Hilton Colombo observes Earth Hour 2014 in support of energy conservation

Saturday, 5 April 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hilton Colombo marked Earth Hour 2014 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, 29 March as people and organisations around the world turned off their lights in support of action on global climate change. Hilton Colombo along with 3,000 hotels that are part of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands took take part in the event that mobilised more than one billion people worldwide.

Keeping in line with the Earth Hour theme of 60+, Spices, Spoons and the Thorana Lounge switched off their lighting for one hour, allowing diners to enjoy a candlelit dinner. Guests also enjoyed the Earth Hour Jazz unplugged at the hotels exquisite Thorana Lounge and bar. Further, to enhance the awareness of Earth Hour on social media, Hilton Colombo initiated a Facebook promotion where, four lucky winners who shared the Earth Hour promotional banner had a scrumptious three course meal at Il Ponte restaurant.

The hotel also observed Earth Hour by switching off all non-essential lights including laundry machines, boilers, swimming pool pumps, the pond, the tennis court lights, concessionaire shop lights, and building lights. Moreover the hotel shut down two elevator and the back corridor lights will be reduced by 50% while all the floor corridors will be kept on emergency lighting for one hour. The well known Hilton neon logo also was switched off as a symbolic gesture to further demonstrate the hotel’s support to Earth Hour.

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%, waste output by 20% and water consumption by 10%.

In 2010 alone, Hilton Worldwide saved more than $74 million in utility costs through a 6.6% reduction of energy use; 7.8% reduction of carbon output; 19% reduction of waste output; and 3.8% reduction of water use. Hilton Worldwide’s global giving is currently focused on creating vibrant and sustainable communities wherever it operates.