For Third Year, Starwood Hotels and Resorts around the Globe Join Together to Mark Environmental Awareness Event
Sheraton Media Hotel & Tower to Stage Eco-friendly Candle-Lit Dinner
Jakarta, March 1st, 2011– By spending an hour in the dark on March 26th 2011, the Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers will join millions around the world to send a powerful message about a brighter future for the planet.
The hotel will turn 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 Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers will also share other energy-saving measures during Earth Hour, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. local time. The hotel will host three major events, which are; going dark for an hour, No Flames for an hour and hosting Eco-Friendly Candle-Lit Dinner.
“GOING DARK for an hour” will include turning off exterior signage lighting, dimming or turning off non-essential interior lighting and using candlelight in appropriate public areas such as restaurants and bars, while “NO FLAMES for an hour” is efforts to avoid using all types of energy for sixty minutes within the hotel areas. This includes avoid using petrol, gas, batteries and lighting cigarette.
The eco-friendly candle-lit dinner which will carry a slogan “Go Dark for Good Cause” is a unique public campaign to reduce energy consumption by combining dining package, entertainment and charity. Some percentage of the proceeds will be donated to an organization which concerns on environmental issues, which is WWF Indonesia. “Anyone who dines in the evening will enjoy organic healthy food which is cooked and prepared with minimum consumption of energy, life entertainment with unplugged acoustic music and giving charity,” said Director of Sales Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers, Maria Vincentia.
Additionally, two weeks prior to the event, the hotel will also carry out series of eco-friendly activities and environmental awareness for its associates and guests such as saving energy competition, poster competition, energy sustainability contest at home, daily green tips and Community Clean-up Day.
General Manager Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers Julius Slamet said that his team continues to encourage guests and associates to participate in the event. “This will be our third annual participation and we are very excited to enrich our support by hosting a lot of environmental programs as well as partnering with WWF Indonesia. Through this campaign, we would like to show our commitment to make the world a better place for us and our future generations, raise awareness of environmental issues, and involve our guests and associates in green activities," added Julius.
According to Chief Engineer Sheraton Media Hotel and Towers Gunadi Istiyanto, the previous year’s campaign successfully reduced 150,000 watt of electricity and he would like to increase this year’s target by 6%. "For the last two years, we have been using energy saving lamps in all areas of our hotel and it has been saving thousands Kilowatt per day. Now, we would like encourage our associates to give ideas on how to help company reduce more energy for green and responsible hotel operations,” said Gunadi.
Responding to the Sheraton Media Hotel & Tower’s initiatives, the Communications, Law and Administration Manager of PT. PLN Jakarta Raya & Tangerang, Riza Indriawan shows his appreciation to the hotel. PLN also calls individuals and organizations to do the same and participate in the event. “Earth Hour is an annual event that warns us on environmental issues and thus motivates us to reduce energy consumption. We certainly support every effort to reduce global warming such as saving electricity,” explained Riza.
Speaking from his office, Director Climate & Energy Program WWF-Indonesia, Nyoman Iswarayoga told his support on what Sheraton Media Hotel & Tower has been doing for the last 3 years. According to Nyoman, as the initiator and first organizer to introduce Earth Hour, WWF thanks to anyone who supported the campaign. “Through a very easy, simple and low-cost participation such as turning off unused electronics, we have contributed in reducing the global warming. Moreover, it will give a significant impact if a company massively encourages its employees to take positive actions on environmental issues. Hence, this will educate the employee on the importance of saving the planet,” added Nyoman.
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). More at earthhour.org.
# # #
About Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers Jakarta
Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers is one of the major recognized international branded hotels in the North Jakarta area accommodating a mix of domestic and international business coming to Jakarta. Strategically located to the Mangga Dua World Trade Center, the hotel provides delegates easy access to the Jakarta International Expos and direct access to International Airport. Visit www.sheraton.com/jakarta.
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. For more information, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com/.
