Stamford, Connecticut, USA, August 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) recently announced a 17.26% reduction in global water consumption compared to 2008 levels (equivalent to saving116 million bathtubs of water). According to the Starwood Group’s global environmental goal “Starwood 30/20 by 20” established in 2009, it is expected that by 2020, the average energy consumption and water usage of Starwood hotels worldwide will be reduced by 30% and 20%, respectively.
Starwood has consistently been a leader in promoting sustainability within the hotel industry. Addressing issues such as water scarcity, flooding, and poor water quality is part of Starwood’s comprehensive water strategy. To this end, Starwood has set water-saving targets across all levels of the company, introduced new water-saving technologies, developed dedicated hotel water conservation action plans, and launched guest-focused initiatives to encourage water savings. It has also partnered with environmental organizations to build new socially beneficial collaborations.
Hotel water-saving measures: Installation of basic and advanced water-saving facilities, such as low-flow faucets and fittings, repairing leaks, and recyclinggreywater(wastewater from daily activities excluding toilet discharge―blackwater)and rainwater harvesting all contribute to achieving water-saving goals.
Innovative ideas: The hotels have adopted innovative technologies and concepts to support the global growth strategy and water-saving goals, such asliquid pool cover film(by adding a special solution to the pool water, an invisible layer is formed on the surface, reducing heat loss and water evaporation), smart irrigation, and water flow tracking. Some pilot hotels using HydroPoint’s WeatherTRAK smart irrigation system have helped save 1.16 billion liters of water and $2.1 million.
Encouraging guest participation: The “Your Green Choice” program allows guests to opt out of daily housekeeping service, reducing water used in towel and linen washing. Skipping one day of cleaning saves 185 liters of water, equivalent to the amount of water an adult drinks in two cups per day over a year.
“It’s often said that water is the new oil. For Starwood, achieving our global development strategy means that water is not just an environmental concern but also a potential business risk that affects our guests, hotels, and the communities where we operate,” said Ken Siegel, Starwood’s Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, and Global Citizenship Leader. “That’s why Starwood must take a long-term view on environmental protection—through innovative initiatives and partnerships, we reduce our environmental impact, support and strengthen local economies, protect the coexistence of humanity and the planet, and deliver an unparalleled customer experience.”
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading companies in the world’s hotel and leisure industry, with more than 1,200 properties in over 100 countries and territories and employing over 180,000 associates in its owned and managed hotels. As a globally recognized brand, Starwood is a comprehensive group that owns, operates, and franchises hotels, resorts, and residences, including globally renowned brands such as St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méeridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, Element, and the newly launched Tribute Portfolio®. Starwood also offers the industry-leading and highly acclaimed SPG loyalty program (SPG®), where members can earn and redeem points for hotel stays, room upgrades, and flights with no blackout dates. Starwood recently announced plans to spin off its vacation ownership business, Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., into an independent publicly traded company by the end of 2015. This business includes its villa-style resorts and the world-class vacation experiences created through Starwood’s brand privileges. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/cn.TM. Starwood boasts an industry-leading and highly acclaimed loyalty program – SPG® Club, where members can earn points and redeem them for hotel stays, room upgrades, and flights, all without blackout dates. Recently, Starwood announced plans to spin off its Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. business by the end of 2015, making it an independent publicly traded company. The business includes its villa-style resorts and world-class vacation experiences crafted through VIP privileges under the Starwood brand. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/cn.