Accor Embraces Earth Day

MEDIA RELEASE
19 April 2007

Accor Embraces Earth Day

Accor employees throughout New Zealand, as well as some 170,000 staff throughout the rest of the world, are demonstrating their commitment to sustainable development in the lead up to international Earth Day on Sunday, April 22 with a range of events and initiatives.

Called Earth Guest Day at Accor, the day is a culmination of campaigns pursued by employees throughout the year and highlights the Earth Guest program introduced by the Group in 2006 to join together its social and environmental responsibility initiatives. The idea behind 'Earth Guest Day' is that we are all guests of the earth and should take time out to give back to the planet.

In nearly 60 countries around the world, Accor teams support sustainable development programs that are organised around both people (for example projects to protect children, support local development, promote balanced nutrition and eliminate epidemics) and the environment (such as projects to control energy use, limit water consumption, manage waste and preserve biodiversity).

Accor will present a united front in New Zealand for its environmental project, with the entire group to focus on an initiative dubbed "Unwrapped", where individuals are challenged to reduce packaging waste both at work and at home. All employees throughout the country will receive a purpose-made, reusable shopping/carry bag and a flyer detailing ways to eliminate or reduce waste through methods such as recycling, composting and shopping environmentally.

The group will also use Earth Guest Day to put the spotlight on an issue close to everybody's hearts - child protection. As its people project, Accor and charity Cure Kids will celebrate the tremendous achievements they have made throughout their partnership. Accor is a key partner of Cure Kids, and have raised more than $1 million dollars since 2003, which goes towards medical research for life threatening illnesses affecting children. Picnics for affected children, their families and Accor staff will take place in Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Queenstown.

Accor's three hotels in Fiji – Sofitel Resort & Spa, Mocambo Hotel Nadi and Mercure Hotel Nadi will also hold a picnic for kids involved in Cure Kids Fiji, which was started with Accor in 2006 and raises funds for basic medicine and equipment for the children of Fiji. So far more than FJ$280, 000 has been raised. The hotel staff will also band together to focus on ways to tackle the problem of plastic bags and rubbish littering drains, waterways and vegetation.

Vice President of Accor New Zealand Paul Richardson says the aim of Earth Guest Day is threefold. "We want to individually affect the day-to-day actions of employees, to act collectively at a local level on these projects and to raise awareness of the environmental and social issues being targeted", he says.

"Sustainable development is an issue of huge importance to any business operating today. Accor is the only company in the New Zealand hospitality sector to be a member of the New Zealand Business Council of Sustainable Development and the group remains dedicated to exploring opportunities for sustainable development in the future. And of course our commitment to Cure Kids is as strong as ever."

Some inspiring projects throughout Accor's international network include tree planting in Africa, limiting water consumption in Australia, promoting balanced nutrition to Accor staff in Paris and a book, toy and clothing drive for children suffering from AIDS in India.

BACKGROUND ON THE EARTH GUEST PROGRAM

After many years of pursuing initiatives to support the environment and local development, Accor introduced the Earth Guest sustainable development program in 2006. Earth Guest Day is one component of that program. With the support of a global network of correspondents sensitive to all aspects of sustainable development, clearly defined objectives were set.

In North America for example, hotels will concentrate on the rejuvenation of plants and trees in public spaces and in Europe it is the reduction of carbon emissions. .

By leveraging its presence on six continents and regular contact with 120 million customers, Accor is helping to spread the principles of sustainable development around the world.

Accor is the worldwide leader in hotels, tourism and corporate services, employing 170,000 people in nearly 100 countries. It offers to its individual and corporate clients nearly 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses:

- Hotels: over 4,000 hotels (475,000 rooms) in 90 countries (including 150 hotels and resorts in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific under the brands Sofitel, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis and Formule 1) as well as backpacker hostels, travel agencies, restaurants and casinos;

- Services to corporate clients and public institutions: 21 million people in 35 countries benefit from Accor Services' products – employee assistance programs, people care and services, incentive, loyalty programs, events, food vouchers.

ENDS

© Scoop Media