focus on portsmouth 11 Leading in green


Whilst much of Easter and the numerous bank holidays saw the UK bedecked in red, white and blue, one colour reigns supreme at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel – green. Sue Hughes of The Business Magazine found out why


Portsmouth Marriott general manager BJ Schreuder likes green, in fact he has inspired many hotel associates and city organisations to become even more environmentally aware, in keeping with the green ethos which filters through founder John Willard Marriott’s entire organisation.


Having taken a lead through LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) in the USA, Marriott hotels in Europe are following, but Portsmouth was the first Marriott hotel to gain a gold GTBS (Green Tourism Business Scheme in the UK) in 2010. Its commitment to recycling via its Green Vision and Mission has seen it scoop the Silver Award for Sustainable Tourism at the Beautiful South’s Awards for Excellence.


The hotel recycles 98% of its total hotel waste (including all meeting rooms) with the implementation of a robust recycling scheme, which includes recycling and energy saving initiatives for all areas of the hotel from the bedrooms to the food and beverage outlets, something which has achieved complete support and recognition from the hotel guests and associates (as staff are known). ”The Portsmouth Marriott hotel has the highest recycling score within Marriott and is now used as a benchmark for the group in Europe,” said Schreuder. ”100% of our waste is non-landfill.”


So what was the catalyst? Ever innovative, Schreuder thought that if people recycle at home, they can do more of the same at work, with encouragement and support. He located bin inserts to allow guests to put non- recyclables in such within the standard bedroom bins, and equipped housekeeping trolleys with two bags, one for recycling. Simple ideas, but effective. Food waste has been targeted too, because it’s 90% water and when burnt with certain wrappings, creates steam which can be harnessed as energy.


BJ Schreuder (photo courtesy of the Portsmouth News, Malcolm Wells)


As chairman of the Greater Portsmouth Hoteliers Association (GPHA), Schreuder persuaded members to sign up to a green tourism scheme, not only sharing knowledge and Marriott best practice, but ultimately leading to all the city’s hotels becoming ’green accredited’, which tourism bodies can make the most of when promoting the city.


GPHA members, including a number of different hotels in south east Hampshire, Southdowns and Highbury Colleges, the Education Business Partnership and staff from various departments of Portsmouth City Council also took part in a ’Big City Clean Up’


the day, assisting volunteers with Health and Safety regulations and in swiftly clearing away rubbish.


Schreuder continued: ”The hotels and members in the association are very committed to the local area and a willingness to serve the community and environment is what underpins the core ethos of the GPHA. Several of the hotels and both colleges have been accredited by the Green Tourism Business Scheme and received rewards for their sustainable efforts and recycling programmes.”


Keen to show other local businesses the benefits of doing this, both for themselves and the community, Marriott will be taking part in more events like this throughout this year and 2012.


Equally appealing is a truly revitalised focus on green meetings in an ever wasteful world: ”Little changes, like the chef potting his own herbs in a greenhouse I acquired and our food waste being turned to steam and energy, have led to bigger projects such as our Green Meeting Packages, which include green apples, stationery made from recycled materials, air conditioning which can be controlled by the customers themselves, fair-trade beverages, recycling bins, linen-free buffets and recyclable paper napkins and coasters which are Forest Stewardship Council certified.


”Also, for meetings worth in excess of £3,000, Marriott will plant a tree in the client’s name and present them with a certificate, thus providing a greener return for a valuable investment in corporate business this year. Warings was our first client to select this, a Portsmouth company, which is fitting,” Schreuder concluded.


With one of the highest hotel occupancy and average rate in the city, Marriott green is definitely the new black, or even, red, white and blue.


Details:


before the Royal Wedding and the start of the tourist season. In what was the biggest voluntary clean up in Portsmouth, teams were out in force along the roads and beaches of Portsmouth and Hayling Island, with litter pickers on hand to support the initiative to help to clean up the city and make it a more attractive prospect for visitors. More than 115 people got involved, with Portsmouth City Council instrumental in the organisation of


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JUNE 2011


023-8038-3151 www.portsmouthmarriott.co.uk


www.businessmag.co.uk


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