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Accor is Launching PLANET 21, A Program Involving All Accor Hotels, Employees and Customers

By: ALL-Accor Live Limitless |  7 Shares     147 Reads

Building on almost two decades of best-in-class performance in sustainable development, Accor is taking its commitment to sustainability to a higher level with the announcement of PLANET 21.

India (PRWEB) May 21, 2012 - Accor is today taking sustainable development to new heights, with the launch of PLANET 21, a comprehensive program covering all of the Group’s environmental, social and community investment actions and placing sustainability at the core of its business strategy worldwide. With PLANET 21, Accor is making 21 commitments and the same number of quantified goals for the year 2015, including: employees trained in disease preventionin 95% of hotels, 80% of properties promoting balanced dishes;85%of hotels using eco-labelled products;a 15% reduction in water consumption; and 10% decrease in energy use at Accor’s owned and leased hotels worldwide.

The name PLANET 21 is a direct reference to Agenda 21, the environmental action plan signed by 173 heads of state at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, and reminds us of the urgent concerns that face our planet in the 21st century and the need to change our methods of production and consumption patterns to ensure the sustainability of the planet.

"At a time when the Group is embarking on a phase of brisk expansion, with the aim of becoming the global leader in the hotel industry, we are reaffirming our commitment to responsible growth capable of generating shared value for all,” said Denis Hennequin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor.“With the PLANET 21 program, we are putting sustainable hospitality at the core of the Group's strategy, development and innovation. I am convinced that sustainable development will lead us towards a new business model. PLANET 21 will provide a fantastic driver of competitiveness for our brands, attractiveness for our customers and partners and loyalty for our employees."

Since 1994, when Accor first established its Environment Department, the Group has adopted numerous solutions to contribute to the development of local communities,reduce water and energy consumption and limit the environmental footprint of its hotels. With PLANET 21, Accor is reinforcing its determination to put sustainable development at the heart of its activities: 21 commitments that involve customers, partners and employees in order to improve Accor’s sustainability pethese reasons, the new PLANET 21 strategy includes a program to engage customers, inviting them to contribute to the hotels' actions and achievements. From making a reservation to staying and or dining in Accor hotels, customers will discover a rich and diverse array of messages that will encourage them to contribute actively to the hotel's actionsthrough a few simple gestures. The tone of the messages will be friendly and thoughtful, aimed at inspiring customers to participate.

In addition, Accor will actively engage its hotel owners to bring more franchised and managed hotels into the PLANET 21 program – improving their sustainability performance and developing buildings that are constructed and operated in accordance with internationally recognised sustainability best practice. Accor will also share its commitments with suppliers, working with them to develop more sustainable products and services.

To develop PLANET 21, Accor commissioned two unprecedented international surveys to obtain comprehensive and objective information about its footprint and guest expectations. In 2011, the Group carried out a study of its environmental footprint that enabled it to measure accurately its main impacts, define priorities for action and identify new challenges. This work was preceded by a survey measuring theexpectations of international hotel customers, which showed that sustainable development is a growing selection criterionfor both leisure and business customers. According to this survey, for example, 67% of leisure guests take sustainable development actions into account when choosing a hotel.

Sophie Flak, Executive Vice President Sustainable Development and Academies for Accor added,"Today, 70% of our key account customers have integrated sustainable development criteria in their supplier policies, and one out of every two of these customers says they take this criterion into account when choosing a hotel. We used these findings to implement PLANET 21: a program covering all our social and environmental commitments, with precise goals that unites our employees and offers our customers an opportunity to participate."

With the launch PLANET 21, Accor is also deepening its focus on preserving the ecosystems in which its hotels operate. A pioneer in reforestation, Accor has since 2008 financed the planting of over two million trees worldwide, sharing the laundry cost savings generated through an innovative program that engages both hotel managers and guests.Under the Plant for the Planet program, guests contribute to water and energy conservation by reusing their towels – for every five towels reused, Accor commits to planting a tree in one of several plantations around the world. Accor India has committed to plant one tree per staff member to contribute to over 40,000 trees being planted in the Asia Pacific region.

In India, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and ibis Guragon will drive the initiative by organising events in the respective properties. The events are consisted of team-based initiatives carried out simultaneously that will have a special emphasis on local development, health and environment in the region. Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre will launch the campaign with the unveiling of the Planet 21 mural and planting trees with women and children of NGO Nireekshana, employees, guests and senior government officials. Ibis Gurgaon has associated with the NAZ Foundation and will celebrate the day with HIV affected children who will be planting trees in the hotel premises along with the Accor corporate team, hotel staff and the guests. Besides this, all other Accor properties in India will also organise actions and events in favour of sustainable development including planting of trees as a commitment towards protecting the environment.

Paul Archer, General Manager Delegate, Andhra Pradesh, Accor India, who has been overseeing the Planet 21 programme in India says, “We believe that the movement is very important to the planet. This programme will see Accor’s employees and guests mutually contributing back to the environment successfully. We're proud of the commitment of our employees who through their actions have made this project a reality with a shared goal of preserving the planet for future generations,"

To accelerate the rollout of this program, Accor is relying on the expertise of Tristan Lecomte, founder of Alter Eco and Pur Projet and an expert in the development of community forestation projects.

"PLANET 21 aligns perfectly with Pur Projet’s approach,” said Tristan Lecomte, Accor’s PLANET 21 Ambassador. With the contribution made by their guests, hotels participate directly in protecting their environment and the development of local communities. My aim is to support development of this program by integrating it more closely and more locally in the Group's different business lines.”

With PLANET 21, Accor aims to reinvent the hotel industry on a sustainable basis by mobilizing its employees, guests and partners. Visit Accor Hotel website for more information.

About Accor

Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is present in 90 countries with more than 4,400 hotels and 530,000 rooms. Accor's broad portfolio of hotel brands - Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons/ibis Styles, Etap Hotel/Formule 1/ibis budget, hotelF1 and Motel 6 - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget.With 145,000 employees worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise.

Contact:

Noopur Sharma Bose
PR Pundit
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/india/index.shtml
+91 9810484281

 

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