RADISSON SAS SAYS 'GREEN' ISSUES INFLUENCE CORPORATE BOOKINGS - CHAIN'S MID EAST HOTELS STEP UP 'ENVIRO' MEASURES

21 July 2002

The environment is a key decision factor for large corporations when evaluating hospitality industry partners and suppliers, according to a survey conducted by Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, which operates eight Middle East and African properties, with five under development in Egypt, Turkey and Lebanon.

"Many of our key corporate clients have included the environment in their standard contracts expecting suppliers to meet their demands by following eco-friendly and responsible business directives," said Pia Heidenmark, Director, Environmental & Social Affairs, Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts.

"While this is now almost a mandatory requirement in the Nordic countries and Germany, we will soon notice similar trends in other regions, including the Middle East."

Companies like SAS, Nokia, Ericsson, Volvo and British Airways were surveyed during the recent Radisson SAS international 'sales blitz' campaign and agreed that the environment influences their decisions regarding accommodation partners for travelling staff.

"By investing in the implementation of high-standard environment protection practices, global corporations expect their partners to be equally resourceful and proactive on 'green' issues," said Heidenmark. 

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts has a specific environmental policy as well as a detailed social responsibility policy, outlining the chain's commitment to these two issues. 

In the Middle East, the company concentrates on energy saving practices, which have led to significant reductions in water and power consumption across its network of regional hotels in Amman, Aqaba, Bahrain, Baku, Cape Town, Istanbul, Kuwait, Muscat and Sharm El Sheikh. 

"Conservation is being achieved with energy saving lamps and controlled water supply systems," said Werner Kuendig, Vice President, Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts. "Apart from the installation of thousands of energy saving light bulbs, we have introduced a scheme which allows us to collect A/C condensation water and use it to irrigate gardens in certain properties." 

At the same time, we are constantly educating our staff to be pro-active in promoting and supporting recycling and other environmental activities in the local community," he said. 

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts operates Middle East and Africa hotels in Amman, Aqaba, Bahrain, Cape Town, Istanbul, Kuwait, Muscat and Sharm El Sheikh and has hotels under development in Al Quseir, Ankara, Beirut, Hurghada, Istanbul and Taba. 

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts currently includes 109 hotels in operation and 40 hotels under development in 37 countries and is the sole franchisor in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa for Radisson Hotels & Resorts. 

Radisson Hotels & Resorts and its parent company Carlson Hospitality Worldwide includes 813 hotel and resort locations representing 137,830 guest rooms in 63 countries plus six luxury cruise ships sailing worldwide.