"InterContinental Hotels & Resorts this week celebrates the work that its hotels around the world are doing to sustain and enhance their local destinations. In partnership with National Geographic’s Centre for Sustainable Destinations, this week, Responsible Business Week will see InterContinental hotels from around the world take part in activities that ensure their location remains an appealing place to visit for future generations.Building on the success of last year’s Responsible Business Day, the initiative has been extended to a week. Also new this year is Pip the Emperor penguin, the mascot for the week represents the range of geotourism initiatives that will be undertaken globally, and the need to protect and preserve local environments.
Simon Scoot, Vice President, Global Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: “Responsible Business activities have ranged from cleaning historical sites to guest experiences around local crafts and wildlife conservation projects, all demonstrating InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to protecting the world around us.”
Responsible Business initiatives that have been carried out by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts worldwide include:
• InterContinental Boston – The hotel has created a rooftop apiary or bee yard that now contains more than 100,000 honey bees that pollinate the flora of an approximate four file radius of the hotel.
• InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa – Located in one of the most remote parts of the world, the hotel is the first in the world to pioneer a salt water air-conditioning system.
• InterContinental Budapest - Since 2007, InterContinental Budapest has been supporting the Pető Institute of Conductive Education through various charity donations and programs, showing its strong involvement in the community.
David Jerome, Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility: “At IHG, corporate responsibility is central to the way we do business. Our efforts were recognised this year when we received a Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED) endorsement for Green Engage and were awarded the UK Carbon Trust Standard for showing genuine carbon reductions. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is leading the way with corporate responsibility through their partnership with National Geographic’s Centre for Sustainable Destinations.”
IHG’s Green Engage system helps InterContinental hotels to deliver these initiatives, as well as helping to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint throughout the rest of the year. The online environment tool helps hotels monitor, reduce and manage energy, water and waste."
To find out more about InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ Responsible Business initiatives please click here.
05.10.2011