Fairmont commits to carbon reduction with WWF Climate Savers Program

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a brand well-known for its progressive environmental efforts, has recently announced its latest environmental endeavor – the popular brand has officially joined the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Climate Savers Program.

Fairmont has agreed to cut its carbon emissions by 20% by 2013 throughout its existing properties, while confirming its commitment for all new Fairmont Fairmont properties to reduce CO2 emissions through the implementation of the brand’s new Energy and Carbon Management program.

WWF’s Climate Savers Program is a collaboration among some of the world’s leading corporations voluntarily reducing emissions and heading off the environmental impacts associated with climate change.

Fortune 500 companies as well as big-name, industry leaders have continually partnered with WWF to develop practical, cost-effective strategies to reduce carbon emissions and achieve energy efficiency goals.

“This is a great way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of WWF’s Climate Savers Program,” said Gerald Butts, WWF-Canada’s President and CEO. “Leading companies like Fairmont are proving that strong environmental action is good for the economy.”

By 2010, the Climate Saver companies will have cut carbon emissions by some 14 million tons per year—the equivalent of taking more than 3 million cars off the road every year, while at the same time, saving these companies hundreds of millions of dollars.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was the first major hotel chain in North America to embrace environmental stewardship within its daily operations through its award-winning Green Partnership program. The chain employs a long list of eco-initiatives, including:

• Finalize a Green Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct by the end of 2009;
• Educate and encourage its top suppliers (representing approximately 25 percent of the supply chain) to provide products in accordance with the Green Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct by the end of 2010;
• Update existing Design and Construction standards to incorporate and reflect LEED standards by the end of 2011;
• Endeavor to include sustainable and LEED-certified hotels across the brand; and
• Seek to relocate Fairmont Hotels & Resorts corporate offices in Toronto, Canada to a building with a LEED NC Gold target by 2011.

“We see our Climate Savers partnership with WWF as a sound strategic decision, one that will help ensure destination health and contribute to the financial stability of the industry,” said Thomas W. Storey, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “Fairmont is proud to be the first global hotel brand to partner with WWF to tackle climate change and we look forward to achieving significant CO2 reductions from our operations worldwide.”

Emission reductions at Fairmont will be achieved through a number of activities including improved energy efficiency, increased conversion to renewable energy supply, optimized purchasing efficiencies and promoting conservation practices among its colleagues. Fairmont will continue to implement energy efficiency initiatives across its portfolio and increase its use of renewable energy supply where possible. In addition to reducing its own emissions, Fairmont will share best practices with other organizations committed to the protection of the environment and work to increase guest engagement and awareness on issues related to reducing its overall CO2 output.

For more details, visit http://www.fairmont.com/ and http://www.wwf.ca/.