Environmental Leader

Hilton Hotels has announced sustainability targets it aims to reach by 2014.

They include:

• Reducing energy consumption from direct operations by 20 percent;
• Reducing CO2 emissions by 20 percent;
• Reducing output of waste by 20 percent; and
• Reducing water consumption by 10 percent.

Hilton has already begun to green its hotel operations. Through the introduction of carbon-free electricity at its facilities in the U.K. and Ireland, Hilton says it reduced CO2 emissions in participating Hilton hotels by more than 64,000 tons, or 56 percent of its carbon footprint. The company says it has also reduced its energy and water consumption 10 percent over the last two years.

Hilton Hotels reported in May that it has delivered energy savings of more than 10 percent last year across more than 80 hotels in Europe.

A 2007 survey conducted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and KDS revealed that only one-third of corporate travel policies promote sustainable tourism. While many travelers said they would prefer a green hotel, other factors such as price win out when they’re booking.