Novotel Commits to Green Globe

The Novotel hotel group entered into an agreement with Green Globe, the leading Benchmarking and Certification programme for the tourism and hospitality industry, to achieve worldwide certification of the network’s 400 hotels across 61 countries.

The Green Globe programme is managed by Brisbane based EC3 Global, the commercialisation and adaptation division of the Sustainable Tourism Co-Operative Research Centre, whose research programme is overseen by 17 of Australia’s leading universities.

Green Globe is the only international Benchmarking and Certification programme based on Agenda 21 principles. It provides a framework for environmental and social performance improvement through independent third party verification.

In July 2007 Novotel commenced the rollout of Green Globe with a pilot programme that involved 28 hotels in 12 countries across five continents.

The countries involved were Australia, New Zealand,: the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Brazil, the Ivory Coast, India, China, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia

Today Novotel has four certified hotels: Novotel Sharm El Sheikh, Novotel Lyon Part Dieu, Novotel London Tower Bridge and Novotel Benoa Bali. . In addition, the Novotel Atlantis Shanghai in China is in the process of being awarded Certification.

Each hotel is assessed according to 10 key performance areas that seek to guarantee a range of environmental measures including better waste management, air quality improvement, and energy and water consumption control. Each hotel is to undergo an annual Onsite Certification Audit as part of the pilot programme in the initial year, and then every 2 years.

Novotel Perth Langley recently took part in Earth Day on March 29th for the second year using the initiative to assist and raise its profile with in house-guests, by asking them to cut power use in their rooms, firing up candles in the lobby and restaurant, turning off neon signs, all unused office equipment, and 50% of back of house lighting to reduce power.

“Small steps taken by millions will add up significantly, and we all have to encourage others to take those first small steps,” said General Manager of Novotel Perth Langley, Alan Burrows.

“Our staff feel good about doing something positive for the environment, and so do our guests, and let’s face it everyone looks better by candlelight at dinner anyway!” he finishes on a positive note.

The pilot project for Novotel aims to have all 28 pilot properties achieving Certification by June 2008. Following this Novotel will move on the 2nd phase of its long-term commitment by extending this Certification process to all its 400 hotels over the next 2 years.

By 2010 all Novotel hotels shall have implemented an environmental approach which is in compliance with the Green Globe Company Standard, With this commitment, Novotel, reaffirms its primary goal: to be – and to remain- the benchmark in terms of hotel innovation.

And in so doing, the hotel chain is proving that it has always shared the visionary values of writer Antoine de Saint Exupéry: “We don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors: we borrow it from our children”.

David Mazitelli, Chairman of EC3 Global commented that “the engagement of Novotel with EC3 Global and their goal to have 400 Novotel hotels Certified under the Green Globe Company Standard has set new standards for the hospitality industry. Their foresight and commitment to the environment should be applauded.

Novotel: synonymous with respect for the environment…

Novotel has always been a pioneer in the hotel business. Since it was first set up, 40 years ago, the chain has evolved, anticipated its customers’ expectations, and proved innovative in terms of well-being, comfort and sustainable development.

Novotel’s long-term concern for the environment began as part of Accor Group’s Earth Guest programme and is now embraced as an integral part of the hotel chain’s brand. This commitment is based on three main strands of activity: drawing up appropriate construction standards; involving its employees in sustainable development on a daily basis; and also involving its guests.

Novotel - Over 400 hotels and resorts across the world, designed to help the traveller feel naturally at ease.

Information on Novotel hotels is available at the Novotel.com website and accessible from the Accorhotels.com site.

Accor, world group and European leader in the hotel industry, world leader in services to businesses and public authorities, is present in almost 100 countries and has 170,000 employees. Its customers benefit from the know-how it has gained for over 40 years in its two main sectors:

- the hotel industry, with the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, All Seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing over 4,000 hotels and almost 500,000 bedrooms in 90 countries, as well as its complementary activities, especially Lenôtre;

- the service industry: 23 million people in nearly 40 countries benefit from Accor Services (human resources, marketing services, expense account management).

Green Globe is the international benchmarking and certification programme for the travel and tourism industry based on the Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio Earth Summit in 1992. Green Globe is managed by EC3 Global, a subsidiary of the Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre. For more information on Green Globe, visit www.greenglobe.org.