Today, March 22, is World Water Day, with the theme of waste water, something close to the heart of each luxury property belonging to Corinthia Hotels.
Corinthia’s environmental sustainability is championed through its Premier Partnership with international water-aid charity Just A Drop. Over the last three years Corinthia has brought life-changing clean water to a total of 43,325 children and families across five Just A Drop projects, the most recent in Zambia and Tanzania.
As a collection of luxury, five-star hotels worldwide, eco-friendly policies play a major role and sustainability is a top priority. The group’s philosophy is to become a more environmentally-conscious business while technological improvements are allowing it to protect the environment and be economically efficient at the same time.
“We strive for sustainability across three areas of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, in environmental sustainability, personal sustainability and community sustainability,” says Commercial Director Matthew Dixon.
Each of the hotels in Corinthia play their part, whether it be saving enough water to irrigate 15,000 trees for three years, interest free loans for bicycle purchases, fund-raising for worthwhile charities and solar thermal panels, are just some of the ways in which Corinthia Hotels is developing energy efficient hotels and exceeding the group’s corporate social responsibility targets.
Corinthia Hotel Lisbon led the way with CSR initiatives 12 years ago and was recognized for its efforts in 2013 when it was awarded the Western Europe Energy Project of the Year. The Lisbon hotel initiatives have become a source of inspiration for the other Corinthia hotels in the group.
“In the upscale hotel market, the ability to provide a high-quality service and accomplish it by utilizing the minimum resources possible is nowadays considered with increasing care and importance,” said Pedro Ferreira, engineer at Corinthia Hotel Lisbon.
He goes further when he says that energy efficiency is one of the hotel’s unique selling points.
Read below for the diverse ways that eight hotels in the group are becoming extraordinarily sustainable.
Corinthia Budapest:
The hotel has adopted a ‘We Care’ culture which pervades all aspects of the hotel.
Environmental sustainability: LED lightbulbs have been fitted, recycling of plastic, paper and metallic waste, and water-saving measures are in place.
Personal sustainability: top donor to the Csodalampa Foundation, a wish-granting foundation for children, and Euros1 of each guest’s room bill is donated to them. Supply bicycles to guests. Offer space and manpower to the Bihari Art School. Offer manp0woer and money to Mikulasgyar (Santa’s Factory). Organized meals for homeless people, 1,000 to date.
Environmental sustainability: Heat exchanges have been installed to reduce heat loss and the excess heat is used to warm water that otherwise has to be heated at considerable cost. A water filtration plant helps preserve and conserve plant and other equipment.
Lower wattage LED lights have replaced traditional lighting. Curtains and ultra violet films have been installed to the hotel’s glass façade so that heat is reflected back to the atmosphere and reduces the effect of both radiated heat and conducted heat. It will also lessen the need for air conditioning. Several air curtains have been installed to minimize the loss of air conditioning into the atmosphere. Water pressure restrictors reduce the amount of water used.
Staff are encouraged to use stairs and not lifts, to turn off computers when not in use. The hotel’s employment strategy is to employ local staff as much as possible to reduce fuel for staff transportation.
The hotel’s purchasing strategy is for local and sustainable sources across all goods and services.
Corinthia Khartoum:
The hotel has adopted a ‘We Care’ culture which pervades all aspects of the hotel.
Environmental sustainability: Heat exchanges have bene installed to reduce heat loss and the excess heat is used to warm water that otherwise has to be heated at considerable cost. A water filtration plant helps preserve and conserve plant and other equipment.
Lower wattage LED lights have replaced traditional lighting. Curtains and ultra violet film have been installed to the hotel’s glass façade so that heat is reflected back to the atmosphere and reduces the effect of both radiated heat and conducted heat. It will also lessen the need for air conditioning. Several air curtains have been installed to minimize the loss of air conditioning into the atmosphere. Water pressure restrictors reduce the amount of water used.
Staff are encouraged to use stairs and not lifts, and to turn off computers when not in use. The hotel’s employment strategy is to employ local staff as much as is possible, to reduce fuel for staff transportation.
The hotel’s purchasing strategy is for local and sustainable sources across all goods and services.
