Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbia–Airport Recognized for Environmental Stewardship
June 11, 2014
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – The West Metro Chamber of Commerce and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) co-hosted a sustainability forum with S.C. business leaders and elected officials at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbia-Airport, June 3, 2014.
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to have business leaders in our community, like IHG’s Holiday Inn & Suites Columbia–Airport, that encourage sustainability leadership,” says West Metro Chamber of Commerce pres. Gregg Pinner following discussions aimed at encouraging sustainability in business.
The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbia-Airport was presented with a proclamation passed by the West Columbia City Council recognizing the hotel’s leadership in environmental sustainability through the IHG Green Engage program, an innovative online sustainability system designed to help IHG hotels monitor, reduce and manage waste, water and energy consumption and carbon emissions.
With 4,700 hotels and corporate offices in 100 countries and territories, worldwide (and more than 1,100 hotels in its development pipeline), IHG is the only international hotel company to build a comprehensive environmental management system for its hotels. Green Engage is designed to help minimize IHG hotels’ impact on the environment without compromising “guest experience.” It is said to enable hotels to achieve energy savings of up to 25 percent, approximately $90,000 for an average hotel.
“This hotel provides a professional culture that is promoting environmental and economic sustainability throughout the Midlands,” says Pinner.
Paul Snyder – vice president, Corporate Responsibility & Global Lead on Sustainability, IHG – agrees. “IHG is consistently looking for better ways to manage our carbon footprint rather than merely off setting emissions,” he says. “We engage with our owners, operators and colleagues to create a ‘green’ culture where, together, we actively explore solutions that enhance our business.”
Snyder adds, “We honor the great achievements in sustainability undertaken by the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbia–Airport and all those who bring this hotel to life for its guests. This is a strong example of what an IHG Green Engage hotel can achieve. We are also honored to be a part of this ongoing conversation to promote environmental sustainability.”
The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbia–Airport hotel has completed more than a 110 green solutions within the IHG Green Engage program. A few green solutions the hotel has undertaken include: tracking energy, water and reporting on waste; educating staff and developing a Staff Active Green Team; energy efficient appliances, occupancy sensors, aerators/ low-flow faucets, efficient irrigation, recycling and composting, sustainable event management, etc.
The Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Columbia-Airport hotel is also LEED–certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. IHG was the first hotel company to provide a streamlined approach to LEED precertification for existing and new-build hotels through IHG Green Engage. More than half of IHG’s hotels (brands such as Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, and Holiday Inn) are IHG Green Engage hotels. The IHG Green Engage program allows hotels to measure manage and report on their energy, water and waste consumption. It also provides benchmarking and the ability to create action plans to track progress.
IHG’s holding company, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.
