During WWF's Earth Hour
SHANGHAI, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- In line with Marriott International's ongoing "Spirit to Preserve" community campaign, Marriott International participated in the 2012 Earth Hour, a global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), held on the last Saturday of March, to raise awareness about climate change.
On Saturday, 31 March 2012, 25 of Marriott's cluster hotels in Greater Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Wuhan switched off their respective exterior and non-essential lights for one hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm in support of the Earth Hour. The properties are as follows:
The properties are as follows:
In total, the cluster properties consolidated a savings of 5,000 kilowatt of energy within the hour, or 4,985 kilograms of carbon emission that require 199 trees to absorb in a year (based on an estimated 25 kilograms of carbon emission per tree per year). These savings are also equivalent to the energy that takes one to and from Shanghai to Beijing for nine rounds on a 1.6 litre car.
Shanghai Marriott Hotel Changfeng Park and Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Pudong represented the group's cluster hotels to record the Earth Hour with the media and hotel guests. Minutes before powering down, guests were invited to the candlelit Panorama bar located on level 33 at Shanghai Marriott Hotel Changfeng Park where everyone enjoyed an hour complimentary flow of Earth Hour Green Cocktails specially concocted for the event and count down to the Earth Hour with the splendid unplugged singing by "Panorama Angels" live band. A synchronized lights out throughout the Changfeng scenic area and Suzhou Creek from Panorama's 270-degree panoramic windows was witnessed. At Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Pudong, the "Roots & Shoots" gave a presentation of their "the Million Tree Project" to all guests, and "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" game helped all guests well known the green protection knowledge. At that night, media guests joined the candle light dinner in Lu Terrace Garden on 4F with a great view when all non-essential light turned off from 8:30-9:30pm. Organic buffet cuisine with fresh materials made were delicate prepared by chef in Spices Café on G floor, a huge logo of "60+" marked Earth Hour attracted all attention of all guests coming during the night. When guests went upstairs with the guide holding special orange lantern, green cocktail drink and puzzle games were waiting in the Executive Lounge on 16F which made the Earth Hour night more memorable and interesting.
About Marriott International
The Marriott International has grown to be a leading lodging company with nearly 3,700 properties and 18 brands in 72 countries and territories worldwide. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites Inn and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, The Ritz-Carlton Residences and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company's headquartered is located in Bethesda, Maryland USA, and had approximately 137,000 employees at 2009 yearend. It is recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the best companies to work for, and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2009, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of nearly $11 billion. For more information, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 26, 2011 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. By 2010, Earth Hour had created history as the largest voluntary action ever witnessed with participation across 128 countries and territories and every continent, including the world's most recognized man-made marvels and natural wonders in a landmark environmental action.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
For more information on WWF's Earth Hour, visit their website at www.earthhour.org
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