Cities area to house honey bee colonies from the University of Minnesota Bee Squad. As the first LEED certified hotel in the greater Twin Cities area, this further enhances the hotel’s commitment to the environment and sustainable programs.

Without the pollinating services bees provide, there would be serious challenges in the production of many common foods as 35 percent of global food supply and more than 80 percent of flowering plants are dependent on animal pollination.

Inspired by Dr. Marla Spivak at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab, the Bee Squad helps beekeepers and the community in the Twin Cities area foster healthy bee populations and pollinate landscapes through education and hands-on mentorship.

Colonies Launched with 20,000 Bees

The Bee Squad delivered two honey bee colonies to Radisson Blu Mall of America—each with about 10,000 honey bees per colony that live on the hotel’s roof. The colonies will continue to grow all summer until there are about 40,000 to 50,000 honey bees per colony. In the spring, the Bee Squad will divide each of the original two colonies into two additional colonies.

The first year, the honey bees work very hard to build their nest, but in the second year will begin to produce more honey. The Bee Squad will only remove surplus honey from the colonies, which will be used on-site in FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar by Executive Chef Paul Lynch.
 
“Bees play such an important role in pollinating plants that it is very important we do what we can to help the species and provide them with a healthy environment in which they can thrive,” said Chef Lynch. “Using locally sourced ingredients is at the heart of what we do at FireLake, so once the honey is ready, we will incorporate this into dishes on our menu allowing us to add even more local flavor.”

Bees Checked Every Two Weeks

With many bees becoming threatened over recent years, the Bee Squad is committed to bringing back a bee-friendly world by educating, training, and assisting people engaged in helping bees thrive. Since 2006, approximately one out of every three honey bee colonies die each winter. This is because of disease and poor honey bee health due to pesticides in the environment. The Bee Squad visits each Bee Squad hive every two weeks to monitor the health of the honey bees and collect data that is then used to find trends and solutions to health issues the honey bees face.

Radisson Blu Mall of America is an ideal home for the new honey bee colonies as it is near highways meaning there is reduced use of pesticides, sits next to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and is within very close proximity to Long Meadow Lake and the Minnesota River.

“The Bee Squad is very appreciative of Radisson Blu Mall of America as participants, because not only are they supporting bee health, but they are now official bee ambassadors helping to share the importance of how to keep bees healthy,” said Becky Masterman, Program Director, University of Minnesota Bee Squad.

Go to the Radisson Blu Mall of America.

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