NEWH - September 2008 - (Page 26)

sustainability Nordic Knowledge One CEU for three chapters from Sweden’s leading eco-friendly hotel company, Scandic Top right: A rendering of the exterior of the Scandic at Oslo Airport. Above, top to bottom: The façades of the soon-to-open Scandic Potsdamer Platz in Berlin and the Scandic Khimki in Moscow. Above: A model guestroom at the new Scandic hotel in Berlin. NEWH LAS VEGAS SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE PUT together a CEU course covering Sweden’s Swan Seal. Magnus Hedenmark, environmental consultant to Scandic Hotels, gave a presentation in Las Vegas on June 17th, Phoenix on June 18th, and Los Angeles on June 19th. Each chapter put together their own evening program surrounding the educational seminar. Hedenmark discussed the fact that hospitality properties always look at profitability first. Sustainability in the industry is finally reaching a point where management can see benefits and the beginnings of some cost savings within their utility costs. Sustainable initiatives as a whole however, are still having to be instigated by management personnel with a conscience. As with many things, sustainability initiatives are driven by the world, whether the issues are financial, political, or social. Sweden’s Swan Seal Eco-Labeling system currently has 98 percent recognition with 58 percent of people responding with a positive attitude towards the label. Consumers in the Nordic market choose eco-labeled products nine out of 10 times, and seven out of 10 consumers are willing to pay a premium. Criteria for Swan Seal certification for the hospitality industry is based on energy consumption, water consumption, chemical products, and waste 26 september 2008 www.newh.org tel 800.593.NEWH management. A system of points for each is totaled to determine eligibility for the seal. Scandic Hotels, one of the biggest advocates of the Swan Seal has gone from one hotel with 25 rooms in 1963 to more than 23,000 rooms in 10 countries, and is the leading hotel chain in the Nordic market. Magnus is the first to admit that not every sustainable decision is profitable, but overall, the management/owners of Scandic have made a conscience decision to promote sustainable practices. They feel the social and moral impact is most important, and this trickles down to their consumers in numerous ways. This has led to Scandic’s environmental policy: “No company can avoid taking responsibility for the environment and focusing on environmental issues. Scandic shall therefore, lead the way and work continuously to promote both a reduction in our environmental impact and a better environment. Scandic shall contribute to a sustainable society”. This policy has led to a fossil carbon dioxide emission reduction of 34 percent, down from 1996 when Scandic first began keeping records. The company has a goal of 50 percent carbon dioxide reduction by 2011, and 100 percent by 2025. The financial savings over 10 years has been just under $28 million, taking into account everything—from water savings to local organic/fair-trade breakfasts, waste management, and training more than 11,000 team members in sustainable practices. All three CEUs were well attended, and NEWH is proud to have started this important dialog. I http://www.newh.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - September 2008

NEWH - September 2008
Contents
News
Conference Update
Have you Seen?
Product Know-How
On the Scene
Sustainability: Point of View
Sustainability
Design 101: International Project
Cover Story: Happy Feet
Project: Blush
Project: Aura
New Members
Save the Date
Partner Profiles

NEWH - September 2008