Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, the UK's largest privately owned
hotel group, today (20 September 2011) confirmed it has achieved
the coveted Carbon Trust Standard.
The independently verified award is only accorded to organisations
that provide genuine proof of a reduction in their carbon footprint
to help combat the global impact of climate change.
Achieving the coveted Standard is a major milestone for Macdonald
Hotels & Resorts. It comes at a time UK businesses, annually
consuming more than 6,000MWh of electricity, face a mandatory
carbon emissions reporting and pricing scheme administered by the
UK Government's CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (previously known as
the Carbon Reduction Commitment).
Consequently, with its 40-plus, 4 and 5 star properties across the
UK offering discerning corporate, conference and leisure guests the
highest quality of product and service, the robustly assessed*
Carbon Trust Standard confirms Macdonald Hotels & Resorts is
making genuine year-on-year commitments to reduce its carbon
footprint across its hotel operations.
Referring to the significance of achieving the Standard, David
Guile, Chief Executive of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts,
commented: "I am very proud of the contribution every employee
across the hotel group has made to help Macdonald Hotels &
Resorts achieve the coveted Carbon Trust Standard.
"As a leading and responsible hotel operator, we take the issue of
sustainability and energy conservation very seriously. We have
created an in-house Energy Committee, led by Gordon Fraser, Group
Finance Director, supported by the Board, that's specifically
tasked with reducing our energy consumption and identifying
sustainable solutions across the group.
Gordon Fraser added, "For example, it's estimated our
decision to install LED light bulbs throughout The Macdonald
Manchester Hotel
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-manchester-hotel-spa/
& Spa will annually achieve a reduction of 343 tonnes of CO2
while a voltage optimiser in our Macdonald Holyrood Hotel in
Edinburgh
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-holyrood-hotel
will contribute a further reduction of 167 tonnes of CO2. The
installation of a Combined Heat and Power unit at the Macdonald
Berystede Hotel near Ascot
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-berystede-hotel-spa/
and of a boiler optimiser in our 5-star Macdonald Randolph Hotel in
Oxford
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-randolph-hotel/
are yet other examples of how this hotel group is leading the way
with the implementation of sustainable energy solutions.
"Having achieved the Standard and an overall reduction of 7.9% in
our CO2 emissions over the period 2009-2010, we remain committed to
further improving our energy efficiency and to meet a self-imposed
target of reducing by 2015 our overall carbon footprint by
15%."
The right for Macdonald Hotels & Resorts to proudly display
the Carbon Trust Standard logo also comes at a time when research
indicates an organisations 'green credentials' strongly influence a
consumers purchasing decisions.
A 2008 Carbon Trust You Gov survey of employees (drawn from
multiple industry sectors) found 70% 'would like to cut workplace
emissions' while a separate You Gov survey reported 71% of
consumers questioned 'are more likely to buy from a business
certified as having reduced emissions.'
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts now joins other leading brands,
including Boots UK, Marks & Spencer and IKEA to have received
the Carbon Trust Standard mark of excellence for achieving real
carbon reduction.
www.macdonald-hotels.co.uk
www.carbontruststandard.com
