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Published: 08/07/2008 - Filed under: News »

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Park Inn Heathrow goes green

The Park Inn Heathrow London has become the first Heathrow hotel to be accredited by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), gaining a “silver” award for environmental practice.

Daniel Twerenbold, general manager of Park Inn Heathrow, says: “The overall programme is far-reaching – from managers being aware of health and safety legislation, to ensuring that we purchase products which have a reduced environmental impact and longer life-cycles, and our suppliers and contractors being compliant with responsible and environmental working practices.”

Park Inn UK is “actively considering” the GTBS award for all other UK hotels, and its Hyde Park property in London is already waiting for a grading. Businesses opting to join the Green Tourism Business Scheme are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management and biodiversity.

Among the initiatives introduced by the Park Inn Heathrow are low-energy light bulbs, motion sensors, water bottled in-house, and green meetings, which include recycled paper, pens and a green rate for carbon offsetting.

For more information on Rezidor’s Responsible Business Programme visit rezidor.com. For further details on Green Tourism visit green-business.co.uk.

Cavendish launches carbon offsetting

The Cavendish hotel in London has launched a free carbon-offsetting scheme for its meetings, in addition to the green initiatives launched earlier this year, (see green news, April 8).

General manager Ciaran Fahy says: “A lot of companies are looking to offset their carbon footprint and I felt that it is a key element and should be part of our meetings package.”

The Cavendish London is working with carbon-offsetting specialists Put Something Back to help reduce the footprint of all delegates at its meetings, with the hotel donating £1 per person. “We have absorbed the cost ourselves, rather than passing it on to the delegate,” says Fahy.

Visit thecavendish-london.co.uk for more information.

Finnair cleans up its act

Finnair says it is saving fuel and money by washing its engines more often. The carrier says that a clean and well-maintained engine uses less fuel, as it is at its most efficient, and also cuts carbon-dioxide emissions.

Tuomo Karhumaki, vice-president of Finnair’s technical services engine department, says: “Nowadays we use a water and ethanol mixture when washing engines in the winter. This enables us to wash them even at temperatures slightly below zero degrees Celsius.”

Finnair says the engines can now be washed more often, which has saved the airline over €1 million per year. Karhumaki says: “Thanks to this, we have been able to increase the number of engine washes and have helped create up to 1-2 per cent savings in fuel consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions per year.”

For more information visit finnair.com.

Report by Sara Turner

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