Novotel Citygate Hong Kong Earns Silver Green Globe Certification

The Novotel Citygate in Hong Kong has earned Green Globe certified status. Green Globe is a leading worldwide benchmarking, certification and performance improvement system for the travel and tourism industry. The programme assists hotels to pursue best practice and improve environmental performance through annual assessment by an independent third party Green Globe Accredited Assessor.

Rod Munro, General Manager of the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong, 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.”

To intensify the hotel’s contribution to the local community, activities such as tree planting and organic farming were arranged. A visit to a water treatment plant also helped to strengthen staff environmental awareness. The hotel also invites guests to help by encouraging them to re-use linen and towels, remove their key card from the electricity slot when leaving the room, set the air conditioning temperature at 23°C - 25°C and close the curtains in the day time to help reduce heat transmission. The hotel will also implement in-room recycle bins and CD/ Battery collection box in the hotel lobby.

Other 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

Achievements in 2009

• Recycled 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 a 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.”

By 2010, 100% of Novotel hotels will be participating in the Green Globe environmental certification programme.

The Novotel Citygate Hong Kong is around 5 minutes drive from the airport and roughly 28 minutes to the city centre. The hotel is also in close proximity to AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping Cable Car and adjacent to Citygate Outlets shopping mall with direct access to MTR station.

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