Swire Hotels Partners FLY greener

Swire Hotels has signed up for FLY greener, Cathay Pacific’s and Dragonair’s carbon offset programme.

From 1 June 2011, Marco Polo Club members travelling on a Cathay Pacific or Dragonair flight and staying at a Swire Hotels property will be able to offset the carbon emissions from their inbound journey. This benefit will begin with The Opposite House in Beijing and The Upper House in Hong Kong.

Swire Hotels will be purchasing carbon offsets from FLY greener to help support the development of environmental projects in Mainland China that reduce carbon emissions and generate social benefits.

Cathay Pacific and Dragonair have been making focused efforts to lower their carbon emissions through fleet modernisation, enhanced operational measures and working with industry partners on improved air traffic infrastructure. Since 1998 they have improved the fuel efficiency of their fleet by 23.4%.

Both The Opposite House and The Upper House are committed to improving their environmental and sustainability performance. Upon arrival at the Houses, guests are welcomed to check in anywhere in the hotel with a Guest Experience team member by using a designated tablet PC or iPad containing all guests’ information and preferences for a paperless experience.

At The Upper House, a unique iPod touch is provided in each of the guest rooms and suites offering a comprehensive source for all hotel information, in-room dining, local area information, weather, news and feedback forms at the touch of a screen, replacing printed hotel directories. The hotel also uses energy-saving Lexus RX450H hybrid cars for airport transfers and private hire.

Brian Williams, Managing Director of Swire Hotels, said, “Swire Hotels has given great consideration to the preferences of our guests and the effect our practices have on the environment. This new drive allows both Swire Hotels and our guests to take a more active role in environmental initiatives by offsetting carbon emissions from air travel in a way that is credible, cost effective and efficient.”

Swire Hotels

Swire Hotels manages urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom. The Opposite House, Beijing, opened in 2008 and was followed by The Upper House, above Pacific Place, Hong Kong, in October 2009.

The company then opened a 345-room lifestyle business hotel called EAST, Hong Kong in Hong Kong’s Island East, on 25 January 2010. EAST, Beijing with 369 rooms, located within INDIGO in Jiangtai, will open in 2012.

Swire Hotels has also launched a new collection of locally inspired and stylish hotels in the heart of great British towns and cities called Chapter Hotels. The first hotel in the collection, The Montpellier Chapter, opened on the 29th November in Cheltenham. The second Chapter hotel will open in Exeter in 2012.

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