Hilton Hotels is planning to introduce carbon-free electricity for 69 of its hotels in the UK and Ireland this year.

The move will see an offset of CO2 emissions by more than 64,000 tonnes, 56% of the properties’ carbon footprint, the company said.

Hilton invested £4m in its energy saving scheme last year, which saw a reduction of energy consumption of up to 27% in certain hotels across the UK and Ireland

With a further investment of £4m planned in 2007, the group expects to see a further reduction of more than 10% in the hotels within this programme.

Simon Vincent, area president for Hilton Hotels in the UK and Ireland said: "As the leading hotel chain, we realise we have a great responsibility to take the industry lead and introduce measures that will help protect the environment, which is an enormous challenge.  

"Tackling it requires an incremental approach with workable business solutions, and a change in mindset from the hotel's front desk to the management board room." 

Hilton has implemented a number of green initiatives including:

• A 'Recycling Centre of Excellence' - a pilot scheme initiated at the Hilton Glasgow that will now be rolled out in other hotels across the country. 
• Training of more than 15,000 team members in cultural energy reductions, which resulted in individual hotel action plans being developed.
• Focus on key issues such as energy efficiency, waste reduction, water efficiency and minimised pollution.

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By Daniel Thomas

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