Marriott Brings Nobility of Nature to Hong Kong

Marriott’s fresh water conservation programme in China - Nobility of Nature - has expanded to Hong Kong for the first time.

All Marriott International properties in Hong Kong will now serve organic honey harvested in Sichuan for consumption and retail sale, including JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, Courtyard Hong Kong and Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel.

Announced in 2010, Nobility of Nature is a collaboration between Marriott International and Conservation International to support fresh water conservation and assist rural communities with sustainable businesses that put less stress on China’s environment, most especially its sources of fresh water.

Marriott invested US$500,000 in seed money to support the programme and helped provide grants, training, resources and community development for villages in Sichuan Province.

Today, Nobility of Nature supports two organic bee-farming cooperatives in Guanba village and Yingjing county in Sichuan. As a result of the improved honey production and techniques, as well as the marketing efforts of Marriott International and its partner Cheng Bao Juice Company, the cooperatives have been able to triple their revenue.

Marriott International has also purchased some 5.7 tons of honey for retail sale across its entire hotel network in China, and now Hong Kong, with proceeds used to provide further support to the cooperatives and local communities.

“Marriott International strives to demonstrate how responsible hospitality management can be a positive force for the environment, creating economic opportunities and inspiring personal action in the communities where we operate,” said Craig Smith, Marriott International’s Chief Operating Officer, Asia. “Nobility of Nature is a great showcase of this vision, but more importantly, it also enables our guests to support sustainability. We are delighted to bring the Nobility of Nature honey to Hong Kong for the first time, marking the continued development and success of this meaningful initiative across Greater China.”

Mr. Smith noted that Marriott International has also been actively incorporating environmentally-responsible business solutions into its Greater China operations to conserve natural resources.

In the period June 2011 to June 2012, the water and energy consumption of Marriott hotels in Greater China reduced by - .84% and -1.67% respectively compared with the previous period. Despite Marriott International increasing its portfolio to 130 hotels in these three years, total energy consumption remained constant.

“Considering the fact that the number of our hotels in China has been increasing significantly during the past couple of years, these results are exceptional,” Mr. Smith said.

Currently Marriott International has 60 operating hotels in China with 61 signed hotels in the pipeline.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, RevPAR, Interviews, Pictures, Sports Tourism, Videos, Marriott, Green, Hong Kong, Solar Power, Honey