45
RESPONSIBLE COMMITMENT
Environmental sustainability
GREEN HOTEL PROJECT
This project aims to offer value to customers through taking
sustainable actions, stressing the innovative attributes that
improve brand perception.
Eco-Standards: Green Basics
• Sustainable operations guide for the hotel
NH Hotel Group has an environmental management and energy
efficiency system. The policies and application procedures are
available to all the Company hotels via the Intranet. For the NH
Hotel Group, training its employees in environmental matters
forms the basis for achieving the five-year Strategic Plan
targets in the area of sustainable hotel operation. That is why
a good environmental practices and energy efficiency module
is available to all the employees via the NH University company
platform.
• Hotel Sustainable Design and Construction Manual
This manual contains water and energy saving strategies
and sets out guidelines concerning the use of materials and
construction in order to ensure that the hotels are more
efficient and environmentally friendly. NH Hotel Group is
one of the main companies in the world where preparing
and implementing a standard of these characteristics is
concerned and its ultimate aim is to make sure that its own new
establishments comply with such international sustainability
standards as LEED® or BREEAM.
The task of implementing the contents of this Manual began
in 2015, by applying environmental control over the works at
NH Lagasca, NH Nacional, NH Collection Paseo del Prado, NH
Collection Colón, NH Ventas, NH Collection Doelen, NH Collection
Barbizon Palace and NH Utrecht Hotels. The guidelines contained
in the Eco Efficient Hotel Manual were applied to NH Liberdade,
NH Collection Pódium, NH Schiphol Airport, NH Collection
Grand Sablon, NH Jan Tabak and NH Carlton Amsterdam hotels
as from the design stage. All the hotels where this standard has
been applied have exceeded the Silver Status.
• Sustainable food:
NH Hotel Group offers its customers
healthy options, organic food and local produce. Therefore,
the Company supports the local economy and culture of the
places where its hotels are located.
Promoting sustainable innovation
NH Hotel Group collaborates with universities and technological
institutions on a wide variety of projects with the aim of promoting
innovation, initiative and education in the field of sustainable energy.
WHEN ARE OUR HOTELS
SUSTAINABLE?
When they comply the following requirements:
1. Reporting water consumption, energy consumption and
carbon footprint on a montly basis
2. Arraging for audits from an external company to verify
fulfilment of the NH Hotel Group’s sustainability standards
3. Having an external environmental certificate (ISO, Green
Key or GreenLeader)
4. Having a Green laundry programme for sheets and towels
5. Having a recycling programme
6. Ensuring that the paper comes from sustainable sources
7. Having installed more than 75% LED lighting
Within the context of this commitment on sustainable
innovation, since 2011 the Company has been taking part in the
CorktoCork cork recovery programme, as a result of which it
has produced more than 8,000 m
2
of cork for insulation and
lining. NH Hotel Group has also opted for green energy, so all the
electricity consumed in its hotels in Europe is generated using
renewable sources.
Sustainable mobility
In 2015, 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, like the 112 battery recharge points for electric cars
available at 41 hotels.
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.
This innovative proposal by NH Meetings for company events
enables clients to organise carbon neutral meetings, and making
up for any impact by supporting sustainable development and
climate change projects. Among such projects are the Fuel
Switch Project in Brazil, to reduce carbon emissions from the
ceramics plants, Fuel Efficient Cookstoves in Uganda and the
Kasigau Corridor REDD Project in Kenya, whose aim is to stop
the deforestation and forest deterioration.
renewable
& green
energy
operating
sustainable
hotels
nutrition,
well being &
local taste
low impact
amenities &
materials
design for
environment
reducing
carbon
footprint
GREEN HOTEL
PROJECT
Innovation and brand image
GREEN SAVINGS
PROJECT
Capture of additional savings
• Energy Efficiency Plan
• Green Certification Programme
• Control of energy ratios, based on
the Sustain Focus
• Waste Management Plan
• Eco-standards: Green Basics
• Development/Promotion of
sustainable innovation
• Agreements with key players
Green mobility
• Commercial Plan: Integration
of sustainability in commercial
initiatives
