SERENA HOTELS RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT EARTH HOUR 2014
(Posted 20th March 2014)
This year’s Earth Hour will be globally observed once again with in particular hospitality groups making the most out of showing off their green credentials, but it is not all about candle lit dinners when the lights get turned off again on the 29th of March between 20.30 hrs and 21.30 hrs local time around the globe.
Serena Hotels, notably the only East African hotel group to respond to questions raised again about participation and any special measures the company will take this year and has taken over the past 7 years since Earth Hour was first launched, had this to say:
Start quote:
Serena Hotels East Africa will this year join the rest of the world in embracing the Earth- Hour on the 29th March 2014, from 8.30pm- 9.30pm.
With a property base of 24 Hotels, Lodges, Safari Camps and Resorts in East Africa and Mozambique, the hotel group has planned a number of activities across its units that will see guests, members of staff and other business partners also participate in this global event.
For about seven years now, Earth Hour has been observed globally by individuals and businesses and for one hour, lights are turned off even as people contemplate on conserving the planet and most importantly, draw attention to global warming, and the impact our energy system has on the planet.
To honor this global event, Serena Hotels East Africa has planned on a number of activities, and this is why you need to be at “A Serena” near you on the 29th March 2014, from 8.30pm. Serena Hotels East Africa will host various symbolic events and activities, engage various panels of speakers from Renewable Energy Organizations, switch off non- essential lights during Earth Hour, engage and involve guests in the activities. Additionally also, Serena Lodges across East Africa will engage in tree planting activities to further enhance the global conservation message.
Notable also is Serena Hotels’ effort to conserve energy usage in its daily operations at the lodges.
Whilst most of the Serena Lodges are located in remote areas, and most are not even connected to the main electricity grid, Serena Hotels generates its own electricity in the lodges through the use of diesel powered generators. To further reduce the negative effects of environmental pollution, the Company has installed an inverter system which has resulted in reduced fuel usage, and a reduction of noise and air pollution.
Seven Serena Properties in Tanzania and Kenya have additionally, over a 5 year period saved approximately USD 1.8 million; 1.5 million liters of fuel and 51,762 generator hours (equivalent to about 5.9 years of 24 hours generator usage).
Enjoying Earth Hour 2014 at a Serena property near you is one option for East Africans though it is hoped that local hotel, lodge and resort groups in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi will also join their Kenyan colleagues in not just observing Earth Hour on this one occasion but put into place measures to reduce energy use in the short, medium and long term by installing systems to tap into renewable energy sources.
And in a closing addendum confirmation was also received from Kenya’s Sarova Hotels, the InterContinental Hotel, the Boma Hotel, Sun Africa Hotels as well as from GeoLodges in Uganda that they will observe Earth Hour 2014. For all those still silent, a word of encouragement to join the global movement and to remember, it is NOT all about lighting a candle,
