Incorporating sustainability into commercial initiatives
NH Hotel Group considers that its activity could directly or
indirectly have a positive effect on the environment in the
communities where it operates. Therefore, as part of its
commitment, eco-friendly meetings have been organised. These
are meetings and events for customers at which:
The event’s carbon footprint is calculated, so that customers
can organise carbon neutral meetings.
Support is given to sustainable development projects by making
up for carbon emissions.
Recycled paper and other environmentally-friendly materials
are used.
Environmentally-friendly transportation is made available to
customers through local suppliers in the main cities.
Sustainable food options are included on the menu.
Eco-friendly beverages are provided instead of bottled water.
Good quality LED lighting and low-consumption lighting is
provided to save energy.
Renewable energy sources are provided in 78% of the hotels in
Germany, Spain and Italy.
The climate change projects supported by the Company to ensure
that its events have a neutral environmental impact are:
Fuel Switch Project in Brazil, to reduce carbon emissions
from the ceramics plants. The contribution makes it possible
to change the fuel used in this industry, thereby reducing
emissions.
Fuel Efficient Cookstoves in Uganda, to stop the deforestation
caused by the use of wood as cooking fuel. The project enables
Ugandan families to use efficient stoves.
Kasigau Corridor REDD Project in Kenya, to prevent
deforestation and the deterioration of the local forests by
developing sustainable farming practices.
Other outstanding achievements in 2014 include:
NH Ribera del Manzanares, the first hotel in the world
to be awarded the BREEAM “Excellent” certification
for building management.
Supporting the “Earth Hour” global campaign promoted
by the NGO “WWF” for the sixth consecutive year.
Supporting “Grupo Español para el Crecimiento
Verde” (the Spanish Group for Green Growth), which
is backed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the
Environment.
Signing the Climate Project contract with the Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. Over
the next 4 years NH Hotel Group will reduce its CO
2
emissions by approximately 7,000 tonnes in 10 hotels
in the chain.
NH Collection Eurobuilding’s collaboration with
Madrid’s organic producers and the regional Ministry
of the Environment to offer organic food and local
produce.
COMMITMENT TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS
Environmental sustainability
48
Promoting sustainable innovation
NH Hotel Group collaborates with universities and
technological institutions on a wide variety of projects. One
such project is developed jointly with the companies KIC
InnoEnergy, EMTE, DEXMA and Enervalis, and the TECNALIA
and VITO technological centres. The aim of the project is
to promote innovation, initiative and education in the field
of sustainable energy, within the framework of Horizon
2020. The project focuses on developing and marketing the
eQualtig suite energy efficiency applications in hotels and
on vertical surfaces. The application enables those who have
it to monitor and optimise energy use; compare a variety of
supply contracting options; adapt the price opportunities on
the wholesale market and take part in reward programmes
in exchange for a flexible energy demand.
77 hotels belonging to the Group participate in the
“CorktoCork” bottle cork recovery programme for insulation
and linings. 8,000 m
2
of paving have been recovered.
NH Hotel Group supports green energy in hotels in Italy,
Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, and 78% of
our hotels in Germany, Spain and Italy use renewable energy
sources.
Inclusion in the application HERE by NOKIA for establishing
112 battery recharge points for electric vehicles at the hotels.
Sustainable Mobility
In 2014, NH Hotel Group has given its approval to a global
sustainable mobility standard for the hotels and has
increased by 44% the number of hotels that offer sustainable
mobility services.
Renting cars at 13 hotels
112 battery recharge points for electric cars available
at 41 hotels
Promoting the use of bicycles in the main cities
2013
2014
Comparable hotels in
the five-year Strategic Plan
CO
2
emissions (kg)
50,748,464 44,859,057
CO
2
emissions
(kg per room/night)
7.35
6.40
Energy consumption (kWh)
383,547,627 360,305,444
Energy consumption
(kWh per room/night)
55.52
51.43
Water consumption (m
3
)
1,863,272
1,913,686
Water consumption
(m
3
per room/night)
0.30
0.30
main environment indicators
