Marriott reduces water intensity by 5.3% in 2014
Marriott International reduced water intensity by 5.3% in 2014 over 2013, and by 16% since 2007 at its managed hotels globally.
The water conservation results were revealed on the eve of today’s World Water Day (March 22).
Denise Naguib, vice president, sustainability and supplier diversity, Marriott International commented: “We are extremely pleased with our 2014 water intensity results.
“Water conservation is an area of sustainability where hotels, associates, and guests can directly aid the environment by reducing their water usage, whether it is through the fitting of low flow showers and toilets in guest bathrooms, irrigation systems installed on properties, or guests choosing to not have towels changed every day.”
The company set a target in 2007 to reduce its water consumption by 20% by 2020 and to make energy reductions of 20% across its global portfolio as part of a wider sustainability strategy.
Ten hotels across the Middle East and Africa region implemented water conservation projects in 2014.
These projects, including water saving bathroom fixtures and smart irrigation sensors, to help to save approximately 92,000 m3 of water annually.
The Ritz-Carlton Doha, installed a smart control system for landscaping, and the Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort has installed water aerators for guest rooms.
In Asia Pacific, the Nobility of Nature project in Sichuan Province, China, aims to protect the sources of fresh water for more than two billion people.
The project also encourages water conservation in Marriott hotels. Participating China and Hong Kong properties reported a 7.94% reduction in water intensity in 2014.
In North America, more than 80% of the total participating hotels in the Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense H20tel Challenge are in the Marriott portfolio.
The Ritz-Carlton Battery Park was the 2014 winner of the NYC Water Conservation Challenge with a more than 10% water reduction.
In Europe, where Marriott plans to triple its portfolio by 2020, Marriott managed hotels saved 20.3 million gallons of water in 2014 through a number of initiatives ranging from pump audits to high efficiency dishwashers and water efficient shower heads.