Luxury Hotelier - February 2008 - (Page 27)

Born green G leneagles’ environmentally friendly operations are more than just the hotel hopping on a trend. The property has had sustainable operations in place for quite some time, though it’s recently received more attention, thanks to rising interest in responsible tourism. “It’s in our blood; it has been for a long time,” says Gleneagles Chairman Peter Lederer. “If you have a business in these surroundings, you have a responsibility to look after it.” Gleneagles’ sustainability efforts center on three factors: social, economic and the environment. “You have to look at your business from that perspective,” Mr. Lederer says. For example, last September the hotel put a biomass boiler to use, providing heat and hot water to the hotel from burning woodchips. There is a back-up oil-fired burner in case of emergencies, but the biomass boiler has more than proved its worth. “The boiler is reducing our energy costs year over year and it’s saving energy as a day-to-day activity, so it’s bottom-line common sense as well,” Mr. Lederer says. Adds Bernard Murphy, Gleneagles’ general manager, “In the face of rising oil prices, having put that in looks like a pretty good fiscal decision.” Through a partnership with Perthshire Big Tree Country, Gleneagles also is launching an initiative to protect and sustain the surrounding countryside. This is the first year guests have the opportunity to donate one pound per room night to the replanting and rebuilding of Perthshire’s woodlands. “Our community is one of our key values, and woodland is a big thing within Perthshire,” Mr. Murphy says. Other resort-wide initiatives include recycling and movement-sensitive lights in guestroom corridors. Mr. Lederer says over the next 18 months, the property also is focused on eliminating landfill waste and being carbon neutral by 2010. The green program even extends into some of the guest activities. For example, on falconry hunt excursions the rabbits killed are not all for sport. Though the process is indeed a natural one between bird and rabbit, guides are careful to make sure the animal is dead and not just in shock before it’s disposed of. The deceased animals then are taken to a nearby wildlife rehabilitation center to serve as food for wounded wild animals. Staff is overwhelmingly in favor of such initiatives, and these efforts have garnered Gleneagles Hotel environmental awards, winning the pan European Award for Environmental Excellence in 2001 and a Gold Award from VisitScotland’s Green Tourism Business Scheme. “It’s been in our interest over the last 80 years to be open to maintaining our surroundings,” Mr. Murphy concludes. — J.M. Pamper Your Guests with the Luxury L’Occitane produces high end bath and of L’OCCITANE Hotel Amenity Program body products using authentic and natural ingredients from the region of Provence. L’Occitane’s unique hotel amenity collections are designed to inspire a lifestyle of natural beauty and well being. Bring the essence of the Mediterranean to your luxury property. Discover how by contacting a L’Occitane representative. http://usa.loccitane.com http://usa.loccitane.com

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Luxury Hotelier - February 2008 Editor's Letter Publisher's Letter Inform Network Forever Young Evolution for Jumeirah Insight Diamond in the Rough Amenities Televisions Art in Residence Yield Management Development Wine Lists Marketing to Locals Update Advertisers Index Editorial Index Source Listing Dossier

Luxury Hotelier - February 2008

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