[photopress:Kempinski_Beijing_Lufthansa.gif,full,alignright]There is a list of criteria a hotel must meet to be classified as a ‘green hotel’ in time for the Olympics. The environmental norms issued by China National Tourism Administration in early 2006 say that ‘green hotels’ need to set up eco-friendly managerial systems and facilities and adopt technologies that conserve water and reduce energy consumption and waste generation.
Deputy director of BOCOG’s Services Department Xiang Ping said, ‘BOCOG will invite experts to survey the hotels early next year. And hotels that fail to meet the standards will be told to do so.’ Failing that they will be dropped from the list.
Thirty-eight of these hotels are five-star facilities, 40 are four-star, and the rest three-star.
The Beijing Tourism Bureau put the ‘green seal’ on 52 of the 112 hotels, including Beijing Hotel and Kempinski Hotel, last year.
Kempinski public relations manager Li Shuang said, said, ‘We put in great efforts over the past year to raise our green standards and make our hotel more environment friendly.’ For instance, the hotel now uses recycled water to flush toilets.
Upgraded electrical tools and structural changes have helped these hotels reduce air and noise pollution and cut their energy consumption.
The listed hotels are expected to urge guests, through their services and suggestions, to lead a lifestyle that is environment friendly. These hotels will provide about 30,000 rooms to Olympic guests. The combined capacity of Beijing hotels is about 260,000 rooms. At least 1,500 mainland hotels had met the green criteria by the end 2006.
Source: China Daily
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