Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Shines with Silver Green Globe Certification (China)
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Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Shines with Silver Green Globe Certification (China)
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Category: Asia Pacific - China - Events -
Rewards
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-12-11
Novotel Citygate Hong Kong's effort and commitment to the environment has been recognized and rewarded with the authoritative Green Globe certified status. Green Globe is the leading worldwide benchmarking, certification and performance improvement system for the travel and tourism industry. The programme assists our hotel to pursue best practice and improve our environmental performance through annual assessment by an independent third party Green Globe Accredited Assessor.
Rod Munro, General Manager of Novotel Citygate Hong Kong, also the spearhead of hotel's green force said, "We are proactively involved in green actions and established an "Act for the Green" culture among our staff since the hotel opening. This makes us well prepared for the challenges when participating in Green Globe certification programme 8 months ago."
"The achievement of Green Globe certification will drive us to attain higher standard continuously. The key to success is to accelerate the awareness and get everyone involved, including all levels of staff and guests."
All staff are well aware of hotel's commitment to sustainable development and training has been arranged for their specific green actions in daily operations of respective area. To intensify our contribution to local community well being, tree planting and organic farming were arranged. Visit to water treatment plant also strengthen staff environmental awareness. Regular departmental green meeting will be held to brainstorm and stimulate breakthrough ideas applicable to daily operation.
Inviting guests to join the hotel's force by broadcasting green actions on TV, encourage them to re-use linen and towels, remove key card from electricity slot when leaving the room, set the air conditioning temperature at 23 degree Celsius - 25 degree Celsius, close the curtain at day time to reduce heat transmission. To further motivate guest involvement, the hotel will implement in-room recycle bins and CD/ Battery collection box in the hotel lobby.
Green initiatives in place included:
-- Collection of paper, glass bottle, plastic bottle, metal, tin can, cooking oil, ink cartridge
-- Installation of water flow regulator, dual flushing and electronic water tap
-- Use of energy saving bulbs and energy efficient mini-bar refrigerators
-- Bulk and local purchase from suppliers
-- Encourage suppliers to minimize and re-use packaging
Our major achievement in 2009:
-- Recycle over 3,000 glass bottles for producing 2,000 pcs eco-glass paving block per month
-- Saving of 10% usage on water equivalent to 3.9 million litres and save $50,000
-- Saving of 205,000 KWH equals to the electricity consumption of 25,000 fluorescent tubes for a year with daily 8 hours operations and save $164,000 on electricity expense.
-- 67% increment in recycled waste collection with 9 tonnes and generated $17,000 for our green foundation
"We are delighted to attain Silver status and becomes one of the few hotels in Hong Kong achieved such recognition. The investment and effort in going green will pay off with long term benefits. We will exert our influence to our staff, guests, families, community," added Mr. Munro.
The certification was carried out in two stages: benchmarking and certification. In the benchmarking phase, Novotel Citygate Hong Kong was assessed according to eight performance criteria that will guarantee, among other things, better waste management, energy and water consumption control, community commitment and use of eco-friendly paper, cleaning and pesticides product. After the benchmarking phase of 8 months, the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong was audited in order to obtain Green Globe certification, and will undergo the same process every year in order to guarantee that the criteria are maintained.
Novotel: synonymous with respect for the environment
Novotel's long-term commitment for the environment began as a part of Accor's Earth Guest programme and is now embraced as an integral part of the hotel brand network. In order to affirm this operational commitment, in July 2007 Novotel began its association with Green Globe, the international environmental certification programme for responsible travel and tourism, through an initial pilot phase of 28 hotels in 12 countries across five continents.
By 2010 100% of Novotel hotels will be participating in the Green Globe environmental certification programme. With this commitment, Novotel reaffirms its primary goal: to be - and to remain - the benchmark in terms of hotel innovation.
By doing so Novotel has become the leading hotel brand in the segment to involve its entire network in sustainable development.
As the mid-scale hotel brand within the Accor group portfolio, Novotel offers close to 400 hotels and resorts in 60 countries, situated in the centre of major international cities from business districts to tourist destinations. Novotel's consistently high standard of service contributes to the wellbeing of both business and leisure travellers: think spacious, modular-design guestrooms, balanced cuisine available 24/7, excellent meeting facilities, attentive staff, dedicated children's areas and rejuvenating wellness facilities. The Novotel group is a pioneer in sustainable development and all Novotel hotels participate in the Green Globe worldwide environmental certification programme.
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