Marriott Hotels (second year of certification)

Six Marriott Hotels in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh have secured Green Key certification for a second year.

Courtyard by Marriott Aberdeen Airport

• Re-scheduled staff shift times to coincide with local bus timetable to encourage/support the use of public transport.
• Water jugs (water, ice and sliced fruit) served with breakfast is topped up with water and used by staff throughout the day.

Residence Inn by Marriott Aberdeen

• The staffing model employed has allowed an open-door policy, empowering staff to have input in environmental sustainability.
• No plastic bottles sold or water coolers in place. Instead bar/reception staff refill water jugs for guests to use throughout the day.

Delta Hotels by Marriott Edinburgh 

• Excellent track record of investing in technology early such as EV charging points and energy-saving LED lighting.
• Use a Vito oil machine to extend the life of oil by 350%.
• Excellent energy management due to a close working relationship between the head of maintenance and the general manager.
• Since switching to using bulk items for condiments, and sauces over single use, the approximate saving per year has been £5000. This is rewarding news to hear and shows becoming more sustainable can reduce waste and save money any business.
• Marriott have invested heavily in the WINNOW food waste system for most of their properties. This uses cameras, scales, which is powered by AI to accurately record all food waste from their kitchens. Already the kitchen team are making impressive inroads to reduce road waste and be more cost effective.
• Having an herb garden for the kitchen and bar to utilise is great idea and serves as a practical example of what is possible in the hospitality industry if even a small portion of green space is available.

Residence Inn by Marriott Edinburgh 

• Carrying out an internal light bulb audit and tracking what kind of bulbs is installed in each area and being able to prioritise areas for upgrade is a great example of energy, and operational management.
• Invested heavily in upgrading all the lights in the two stairwells with energy efficient motion sensor lights.

• Swapped all the lights in the bar and restaurant space with smart programmable LED’s. This improvement has been compounded further by programming these lights to only increase to 40% total brightness at peak times. This dual benefit shows how it is possible seek out new efficiencies, with positive attitude and willingness to problem solve, even when it looks like there is no room for further improvement.

Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh

• Balancing guest expectations, brand image, and implementing new sustainable ways of working is challenging, but they have already adapted well and identified opportunities for shared learning by working alongside other Marriotts with the same brand concept.
• Swapped out paper napkins at the bar with branded reusable coasters to reduce waste. This is great example of how a luxury hotel can transform to being more sustainable and enhance the 5-star brand image.
• The Marriott E-Compendium is an online guest directory in use that includes access to information on sustainability initiatives.
• Positioning/promoting themselves in Edinburgh’s event/corporate market as a green/sustainable hotel to host an event.

Glasgow Marriott Hotel

• Long development period of Green Key has resulted in a well informed and sustainability-focused work culture.
• Issues a pre-arrival letter to guests covering sustainability initiatives, Marriott policy regarding the cleaning of bed sheets, and towels, and making guests aware the hotel is located within the boundary of Glasgow Low Emission Zone, and to check car compliance before travelling by car. A simple addition but can easily be adopted by any hotel
• A folder is kept at the front desk to help guests locate, and travel to nearby green spaces in the local area and further into Scotland.

IHG Hotel (second year of certification)

Motel 1

Novotel

Accor and Aimbridge

Mercure Perth Hotel has secured a first year of Green Key certification. 

• Information available in all the rooms directing people to the 'Go Green Skip the Clean initiative', as well as other environmental sustainability initiatives to encourage guests to keep their towels for their entire stay.
• Will from the hotel to deal with waste appropriately and reduce where possible. Staff are well trained when it comes to waste separation, in order to reduce rejected bins from the waste contractor.
• Sponsorship of the Black Watch Museum demonstrates a commitment to promoting local heritage and the sponsorship deals with sporting competitions promotes health and wellbeing.
• Collection points the reception for two children’s charities which give guests the opportunity to contribute to programmes which will directly benefit the people of Perthshire and beyond.

Gleneagles

Gleneagles has two hotels which have secured a first year of Green Key certification. 

Gleneagles Hotel 

• The Gleneagles Hotel staff have shown to demonstrate ‘championship’ qualities when it comes to continuing their sustainability journey. With a proactive and determined approach they have shown their strong environmental commitments, and willingness to rise to the challenge of net zero by 2040.
• Local partnerships with the Forth River Trust, and P&K Countryside Trust.
• Setting up the Climato carbon measuring system on menus so carbon footprint of each meal is displayed and efforts are underway to reduce this footprint.
• WINNOW system to be installed in the kitchen which uses cameras and scales to track and monitor food waste for individual items.
• Energy usage and Global Warming Potential metrics (GWP) are taken into consideration when purchasing new electronic devices, with a policy of future proofing their electronics, and technology to meet demanding energy reduction targets.

Gleneagles Townhouse

• Demonstrate a commitment to embed sustainability as a cultural value throughout their business operations and other organisations they interact with. They have identified the value of acting sustainably can bring to their business, and the role their people have in making Gleneagles Townhouse and the wider business, industry leaders.
• Have reacted positively to feedback and best practice from a range of Green Key audits, and have been quick to implement changes.
• Setting up the Climato carbon measuring system on menus so carbon footprint of each meal is displayed and efforts are underway to reduce this footprint.
• More sustainability-based information to be included in staff inductions.

Hotel Co 51

Six Hotel Co 51 establishments have secured their first year of Green Key certification:

• AC Marriott Inverness
• Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow SEC
• Moxy Glasgow SEC
• Moxy Aberdeen Airport
• Moxy Edinburgh Airport
• Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge

Initiatives include:

• Hotel Co 51 has long term plans in transforming sustainably and showcasing its success to its customers and suppliers.
• Solid environmental management at Moxy Edinburgh Airport with enthusiasm to enact more changes wherever possible and embed previous experience from work and education. 
• There are good energy management practises at this hotel. Even though there is no ability to control electrical appliances through technology, the process of checking each room during the housekeeping schedule, was working and was evidenced during the audit.

The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust

Fingal Hotel has secured its first year of Green Key certification. 

• Offers a 5-star that luxury level of experience to guests, whilst working sustainably, reducing waste, and offering an excellent variety of sustainably sourced high-quality food and drinks options.
• The Trust have developed an inn depth environmental, social, and governance framework alongside their corporate social responsibility policy. It tracks their progress on all their various environmental commitments, giving more detail, percentage complete, and milestones.

Valor 

Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh has secured its first year of Green Key certification. 

• Progress has been made in auditing and understanding the impact of their operations, in terms of carbon emissions, and the wider environment.
• During the audit their were some fantastic examples of staff working sustainably, and taking real care in ensuring waste electronics, and other forms of waste were handled correctly.
• Receptive to feedback during the audit process, and have taken advantage of the resources available via the Green Key Toolbox.