SOURCE: Fairmont Empress
Historical Resort Meets Eco-Chic
VICTORIA, BC–(Marketwire – September 28, 2010) – The Hotel Association of Canada has awarded The Fairmont Empress the prestigious 5 Green Key award through the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. Recognized as the fourth Fairmont property to achieve this prestigious ranking, The Fairmont Empress becomes the only Victoria, BC, hotel to achieve this honour.
The 5 Green Key rating exemplifies the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility throughout all areas of operations. This innovative Victoria resort embraces cutting-edge technologies, policies, and programs that set the international standard for sustainable hotel operations.
“It is a true honour to be awarded this distinction and a genuine reflection of our hotel’s commitment to giving back to the local community,” raves General Manager, Martin Leclerc. “We strive to be outstanding neighbours through our actions and it just makes good business sense to do the environmentally right thing,” he adds.
Some key practices at this distinctive Victoria resort include:
- A multi-departmental Environmental Committee directs and coordinates the hotel’s green initiatives.
- Sponsorship of local, national and international environmental events, including Bike to Work Week and the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.
- Charitable donations to a variety of environmental organizations.
- Employees receive training and education on environmental awareness and best practices.
- Monitoring of Green House Gas emissions, use of a carbon offset program and participation in the WWF’s Climate Savers Program.
“Being green is eco-chic,” boasts Green Team president Michael Yarr. “In addition to being exemplary role models, being green saves the hotel money.” Yarr, the hotel’s Controller, led a hotel-wide waste audit that helped save the Victoria hotel $18,000 in waste hauling annually.
The hotel’s current recycling programs divert 28 tonnes of material monthly from landfills in addition to saving 476 trees, 42,560 liters of oil, 784,000 liters of water and 114,800 kW hours of electricity. As Victoria’s iconic harbour-front hotel for the past 102 years, The Fairmont Empress proves it is possible for this jewel of the West Coast to be a luxury, eco-friendly resort.
FAIRMONT’S GREEN PARTNERSHIP
With a long commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible tourism, Fairmont is a sponsor of the National Geographic Mission Programs as well a member of the WWF global Climate Savers program. For decades, Fairmont’s Green Partnership has been the company’s award-winning environmental program focused on minimizing the impact of hotel operations on the environment. For more information on Fairmont’s Green Partnership program, visit www.fairmont.com/environment.
ABOUT THE FAIRMONT EMPRESS
The Fairmont Empress majestically rises over Victoria’s Inner Harbour. This luxury hotel showcases the spirit and energy of Vancouver Island in grand style. With turn-of-the-century beauty, The Fairmont Empress resort regally captures the grandeur and elegance of a bygone era, while the facilities and services meet the needs of today’s traveler. For more information or reservations, please call 250-384-8111 or visit www.fairmont.com/empress.
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