Green Hotels: They go the extra mile

THERE are not many guests who enquire about their environmental policies, but one hotel receives support for its ongoing efforts.

"Not many people ask about our policies, but we receive good support from both room and restaurant guests on environment-related projects," said Hilton Petaling Jaya's marketing communications manager Cindy Wong.

"For example, when we were raising funds for the Hilton PJ Reef project, where RM2 was added to each night's stay and RM1 to every restaurant bill for reef transplant, we received almost 70 per cent participation."

Wong said the hotel recognised its environmental responsibility. "We will need to operate our business in ways that provide for our current needs while allowing future generations to meet their own needs.

"Generally, hotels generate large quantities of items that can be recycled.
One of the main energy efficiency initiatives we undertook was conversion to natural gas for three main energy-guzzling facilities in the hotel building, namely air conditioners, chillers and water boilers.

"Our participation in the World Wide Fund for Nature's Earth Hour on March 28 was our commitment to preserve planet Earth.

"In conjunction with the hotel's 25th anniversary this month, our management and staff will be planting 250 trees in the Community Forest Park of Kota Damansara.

"We're actively working on reef transplant activities too."

Wong said guests could help by having their sheets and towels changed less frequently.

"This will help save gallons of fresh water every month while reducing waste water and the use of chemicals and energy resources."

Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur's area director of communications Rosemarie Wee said the hotels' efforts to be environment-friendly in its housekeeping and food and beverage operations won it the Asean Green Hotel Award last year.

Adapted from The New Straits Times 24 May 2009