2012 a ‘green’ year for Cinnamon Grand

Thursday, 17 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Triple Presidential Travel and Tourism Award winner and pioneer entrant into the Presidential Hall of fame as the Best Five Star City Hotel in Sri Lanka, the Cinnamon Grand has moved closer towards achieving its goal of becoming the most sustainable city hotel in Sri Lanka by 2015.

Having introduced and implemented many green and energy saving initiatives during the year as well as creating awareness amongst internal and external customers, the hotel received a host of awards last year, in recognition of its commitment to sustainability and contribution towards maintaining a cleaner and greener environment through energy, waste and water management.

In August, the Grand received the Green Globe Certificate endowed by the Green Globe Certification, Los Angeles, which recognises sustainable operations and management of travel and tourism companies, through a global network of independent auditors who provide third party inspection and validation. The Green Globe Certification standard is based on internationally accepted criteria developed during the 15 years of the Green Globe program. August also saw the Grand’s ISO recertification for OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 and ISO 22000, making it the first 5-star hotel in Sri Lanka to receive and maintain uninterrupted ISO certification.

On a national level, Cinnamon Grand bagged a Merit certificate in the large scale category of the hotel sector at the Sri Lanka National Energy Efficiency Awards 2012, presented by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Ministry of Power and Energy. This was in recognition of the hotel’s contribution towards energy conservation and energy management efforts, being the only city hotel to win an accolade of this nature.

The Grand further secured a Merit certificate in larger hotels (over 50 rooms) and boutique hotel category, at the EU Switch Asia greening hotel award 2012, bestowed by the EU-Switch Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotel Project, in November.

The certification for ‘Energy and Water Conservation and Waste Management’ rewarded the hotel’s commitment to be the most sustainable 5-star city hotel, despite functioning in the middle of a concrete jungle and being the largest city hotel property in Colombo. Cinnamon Grand was one of only 14 hotels out of the 200 hotels in the EU Switch Asia program recognised at the award ceremony.

The year ended off for the Grand with the winning of a Bronze Award at the National Green Awards 2012, conferred by the Central Environmental Authority, in December. The coveted awards, at its second consecutive year, aimed to reward entities which show continuous commitment to sustainability and going green.

Forty-nine awards were presented in 16 categories, with environmentally-friendly, sustainable organisations being selected by an expert panel of judges after a lengthy review of their performance. Cinnamon Grand was notably the only city hotel to receive an award, although being the largest non-resort 5-star property situated amidst a concrete jungle.

Going forwards, Cinnamon Grand remains excited about achieving its green vision and pledges to make 2013 an even more sustainable and green year.