Launch of best practice database for Responsible Business activities

The hotels within the Rezidor Hotel Group organise environmental activities and projects throughout the year. To celebrate this year’s World Environment Day, Rezidor has launched a best practice database to allow their hotels to gain inspiration and learn from the actions of one another.

This searchable database contains over 300 proven examples from the past five years, from more than 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East & Africa. It demonstrates the practical ways in which hotels have strived to reach out to the local community, reduce their environmental footprint, share the Responsible Business message and ensure the health and wellbeing of guests and employees.

The best practice examples are divided into 30 categories covering Community, Environment, Communication and Well-being. In line with this year’s theme for the World Environment Day: “Melting Ice – A Hot Topic?” some interesting examples in the database include:

• The Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen, which has installed an automatic system for the light control in the corridors. The system is based on sound detection, which is more sensitive and faster than traditional motion sensors. Before the implementation of this system, lighting was on 24 hours a day, whereas now it is down to only 9 to 10 hours a day.

• The Radisson SAS, El Quseir has begun using solar-powered carts to transport guests around the property.

• The Radisson SAS Royal Park Hotel, Stockholm, re-uses the heat generated in the laundry department’s dryer and mangle room for heating the car garage.

• The Park Inn Zurich Airport is using Toyota Prius Hybrid cars for its Sales force.

• The Radisson SAS Hotel Ålesund, recent recipient of the prestigious Nordic Swan eco-label, made the award ceremony a carbon neutral event. Emissions will be offset through a solar electrification project in India and a tree planting project in Uganda.

• The Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh reduced their overall energy consumption in 2006 by 8.8% by simply swapping the light bulbs in the corridors and guest bedrooms for more energy efficient models.