Environmental Leader

The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has awarded its first Corporate Social Responsibility Awards (CSR) to Symantec and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) at the first Green Travel Summit in Newport Beach, California.

The Alexandria, Virginia-based organization awarded Symantec, a security solutions company, with the Direct (travel buyer) award for its initiatives to minimize carbon emissions with enhanced video conferencing and a regional commute-reduction program. Since 2006, Symantec has reduced annual employee auto trips in the San Francisco area by 11 percent, resulting in a 9 percent decrease in emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other air pollutants. Symantec targets a 15-percent reduction in carbon emissions by the end of fiscal year 2012.

IHG won in the Allied (travel supplier) category for its commitment to supporting societal needs and reducing environmental impacts. Through its Americas region sustainability initiative Chase the Extraordinary, a grassroots campaign to engage employees at every level in the hotel, a team visited 208 hotels across North America to reinforce sustainability.

IHG has reduced waste by 60 percent through its recycling programs, saved $2.28 million in electricity and $139,715 with reduced garbage collections from 14 to 5 per month. It also saves 22,000 liters of water each month in a 100-room hotel via its water reduction pilot program called Conserving for Tomorrow.

Award winner semi-finalists included KPMG, Kimpton Hotels and Continental Airlines.

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