Making a sustainable difference: Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu

LOS ANGELES, California – Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu was recently re-certified by Green Globe for the second consecutive year.

LOS ANGELES, California – Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu was recently re-certified by Green Globe for the second consecutive year.

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu is an upscale 5-star beachfront property located in the Philippines. All rooms feature ocean views and contemporary, fresh Mediterranean-inspired decor that is suitable for families as well as leisure and business travelers.

Harold Rainfroy, General Manager at the hotel said, “While innovation in the hotel industry is synonymous to improvement of facilities and services, part of our ethos is to thrive on changing the way we do business for the greater good, not just for the company, but also for the people, community and environment.”

Staff and management at Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu actively support sustainable initiatives at each departmental level.

“We understand our role in global sustainability and ecotourism, and we honor our commitment to improving and maintaining ways to reduce our impact on the environment. Our green mission focuses on eco-friendly initiatives such as the efficient utilization of energy-saving LED light and facilities, reducing resource consumption and recycling and waste management,” Mr. Rainfroy added.

Energy usage and reduction goals are specified, recorded and monitored by the hotel’s chief engineer through a daily utility report. Data is then posted on the staff bulletin board to ensure the property’s goals are achieved by set deadlines. To further reduce energy consumption the property has been designed to utilize naturally occurring sea breezes to cool the lobby area. Timers are also installed in the parking lot to regulate electricity usage.

A key business objective for Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu has been effective resource management resulting in environmental benefits. The property recaptures rainwater for hotel use and has explored and identified ways to filter available water. Chillers utilize seawater for cooling purposes and treated grey water is used to flush toilets. While an on-site sewage treatment plant handles the treatment of wastewater and the responsible disposal of black water.

The hotel prefers biodegradable products to protect the coral reef environment of the island. Paper, newspaper, glass bottles and aluminum cans are also collected for recycling by waste collection companies. In addition, all electronic equipment is sent for recovery to be re-used or given to charity. And batteries along with other waste that is difficult to recycle are segregated and collected by a contractor that is accredited by local authorities.

As part of its Green Meetings options, Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu has a catering services program that purchases locally sourced ingredients and organic food products. Not only does this contribute to enhancing the guests’ experience of Filipino cuisine, it also provides an opportunity to help local farmers and suppliers. Other aspects of Cebu culture are promoted in line with the hotel’s eco-tourism efforts where weekly night-time events feature traditional food with dances and performances by local entertainers. Traditional handicrafts and items are also displayed or sold at the property in support of Cebu craftspeople.

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu works consistently on raising social and environmental awareness amongst employees to encourage them to embrace responsibility on a personal level. It does so by integrating sustainability into the career pathways of each staff member. Monitoring progress against goals ensures that the entire hotel team is aware that even the simplest actions can contribute to environmental conservation in their individual areas of responsibility.

Last year, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu in partnership with the Care Center organized fun activities for children from a local orphanage. Furthermore, following an earthquake in the area, the hotel also assisted in rebuilding homes and donated boats to local fishing communities to ensure their continued livelihood. Other CSR activities encourage guests to participate in environmental initiatives such as Earth Hour or the property’s towel and linen reuse program that conserves energy and water consumption.

“We involve the entire team in caring for the community and environment through outreach programs and cleanup projects, starting with our own beach and grounds. We raise consciousness and awareness that begins with our staff welcome program through to share-and-learn sessions with neighboring schools. We make it a point that our commitment goes beyond the call of duty, and that we make a difference in the environment and community we exist in.” concluded Mr. Rainfroy.

About Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, an international upscale hotel management company with over 16,000 staff members, is represented in 24 countries with 83 hotels, resorts and Nile cruisers currently in operation. Around 20 properties are planned or under construction, including Chiang Mai (Thailand), Bali (Indonesia) and Marrakech (Morocco).

Focusing on expansion within its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts specializes in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts, all reflecting a sense of place and respect for their local communities. Of Swiss heritage and headquartered in central Switzerland (Baar), Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is passionate about delivering premium service and culinary enjoyment – all with a personal touch. Committed to supporting sustainable environments, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has become the most Green Globe certified hotel company in the world. The hotel company is owned by Mövenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%). For more information, please visit movenpick.com

Green Globe is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe is based in California, USA and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is an Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Green Globe is a member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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