Business Travel Association Sponsors Corporate Social Responsibility Awards

March 27, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

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.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

Having been a consultant in the hospitality industry for the past ten years, I am encouraged to see companies like Symantex and IHG leading the way in environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Choosing to embrace CSR principles is the absolute best strategic decision organizations can make. Developing efficient management standards and operational procedures not only decreases a hotel’s impact on its community and the environment, it leads to substantial monetary savings. Please visit my blog to learn about another great way for the hospitality industry to support local economies and protect our world.

Matt Courtland | March 28th, 2009

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Stevenson on News Corp. Taps Hara for Energy Efficiency, Environmental Management
"All of us should think of ways to save energy now. It is not a myth,..."

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

Environmental Leader