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SHANGHAI, March. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao plans to mark Earth Hour 2013 from 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, March 23, 2013 as people and organizations around the world turn off their lights in support of action on global climate change. Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao and many of the more than 3,900 hotels that are part of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands are expected to take part in the event that will mobilize more than one billion people worldwide.
"We are committed to energy conservation and we are encouraging our guests and neighbors to join us as we turn off our lights in support of this global effort," said Michael Williamson, General Manager at Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao.
Earth Hour will be celebrated at Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao through a variety of activities including:
Organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour began in 2007 as a way for individuals to show how simple steps can make a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gases and addressing climate change. More than 2.2 million people took part in the first Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia and it has since turned into a movement with more than 7,000 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories and hundreds of millions of participants across seven continents. It continues to demonstrate the new era as members go "Beyond the Hour" to commit to lasting action for the planet.
Hilton Worldwide is the first major multi-brand hospitality company to make sustainability measurement a brand standard and recently earned ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications for quality and environmental management - one of the largest volume certifications awarded for commercial buildings. As part of that standard, Hilton Worldwide-branded properties commit to continuous improvements to their overall sustainability results each year. Across the portfolio, Hilton Worldwide has a made a five-year commitment, from 2009 to 2014, to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent, CO2 emissions by 20 percent, waste output by 20 percent and water consumption by 10 percent. In 2012, Hilton Worldwide achieved its waste goal two years of ahead of schedule and reduced its waste output by 23.3 percent.
Additionally, Hilton Worldwide saved more than $174 million in cumulative savings from energy efficiency projects reporting through LightStay. The company is on track to meet to meet its goals and has reduced its energy use by 9.7 percent; carbon output by 10.9 percent; and water use by 7.5 percent.
Hilton Worldwide's efforts to continuously improve its economic and sustainability performance align with the company's commitment to Travel with Purpose to create shared value for its business and communities around the world. Launched in 2011, Travel with Purpose is built on four areas of focus - creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening communities where we operate; celebrating cultures and the power of travel; and living sustainably through the measurement, analysis and improvement of our use of natural resources.
About LightStayTM
LightStayTM is a proprietary system developed to calculate and analyze sustainability performance. LightStay measures multiple utility and operational metrics such as (but not limited to) energy, water, carbon, housekeeping, paper product usage, waste, chemical storage, air quality and transportation. In addition, LightStayTM provides social networking tools that allow properties to communicate and share information, and features a "meeting impact calculator" element that calculates the sustainability impact of any meeting or conference held at a property.
Media can access additional information about Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao at http://news.hilton.com/shanghaihongqiao
About Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao
Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao offering spacious and comfortable accommodation, with guest rooms starting form a generous 46 sqm-the largest in Hongqiao. Indulge in unrivaled pampering at our iconic Spa, or revel in the flavors and ambiance of our world-class restaurants and bar. For special functions, the grand ballroom, accommodates more than 1,000 guests and is the largest in Puxi. Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao is conveniently located at the heart of the new Hongqiao business development district, just 15 minutes from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Discover a great new way to experience Hilton in Shanghai. www.shanghaihongqiao.hilton.com
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,900 hotels and timeshare properties, with 650,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, 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 the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.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.