Corinthia Lisbon:
Environmental sustainability: As the largest five-star hotels in Portugal, energy efficiency was key and in 2007 this hotel led the way with tailor-made engineering solutions which enabled the hotel to produce part of its energy consumption. Solar thermal panels have been installed, so too a natural gas combined heat and power production system. Furthermore, energy efficiency measures were introduced to the hotel’s air conditioning, water heating and lighting – which typically make up 75% of the energy consumption of a European hotel – and energy savings of 22% were achieved.
The hotel also offers electric car charging points in its car park.
Corinthia London:
Environmental sustainability: Purchasing practices revolve around local producers, farmers, fishermen and artisan producers of mainland and British Isles primarily, where possible.
Plastic, paper and cardboard is all recycled, while damaged linen become rags for back of house and night cleaning.
There are interest-free loans for bicycle purchases and bike storage at the hotel as part of its Ride To Work Scheme.
Personal sustainability: Schemes include an investment of 0.5% of the hotel’s payroll to support apprenticeship schemes from 2017.
Community sustainability: Includes working with three charities: Springboard UK, Cardinal Hume and Good People Connect by offering free fundraising event space, donating, giving presentation/skills talks and offering work experience placements.
Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, Malta:
CSR runs through the entire hotel, with schemes across all three of the group’s pillars:
Environmental sustainability: For energy efficiency (through heat pumps, solar heating and photovoltaic systems), preventing water wastage and saving unique habitats. Everything that can be recycled is recycled, including plastic bottle tops given to a charitable foundation and sold to purchase wheelchairs, and biscuit packets exchanged in local gift schemes and used stamps passed on to a charity to be sold to buy guide dogs for the blind.
Personal sustainability: Strategies embrace humanitarian aid, individual development and helping to shape tomorrow’s craftsmen.
Community sustainability: Includes fund-raising for its adopted charity, Beyond the Moon (some Euros 73,200.00 to date), through re-selling ex-hotel stocks, fairs, raffles, donations and the like.
The hotel purchases local produce, promotes seasonal local delicacies and local artisans by offering them exhibition space.
Corinthia Prague:
Environmental sustainability: Purchasing strategies favor local and bio food ingredients and producers. Only eco-friendly washing and cleaning products are used.
Guests are encouraged to save the environment by deciding whether they need to change towels All waste is recycled.
An energy check list controls energy usage and initiatives such as switching to low-energy LED, monitoring air quality and noise protection.
Corinthia St George’s Bay, Malta:
Personal sustainability: Funds/collects for four charities, Beyond the Moon, Heritage Malta NGO, a dog shelter and Inspire Foundation.
Environmental sustainability: Installation of solar hybrid panels on the hotel roof, providing electricity and hot water and reducing our carbon footprint. An energy checklist controls energy and water usage and initiatives such as switching to low-energy LED bulbs have bene changed in public areas.
Corinthia St Petersburg:
Personal sustainability: Hosts an annual event for SOS Villages St Petersburg, homes for children and young adults, and supports Revive The Dream Foundation, which helps seriously ill children. Environmental sustainability: water and power-saving initiatives.
About Corinthia Hotels:
Corinthia is a global collection of luxury five-star hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta in 1962. Since 2000, Corinthia has evolved into a multifaceted public company, trading as International Hotel Investments (IHI) plc, which is the owner, developer and operator of Corinthia Hotels and commercial real estate worldwide. Guided by family values and inspired by the core principles underpinning the Spirit of Corinthia – authenticity, passion, precision and understanding – our focus is on ensuring craftsmanship in the hospitality world and delivering honest, discreet service. Each of Corinthia’s hotels and resorts, in some of the most exciting cities in the world, are a tribute to architectural grandeur and cultural traditions. The Corinthia portfolio features the flagship Corinthia Hotel & Residences in London, as well as award-winning Corinthia Hotels in Budapest, Malta, St Petersburg, Prague, Lisbon, Khartoum and Tripoli. Corinthia recently also announced the acquisition and redevelopment of the landmark Grand Hotel Astoria in Brussels, to be relaunched as a Corinthia Hotel, as well a new luxury beach resort under construction by the Meydan Group in Dubai, to be known as the Corinthia at Meydan Beach. Both hotels are due to open in 2019.
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