Aside from this contest, Marriott is the first hotel partner in the EPA's Climate Leaders program which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one-fifth over the ten year period from 2000 to 2010. Additionally, the hotel company has created its own committee overseeing green operations in their hotels.
The Environmentally Conscious Hospitality Operations program (ECHO) focuses on water and energy conservation, clean air initiatives, wildlife preservation, "reduce-reuse-recycle" waste management, and clean-up campaigns.
Marriott also plans to plant 3,000 trees in celebration of the company's 80th anniversary this year. The chains has already participated in a variety of a clean-up projects such as the ones at the River Thames, the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the San Francisco Bay in California and the Taba Heights beach in Egypt.
As for individual hotels, the Inn & Conference Center by Marriott, at the University of Maryland in D.C. region, has been designated the first environmentally-friendly hotel and conference center in the U.S. by earning the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification. Other Marriott hotels with green approvals can be found here but include mostly international destinations and not much in the U.S.
It's obvious Marriott is trying hard to give back to the environment but with 100 hotels opening in 100 days, it seems there is some contradiction between the green work being done and the chain's mega-expansion plans.
Related Stories:
· Green Hotels: Hotel Chains Getting Green [HotelChatter]
by
juliana
0 Comments
Return to » Green Hotels: Marriott Offering an 'Eco-cation' For its Greenest Guests
Leave a Comment
Not yet a member? Click here to become a member.
Already a member? Login below: