Fairmont in New Partnership with WWF

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced today a partnership with the WWF aimed at impacting climate change. The program seeks to monitor the hotel chain’s carbon footprint and set a reduction goal for June 2008. This goal will allow the Fairmont chain to become part of the WWF’s Climate Savers program as well as create the [...]

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced today a partnership with the WWF aimed at impacting climate change. The program seeks to monitor the hotel chain’s carbon footprint and set a reduction goal for June 2008. This goal will allow the Fairmont chain to become part of the WWF’s Climate Savers program as well as create the standard of a chain-wide reduction plan for carbon emissions. Fairmont’s main concentration areas are energy efficiency, increased conversion to renewable energy supply, and promoting conservation practices amongst the staff(s). The chain has about 50 hotels and resorts around the world, with 20 more in development.

As we are all aware (especially if you are a regular to this site) travel is a huge contributor to pollution;international trips are expected to top 1.5 billion by 2020, with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rising exponentially. Hence, a large hotel chain getting proactive with a reputable group like the WWF is certainly a nice step in the right direction and can perhaps serve as a stepping stone for other chains by setting the precedence in green accomodations.

As quoted by Mike Russill, president and CEO of WWF-Canada,: “WWF will work alongside Fairmont to set an ambitious absolute emission reduction target, develop specific plans to lower its CO2 footprint and challenge others in the sector to follow suit.”

“As a pioneering voice on responsible tourism in the hotel industry, Fairmont has always embraced its role as an environmental ambassador and has encouraged others to follow its lead,” said Chris Cahill, Fairmont’s president and COO. “In the evolution of our environmental programming, Fairmont continues to seek out new ways in which to make a discernable impact and we are pleased to be the first global hotel brand to partner with WWF to tackle climate change. WWF shares our passion, accountability and commitment to the environment, and to achieving significant CO2 reductions at our operations worldwide.”