PARIS—Novotel’s traditional certification organization is changing its name and Accor’s midscale hotel brand is taking advantage of the occasion to reaffirm its goal of obtaining environmental and social certification for all of the more than 400 hotels in its network by the end of 2012. At present, 78 hotels in 18 countries have already been certified and an additional 104 hotels have embarked on the project.
EarthCheck, known as Green Globe until 2009, is one of the first worldwide certification programs developed especially for the tourism industry. Its process is based on the notion of continuous improvement and requires a powerful commitment on the part of hotel teams. Certification is awarded only after a preliminary assessment of the hotel’s performance and the deployment of an appropriate management system covering eight areas: implementation of a sustainable development policy, water use, energy use, waste management, paper consumption, use of pesticides, use of cleaning and sanitation products, and commitments to the local community. At least 10 months are required for a hotel to receive certification, which is awarded by an independent outside auditor. This long-term performance process is audited and re-evaluated every two years.
“Since 2008, Novotel teams have been actively involved in the EarthCheck certification program so that we can meet our goal of certifying the entire network by 2012,” says Pierre Lagrange, global marketing Novotel director. “Novotel’s commitment to the principles of sustainable development is an integral part of the brand’s promise of customer well-being.”
Novotel & Sustainable Development
In addition to its 182 hotels already involved in the EarthCheck certification process, Novotel’s commitment to sustainable development has also enabled the network to achieve the following results as of year-end 2010:
• 98 percent of hotels apply and monitor the 65 actions in the Accor Hotel Environment Charter.
• 80 percent have installed energy-efficient light bulbs in areas that stay lit 24 hours a day.
• 92 percent have installed flow regulators on faucets and in showers.
• 89 percent recycle paper and cardboard packaging.
• 86 percent dispose of compact fluorescent tubes and light bulbs safely.
• 60 percent serve organic products.
• 60 percent offer nutritionally balanced meals for children.
As the mid-scale hotel brand within the Accor group portfolio, Novotel offers close to 400 hotels and resorts in 60 countries, situated in the center of major international cities from business districts to tourist destinations.
Go to Novotel and EarthCheck. Also be sure to check out article on Accor’s Motel 6’s commitment to Green Key.
