Friday, March 27, 2009

Marriott Hotels to Participate in Earth Hour

Earlier this week, I posted an article on Green Lodging News summarizing how hotel companies around the globe intend to celebrate Earth Hour this Saturday (March 28). I also wrote about Earth Hour in an earlier blog entry. In a press release yesterday, Marriott International announced that it will officially participate in Earth Hour. Kudos to Marriott for joining this celebration. According to Marriott, hundreds of hotels and timeshare units across Marriott's multi-brand portfolio will turn out or dim non-essential lighting for one hour at 8:30 p.m. local time, joining tens of millions of people in more than 2,700 cities worldwide.

"Marriott International's support of Earth Hour is a symbol of the company's commitment to the environment," says Arne Sorenson, chief financial officer of Marriott International and co-chair of the company's Executive Green Council. "Energy efficiency makes good business sense—it saves money for our hotels and their owners, while conserving resources so that we can continue to welcome guests at our hotels worldwide in the long term."

Marriott hotels and their guests will be participating in Earth Hour in a variety of ways. The JW Marriott Hotel Washington, D.C., will dim its lights and host a World Wildlife Fund celebration featuring the organization's CEO Carter Roberts and other dignitaries. In Australia, guests at the Surfers Paradise Marriott will dine on a variety of eco-friendly foods and "carbon-neutral" beverages, while newlyweds and their guests at the JW Marriott Hong Kong will switch off the lights and celebrate their wedding banquet in candlelight.

If you intend to participate in Earth Hour, contact me afterwards to give me your thoughts on the experience. I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

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