Top 7: «Life in green colours»
Ecological tourism, natural food products, ecological space concept are popular topics nowadays . What does the «green» policy really conceal, what practical steps do hoteliers take to protect the environment and why does it sometimes make sense to hang a towel on the peg and not to throw it on the floor? All this is discussed by the representatives of hotels that completed the Business and Conference Hotel Attestation Program of the Russian Association of Business Travel.
Natalia Aseeva, maintenance director of Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky: every guest may contribute to environmental protection
It is no secret that hotels use various cleaning agents to keep the hotel clean. No doubt, there are no substances that can be called absolutely ecologically friendly, but like any modern ecologically responsible company, Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky uses cleaning substances marked «environmental friendly», i. e. not harmful to the environment.
In order to control energy consumption, there is an automatic light control system in the corridors and hotel offices, and only energy saving lamps are used in hotel rooms. Another ecological initiative is the idea of repeated use of hotel towels. We ask guests to contribute to preservation of natural resources, because if the guest decides to leave the towel on the peg for further use, less chemicals will be used for washing.
Besides, Holiday Inn Moscow Suschevsky supports the law on the ban of smoking in public places: thus, smoking has already been prohibited in the restaurant, the bar and the lobby, the number of smoking rooms is gradually decreased.
As for the rational use of waste, our hotel pursues the policy of waste paper collection and recycling. (moscow-hi.ru)
Ecological rules of Radisson Blu Belorusskya
Radisson Blu Belorusskya (Moscow) staff admit they participate not only in Rezidor Responsible Business program, but also follow the ecological policy of their company.
Rezidor Responsible Business program that Radisson Blu Belorusskya takes active part in, is based on three cornerstones:
— Think Planet
Its aim is to minimize environmental effects.
— Think People
Its aim is care about guests and hotel staff health and safety.
— Think Together
Its aim is to ensure respect of social and ethical questions in the company and in the society.
Apart from the three basic aspects of the program, Radisson Blu Belorusskya takes a number of measures aimed at environmental protection:
1) Disuse of plastic litter bags. The waste goes to a bucket in the room or in the bathroom.
2) Use of cleaning agents that do not contain harmful substances.
3) Waste sorting: plastic, glass and food waste.
4) Participation in the annual Earth Hour program. The light is switched off for an hour and guests can enjoy the atmosphere of candles.
5) In order to save energy, there is a special device in the rooms that turns on the light only when a programmed card is inserted into it. When the guest leaves the room and takes the key card with him, electricity in the hotel room is switched off automatically.
6) We would like to pay special attention to some aspects of room cleaning and the work of hotel laundry. If the towel is not on the floor of the room, but is hanging on the peg, it is a sign for a room maid: it does not need to be changed.
7) There are also special signs that are put on the door of the room. The guest may use them to say that his room does not need to be cleaned, because he wants to take part in the environmental protection program.
8) There is drinking water in all the rooms. (radissonblu.com)
ALFAVITO: ecological friendliness, preservation of natural resources, social responsibility
ALFAVITO (Kiev) improves its service constantly, as well as tries to care about the environment, preserve natural resources and save energy.
Ecologically friendly and natural materials are used in all the hotel rooms. Energy saving diode lamps are used in the hotel, which insures minimum energy consumption.
Water consumption is a special issue for the hotel. There are aerators on water taps; it lets cut consumption of this resource several times.
Only ecologically friendly and organic cleaning agents are used in the hotel, they do not contain harmful substances and do not pollute water and the environment. All cleaning agents meet world standards and are certified.
There are special signs in hotel rooms, they let guests choose whether to have their bed linen, bathrobes and towels replaced every day or only when necessary. This solution decreases negative environmental impact to the minimum. There are cosmetics sets by ECO-BOUTIQUE (Czech Republic) for sensitive skin, manufactured on the basis of natural ingredients. Cosmetics bottles consist of 97% recycled plastic, and their package — from 100% recycled cardboard. These products do not contain parabens, paraffin oil, artificial colourings or silicone.
Food for ALFAVITO restaurant is mainly supplied in ecologically pure vacuum package that does not require long transportation, and fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit are delivered to the restaurant every day. As for the waste, there is separate waste collection and sorting, due to this fact the most part of the waste is recycled. (alfavito.com.ua)
The «Green» policy in Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya
Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya (Moscow) regularly takes measures aimed at environmental protection and resource economy.
Hotel staff have disclosed their secrets on the example of their maintenance service:
— We recommend keeping taps closed when rooms are cleaned. You should pour water into the sink or the pail if it is allowed by sanitary rules and standards.
— If bathroom cleaning includes mirror vaporing, cleaning time should be limited to 2 minutes.
— When the room is cleaned, TV should be turned off, heat controller should be set to the optimum temperature and only the necessary lights should be turned on.
— All the electrical appliances that are not needed at the moment should be turned off.
— Participation in water economy program which means bed linen and towel replacement upon the guest’s request.
— When bath accessories are replaced in the rooms where guests are staying for more than a day, half full bottles are not replaced.
— Economy of the amount of chemical substances and the use of automatic feeders where possible. (hilton.com)
Izmailovo tourist hotel complex (Gamma, Delta): environmental protection is a task for everyone
Izmailovo megacomplex (Gamma, Delta) (Moscow) follows the environmental protection policy. Apart from the total use of energy saving items and the concept, according to which the guest takes the card key with him when he leaves the room and stops electricity consumption, ecological cards have been worked out specially for the guests of Gamma and Delta business and conference hotels. The cards let everyone share the responsible attitude of the megacomplex to the environment and allow the guests decide themselves whether to have their bed linen and towels replaced or not.
Besides, all the pillows in the rooms of Gamma and Delta, including the special pillow menu, contain hypoallergenic filling, and mattresses — coconut filling. Besides, ecologically friendly pens are included into all the stationery sets. Ecological bags and ecostickers are widely used. The megacomplex divides waste into recyclable, non-recyclable and hazardous, which is utilized according to certain rules.
Moreover, according to the environmental friendliness policy, all employees of Izmailovo tourist hotel complex (Gamma, Delta) irrespective of their position and responsibilities inform the maintenance service about all the disorders and failures they have found in order to have them fixed as quickly as possible and to avoid irrational use of natural resources. (izmailovo.ru)
Savoy: care starts from breakfast
The Savoy hotel (Moscow) invites its guests to the Farmer’s table to start their day from organic food products. Meat, farmer cheese, fresh bread are the best breakfast scenario. Bedsides, the hotel offers to try dishes cooked in a real Russian stove according to old recipes.
Hotel management has invented a lot of programs aimed at water and electricity economy, optimization of the release of synthetic washing substances into the environment. There are energy saving lamps in all the hotel rooms.
Rooms are decorated with natural materials only: cotton, wool, wood, marble. (savoy.ru)
Astrus guards its guests’ health
According to the staff of Astrus hotel (Moscow), guests book non-smoking rooms more and more often. Up to now such rooms have been offered on three floors only. But taking into consideration the guests’ needs and demands hotel management has decided to enlarge the non-smoking zone: now smoking is not allowed on eight floors of the hotel. (astrus.ru)
Sofiya Dukorskaya