Westin Auckland Celebrates Earth Hour

March 24, 2009

LIGHTS OUT! The Westin Auckland Lighter Quay
Celebrates Earth Hour with Candlelight

Today, The Westin Auckland announces it will participate in Earth Hour, a global environmental awareness event organised by the World Wide Fund For Nature this Saturday March 28, to send a powerful global message about environmental awareness and caring for the planet.

The Westin Auckland will observe Earth Hour by turning off its lights and taking other energy-saving measures for one full hour further underscoring Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to environmental sustainability.

Flickering candlelight on the water will provide an atmospheric backdrop as guests and locals alike are being invited to turn their room or home lights off and celebrate Earth Hour in the darkened hotel lobby, lit only by hundreds of soft nightlights.

The dramatic marble interior of the hotel’s Q restaurant – which can be seen across the Viaduct – will be turned off for Earth Hour. Restaurant patrons will eat by candlelight and dimmed recess lighting.

Bar staff in The Office bar will get into the spirit of Earth Hour by wearing miners-lamp hats to provide some light in the otherwise darkened bar.

Hotel guests will be informed of the hotel initiatives through personalised letters to turn off lights in their rooms, while only safety lighting is being used in corridors, back office areas and the hotel’s neon signs outside the building are being turned off. Special clusters of candles will be placed in the internal lagoons and on the waters of the Viaduct Harbour marina itself.

General Manager, Marcus Reinders, commented: “We have an active ‘green team’ throughout the hotel that continually looks at ways we can reduce our carbon imprint. The team has had a lot of fun thinking up ways in which we can visibly support Earth Hour as our latest initiative.

“We’re looking at making a real ‘event’ of Earth Hour – helping make a really valid point in an atmospheric and stylish way…”

Earth Hour is drawing strong support from Starwood Hotels & Resorts around the globe. Many hotels are coordinating supplementary awareness events such as walk-a-thons in their local communities, public candlelight unplugged concerts and receptions for guests featuring signature green cocktails. Across its entire portfolio, Starwood Hotels & Resorts are rolling out initiatives that aim to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and enhance indoor environmental quality for Starwood guests and staff alike.

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