BRUSSELS—Radisson Blu is the winner of the 2017 IMEX-GMIC Innovation in Sustainability Award with its Blu Planet program, the responsible business initiative of Radisson Blu hotels around the world. The IMEX-GMIC award celebrates inspiring brands that drive sustainability forward through innovation, collaboration and idea sharing.
“We are determined to help protect the Earth’s priceless water supply,” says Inge Huijbrechts, Vice President of Responsible Business for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. “We launched Blu Planet to conserve water and help bring safe drinking water and sanitation to communities in need. Blu Planet is a key pillar of our group’s Responsible Business program and our hotels’ contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal number 6. Winning the IMEX-GMIC award is a great recognition of our hotels’ engagement and our partnership with Just a Drop.”
The Blu Planet initiative includes: towel replacement program in support of Just a Drop; Soap for Hope recycling initiative with Sealed Air; Radisson Blu’s signature water-light Super Breakfast; all natural bathroom amenities by THIS WORKS; and a continued focus to have all hotels eco-labelled and minimize Carlson Rezidor hotels’ water footprint.
Ongoing Commitment to Water Reduction
“Water covers 71 percent of Earth, but only 1 percent of it is actually potable,” says Huijbrechts. “Experts predict that, by 2025, more than half the world’s population will become vulnerable due to safe water scarcity. The tourism and hospitality sectors consume substantial amounts of water. Radisson Blu and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group are extremely mindful and have reduced their water consumption by 29 percent since 2007. The company’s ambition is to reduce liters consumed per guest, per night by another 10 percent by the end of 2020, without compromising guest experience or comfort.”
Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts have encouraged its guests to reuse close to 2 million towels since the launch of a new towel replacement program in 2015, in partnership with Just a Drop. The program aims to provide clean drinking water for life for more than 10,000 children in India, Kenya and Peru. Radisson Blu has also helped recycle and distribute an estimated 66 tons of soap waste in support of Soap for Hope, giving free soap to communities, creating local entrepreneurs, bringing jobs to the community, and helping hotels reduce waste through recycling.
Today, more than 450 Carlson Rezidor Hotels & Resorts worldwide have eco-labels, signaling the brand’s commitment to work on saving water, using fewer chemical products and supporting community-based projects in water stressed areas.
“According to UNICEF, no single intervention is more likely to reduce global poverty than the provision of safe water, and Radisson Blu is proud to positively contribute to this global commitment,” said Huijbrechts.
