SINGAPORE, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilton Worldwide today announced that it will reduce the environmental impact of meetings and events held at more than 90 hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific through an expanded carbon emissions solution, the Clean Air Program. Starting on May 1, meeting planners and delegates can play their part in reducing carbon emissions and deliver more sustainable experiences to their customers.
When customers choose any of Hilton's participating hotels as meeting venues, the Clean Air Program will provide a calculation of the carbon emissions of the event at no cost to the customers. Hilton will then purchase the equivalent carbon credits to finance environmentally-friendly projects across Asia Pacific in partnership with carbon offset solutions provider Climate Friendly. The program is designed to make it easier for meeting professionals to incorporate environmental solutions into meetings and events.
Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide said, "Managing our environmental impact and developing new products to enhance the customer experience are part and parcel of how we operate as a business. Apart from consistently seeking opportunities to reduce waste and conserve energy in our daily operations, the Clean Air Program allows us to take our commitment to sustainability one step further. By offsetting carbon emissions from meetings and events, it means that we can provide essential financing to renewable energy, forest protection and restoration projects which is critical in mitigating climate change."
Increasingly, investors and consumers worldwide have a greater appreciation of the need for sustainable development, and many leading companies around the world are incorporating sustainable practices into their business models1. Underscored by Hilton's corporate responsibility strategy, Travel with Purpose, the Clean Air Program was designed as a valued opportunity for both Hilton and its customers to share a commitment to host more eco-friendly meetings. The Clean Air Program is an evolution of the Carbon Offset Program which was previously offered in more than 30 properties in Australasia, Southeast Asia and Japan.
Dominic Sherry, head of sales, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide said, "Today's customers seek greater meaning in their event experiences and would like event planners to consider the broader implications of the meeting itself. Offering the Clean Air Program at our participating hotels and resorts incorporates a tangible, yet hassle-free solution that delivers on the corporate responsibility commitments of our customers and Hilton."
The Clean Air Program covers all events such as meetings, conferences, weddings and other social occasions held in participating hotels and resorts. Hilton will use LightStay, its proprietary system developed to calculate and analyze environmental performance, to track and measure carbon emissions from every meeting and event. Its "meeting calculator" feature takes into account the function room's water and electricity usage, and the food consumed at the event.
Hilton has identified nine projects across Asia Pacific to be funded under the Clean Air Program. These projects, located in countries where Hilton operates, prevent greenhouse gases by producing renewable energy or preserving forests.
For more information on the Clean Air Program and selected projects, please visit: www.HiltonWorldwideMeetingsAPAC.com/CleanAir.
About Climate Friendly
Climate Friendly is a trusted advisor and experienced partner to companies around the world wanting to build and increase business value. We help organizations save energy, reduce costs and build broader commercial value while addressing environmental and social impacts.
Visit www.climatefriendly.com for more information.
About Travel with Purpose
Travel with Purpose is Hilton Worldwide's commitment to provide shared value to its business and communities around the world. As the driving strategy for Hilton Worldwide's corporate responsibility efforts, Travel with Purpose focuses on creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening local communities where Team Members live, work and travel; celebrating cultures and the power of travel; and living sustainably through the measurement, analysis and improvement of the use of natural resources. Visit cr.hiltonworldwide.com for more information.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 95 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of twelve world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,300 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 715,000 rooms in 94 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide, and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.
CONTACT:
Joyce Moo
Hilton Worldwide
+65 6833 9703
joyce.moo@hilton.com
1 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Rankings - http://sustainability-ranking.channelnewsasia.com/about.html and PwC Investor Resource Institute's Survey Findings - http://www.pwc.com/us/en/press-releases/2014/pwc-survey-finds-majority-of-investors-consider-sustainability-issues.jhtml
