Choice Hotels Scandinavia

All 160 Choice hotels eco-certified

(Oslo, 11. January 2010) Through 2009 Choice Hotels Scandinavia has undertaken the chain’s single biggest project to date. Over 9000 employees have been involved in the process of implementing the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard . Prior to New Year all 160 hotels received environmental accreditation from Det Norske Veritas. The chain aims to achieve increasingly ambitious green goals.

- Just one year ago we embarked upon this eco-project, and few believed we would be able to achieve our aims. We reached our goal in record time, thanks to the hard work and environmental commitment of our employees. We have high environmental ambitions, and now we have a system which ensures a constant impetus to be green, says Torgeir Silseth, Managing Director of Choice Hotels Scandinavia.

Operation Penguin: Mission Completed
Operation Penguinwas the title given to the project to gain environmental accreditation for all 160 Choice Hotels in Scandinavia within 2009. Inspired by the emperor penguin's teamwork and discipline, over 9000 Choice employees co-operated together to implement the internationally recognized ISO 14001standard. Operation Penguin was the single biggest eco-project in the sector and involved, among other things, the training of employees and managers across all levels. ISO 14001 ensures that the hotels work continually to reduce energy consumption, waste, chemicals, transport and water usage. The accreditation body was Det Norske Vertitas.

- It has been impressive to see how Choice managed to generate so much environmental engagement, in all areas of the organization. With every employee acting as an environmental ambassador, the hotels have made a gigantic commitment to the implementation of Penguin. Choice will always aim to make advances in its environmental work. And in this, they achieve the most important aspect of ISO 14001, that is continued improvement, says Morten Taraldsvik of Det Norske Veritas.

Choice, the environmental chain
Choice Hotels Scandinavia had already begun its environmental work back in 2003, with the ENØK (environmental efficiency) -program, Choice Energy. Since then the hotel chain has reduced its energy consumption by over 20%. Since 2007 Choice has entered into agreements to purchase its electricity from guaranteed renewable resources. Choice serves organic breakfastsfor all of its guests and has entered into a long term agreement with Rainforest Foundation Norway, which means that for every night a guest spends in a Choice hotel, 100 square metres of tropical rainforest will be conserved, for a whole year.

Contact info:
Torgeir Silseth, Managing Director, Choice Hotels Scandinavia, +47 901 11 969
Arne Haugen, Director CSR & HR, +47 917 19 627

160 Choice-hotels will be environmentally certified before the end of 2009

The transport and travel sectors produce 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Choice Hotels Scandinavia Ltd. is Scandinavia’s largest hotel chain. We are part of the problem and we must be a part of the solution. Choice wishes to take responsibility and we have major ambitions with regard to our environmental efforts.

The chain has worked systematically for 7 years to reduce energy consumption at our hotels. This has succeeded well. Currently, we only purchase 100% renewable energy for our hotels. But we want to do more. It was decided in 2007 that all of the chain’s 160 hotels in Scandinavia will be environmentally certified according to the internationally recognised ISO 14001 standard. ”Operation Penguin” is the name of the project and it is intended to result in the certification of all of the hotels.

In November 2007, the company signed an agreement with DNV (Norwegian Veritas), which will be the certification body. A special environmental management system is now in place and the system implementation is now in progress. Initially, six pilot hotels are certified in 2008. The remaining hotels will be certified before the end of 2009. 

Do not disturb the rainforest

The Rain Forest Foundation Norway is one of the leading organisations in Europe working to preserve the rainforest for future generations. The people from Rain Forest Foundation Norway support the populations of the rainforests in their struggle to protect the environment and gain respect for their rights.

Rainforest protection is by far the quickest and most cost effective climate initiative the world can implement. Choice has decided to impose a ’green tax’ on itself and wishes to support Rain Forest Foundation Norway’s global work. By staying one night at a Choice-hotel, you will save 100 m² of rainforest for one year.

www.regnskogsfondet.no