Starwood Hotels & Resorts recognised by Green Key for sustainability in the UAE

Press release

Published February 28th, 2013 - 07:24 GMT

Al Bawaba

Starwood Hotels & Resorts in the UAE has received the globally-recognised Green Key award for their commitment to sustainably and environmental preservation. Starwood Hotels received 13 awards of a total of 21 given in the UAE.

The hotels recognised by Green Key include, Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Aloft Abu Dhabi, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, Four Points by Sheraton Downtown, Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road, Grosvenor House Dubai, Le Méridien Abu Dhabi, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Sheraton Deira Hotel, Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort and The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa.

The annual Green Key award is intended to increase awareness of environmental and sustainable issues in the hospitality industry. Each hotel is assessed against a set of criteria, which includes energy and water consumption, waste management, washing and cleaning and the impact of sourcing restaurant ingredients on the environment.

Guido de Wilde, Senior Vice President, Regional Director, for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East, says the award underpins Starwood’s commitment to sustainability. “Starwood is devoted to doing more to consume less energy and water and hence to protect the future of the planet. We have committed to reducing energy consumption by 30 per cent and water consumption by 20 per cent by the year 2020 as part of our Global Citizenship initiative.”

“It goes without saying that I am incredibly proud of our hotels for their role in receiving the awards. The work that the Green Key organisation does to raise awareness of environmental issues within the hospitality industry is essential in ensuring long-term sustainability in this sector. For our teams to be recognised internationally for the work that they do to promote environmental awareness and responsibility is very rewarding.”

Green Key is a voluntary eco-label for tourism facilities that promotes sustainable tourism and aims to contribute to the prevention of climate change by awarding and advocating facilities with positive environmental initiatives. Green Key began in Denmark in 1994 and was adopted by FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education) in 2002 to become its fifth international Programme. It has since spread to more than 40 countries and continues to grow in numbers and spread across the world.

Green Key educates and empowers tourism actors, including enterprises, authorities, guests, and local communities to change unsustainable behaviours and become importantly involved in the protection of their environment.

Background Information

Starwood Hotels

Starwood Hotels represents one of the world's largest hotel and leisure companies. It conducts its hotel and leisure business both directly and through its subsidiaries. Its brand names include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points, Aloft, and Element

Starwood Hotels' business emphasizes the global operation of hotels and resorts primarily in the luxury and upscale segment of the lodging industry. It seeks to acquire interests in, or management or franchise rights with respect to properties in this segment. At December 31, 2009, its hotel portfolio included owned, leased, managed and franchised hotels totaling 979 hotels with approximately 292,000 rooms in approximately 100 countries, and is comprised of 63 hotels that it owns or leases or in which it has a majority equity interest, 440 hotels managed by the company on behalf of third-party owners and 476 hotels for which it receives franchise fees.