For Third Year, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Around the Globe Join Together to Mark Environmental Awareness Event
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali Staged an Inspiring Starlight Night
By spending an hour in the dark, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali joined millions around the world to send a powerful message about a brighter future for the planet.
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali turned off its lights in observance of Earth Hour, the global environmental awareness event created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Last year, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.
To underscore parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.’s (NYSE: HOT) dedication to environmental sustainability, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali also shared other energy-saving measures during Earth Hour, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. local time. Among them: Turning off exterior signage lighting; dimming or turning off non-essential interior lighting; using candlelight in appropriate public areas such as restaurants, bars and lobby; and using in-room guest letter to inform guests about Earth Hour observances. These simple actions helped to reduce at least 480 kg of Co2 Emission during the hour.
Earth Hour is drawing strong support from Starwood hotels around the globe. Last year, unlit hotels offered striking visual imagery that provided an apt symbol of Earth Hour. In 2010 The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali has successfully reduced 30% of electricity usage during this global environment program.
To generate awareness about Earth Hour and to encourage guest participation, the General Manager and Management Team of the Resort hosted a cocktail gathering in poolside area. A video about Earth Hour was presented followed by a brief speech by the GM to officially launched Earth Hour at 8.30pm. As the lights were turned off throughout the Resort, over 1200 candles flickered in the lobby as well as other public areas creating a truly remarkable experience for all guests.
Around the pool, a Food Market was set up with an inspiring array of Indonesian and seafood delicacies. Guests were treated to an evening of traditional entertainment, which included a mesmerizing performance of the Kecak Dance followed by the Fire Dance. Children also enjoyed the celebration by partaking in fun activities such as Star Gazing, Story Telling and a Movie Under the Stars.
To further encourage guests to care for our environment, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali handed out natural cotton shopping bags to all guests’ room, to be used as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. Most of the plastic bags that we use end up dumped in rivers, oceans and roadsides or are discarded in harmful landfills. Plastic bags are literally choking our environment. Therefore, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali’s cloth bag invites guests to be part of the solution.
“Earth Hour is a positive initiative and we are proud to be part of it. We have a very strong commitment to the principles of environmental sustainability. And this is not the third year we are supporting this great initiative. The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali is an active member of Earth Check and we recently achieved our second Silver Level certification. It is time for us to be part of the solution and join together to save the Planet Earth,” said Mr. Bipan Kapur, General Manager of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali
This year will mark Starwood’s third annual participation in Earth Hour, making it one of the biggest worldwide companies to make a global statement with a voluntary hour of darkness.
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global grassroots movement encouraging individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment, and celebrating their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.
The highlight of Earth Hour 2011 will see the world’s most iconic landmarks go dark for one designated hour, as hundreds of millions of people transcend race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography, switching off their lights in a global celebration of their commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all – the planet. Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time).
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1025 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and ElementSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.
