Accor Ranks No. 1 in Green Ratings by London-based Sustainability Consultant
Accor, parent company of Motel 6, Sofitel, Novotel and Studio 6 brands in North America, recently ranked number one in Tomorrow's Value Rating results for the world's 10 largest hotel groups. Two Tomorrows (North America) Inc, part of a London-based sustainability consultancy that researched and produced the rating, specifically recognized Accor for recognizing "key sustainability challenges facing the hotels sector" and designing "a comprehensive approach to managing them."
"While we are proud to be recognized as the leader in sustainable hospitality design, development and operation, we also agree with the study's conclusions that there is much work to be done to bring the hospitality industry to where it needs to be," says Olivier Poirot, CEO of Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. "We at Accor will continue our pursuit of that goal and do our best to continue to lead the way for our industry."
"While we are proud to be recognized as the leader in sustainable hospitality design, development and operation, we also agree with the study's conclusions that there is much work to be done to bring the hospitality industry to where it needs to be," says Olivier Poirot, CEO of Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. "We at Accor will continue our pursuit of that goal and do our best to continue to lead the way for our industry."
"Accor is exploring some commendable solutions to sustainability challenges. For example, it is piloting innovative energy saving technologies and buildings, and working with communities to maximize local procurement," adds Todd Cort, CEO of Two Tomorrows (North America) Inc.
Accor North America operates key conservation and earth-friendly elements at all its properties on an ongoing basis. In addition, it continues implementing an ever-growing list of environmental initiatives and efforts to minimize the environmental impact of its properties. Motel 6 and Studio 6 have been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an Energy Star Leader. Energy Star Leaders are recognized as part of the EPA's Energy Star Building Challenge, a program encouraging building owners and managers to reduce energy use by 10 percent or more.
In the summer of 2009, Accor North America joined the EPA's National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) and pledged to recycle or properly dispose of mercury content from its properties' light bulbs and batteries. This program aims to reduce the use of potentially hazardous chemicals that can result from products and processes.
First Phoenix prototype opens
This month, the company announced the opening of its very first newly-built Motel 6 "Phoenix" prototype in the nation, Motel 6 Northlake-Speedway in Northlake, Texas. The Northlake-Speedway location features advanced technology and energy efficiency measures that make it the brand's greenest property ever, as well as the chain's first property to be submitted for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
The Motel 6's Northlake-Speedway location is an example of ongoing efforts by Accor to improve energy efficiency and sustainability efforts worldwide. Here are a few of the key conservation and earth-friendly elements Accor North America operates on an ongoing basis:
- Participation in energy and water conservation programs including creation of a monthly energy / water consumption report to inform each hotel of their month to date progress in regards to consumption savings, taking into consideration variables such as weather and hotel activity levels (all Sofitel and Novotel hotels since 2004)ã╬╬
- Florescent bulb and battery recycling in 690 plus corporate-owned Motel 6 and Studio 6 properties, making Motel 6 the first national hotel brand to implement a chain-wide fluorescent light bulb and battery recycling program in the hospitality industry
- Water saving shower heads and faucet aerators (all brands)
- Faucet aerators replaced with higher water-efficiency 0.5 gallon per minute aerators (Motel 6 and Studio 6 locations)
- Ozone machines were installed on laundry washers; these machines allow the hotel to wash linen and towels with cold water instead of hot and reduce the use of soap/detergent (all Sofitel hotels with laundry)
- Using environmentally sensitive Ecolab laundry products (all Motel 6 and Studio 6 locations)
- Purchase of wind-generated power by all Sofitel hotels in the U.S., making Sofitel the first hotel chain to become an EPA Green Power Partner
- Technologically advanced heating and cooling systems to reduce consumption of power (all brands)
- Corporate office recycling program
- Use of ecological paper, including printing 1.3 million directories on recycled paper using Soy ink (all Motel 6 and Studio 6 directories)
- Use of compact fluorescent lighting, which consumes 75% less energy than conventional bulbs (all brands)