Cinnamon Lakeside achieves longest running Green Globe certification record

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo leads the way in sustainable tourism with a record three consecutive year Green Globe certification.  The nationally and internationally awarded five star hotel is the only Sri Lankan hotel to be certified by the premier international sustainability body for a third year.

Green Globe is the global travel and tourism industries’ certification program for sustainable tourism. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo was recognized for its initiatives to save energy and water resources, reduce operational costs, positively contribute to local communities and its environment whilst meeting the high expectations of green leisure and business travelers.
In 2010 it became the first green globe certified city hotel in Sri Lanka when evaluated on 248 Green Globe standards.  In 2011 Green Globe standards were increased to 336 under 4 main categories.  The hotel succeeded in all thirty nine sub categories broadly classified under the main categories – Sustainable Management, Social/Economic, Cultural Heritage and Environment.  To achieve certification for the third year, the hotel demonstrated 5% growth on the standards compared to 2011.  The property was evaluated at an onsite audit, successfully qualifying as the only hotel in Sri Lanka to be recertified by Green Globe for the third year in succession.
The Green Globe Standard is a structured assessment of the sustainability performance of travel and tourism businesses and their supply chain partners.  Businesses can monitor improvements and document achievements leading to certification of their enterprises’ sustainable operation and management.
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is reputed for its environmental policies in keeping with the John Keells Leisure Sector pledge ‘I will be Green’.  As a part of its green drive which is spearheaded by an environmental task force, a rainwater harvesting system has been implemented for gardening purposes, ensuring water is recycled for daily use.  Native plants or low water plants are used in landscaping to minimize water use and garden waste is converted to compost. Irrigation takes place early morning before 10.00am or in the evenings after 5.00pm when evaporation is at a minimum.  
Support for conservation and management of state owned and private natural areas within the business influence zone is carried out daily. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is also a member of the local “green” sustainable business program in the region.
The hotel has an active system in place to detect and repair leaking faucets, toilets and showerheads in guest rooms in order to reduce water wastage.  A motion sensor system is also in place where outdoor lighting and parking lot lights are controlled by a timer.
The hotel has developed a long term action plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and a pollution management plan to reduce its carbon footprint.  The green initiatives implemented have not impacted or jeopardized the provisions of water, energy, sanitation and other basic services to neighbouring communities.
Sustainable practices extend to Cinnamon Lakeside purchasing processes.  Ethical products are used at the hotel, such as Fair Trade certified coffee and organic food.  Preferences are given to locally produced goods, products and services.  Environmentally friendly supplies are purchased such as recycled or non-traditional paper and certified wood.  Preference is also given to product suppliers who take back and reuse packaging.
Recycling is a key part of the hotel’s sustainability drive with cardboard, glass, plastic, aluminium, waste papers and “hard to recycle” products recycled regularly.
On World Environment Day, the hotel embarked on a tree planting project to create a friendlier environment for bird life.  Fruit bearing trees were planted and places for the birds to perch were created.  The plants now flourish and are enjoyed not just by the birds but by guests as well.
The hotel also implemented an Electronic Waste Program which commenced in July 2011.  Electrical equipment and electronics such as TV’s, DVD players, batteries and cartridges are recycled.  The hotel’s Engineering Department collects the E-waste for recycling, working closely with Green Links Lanka to dispose of this e-waste in an ethical manner.
Cinnamon Lakeside is strong in its conviction that creating awareness is the key to strengthening green initiatives.  As such messages are displayed at the Sir C A Gardiner Mawatha round-a-bout and nature strip maintained by the hotel’s gardening team.  The hotel regularly invests in training sessions, emails and posters to increase associate awareness. Guests are encouraged to be environmentally conscious by participating in a towel and linen reuse program.  Eco friendly slogans are displayed in all guest bathrooms to create guest awareness.
The hotel itself was designed to reduce the impact of the tropical heat with the use of kabok walls. The step like design of the building reduces the heat load by 35%, contributing to a saving in energy usage for air conditioning.  The layout and construction reduces both lighting and water consumption through passive designs appropriate to local conditions.
As a part of the hotel’s contribution to the community, the Beira Lake bordering the hotel and neighboring areas is maintained by its gardening team who scouts the area by boat.
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo reinforces the John Keells Leisure Sector Pledge ‘I will Care’ in its community service projects.  The hotel works closely with neighbouring schools on projects themed around green issues and helps with activities to beautify the area.
Continuing its close involvement with the local community and enhancing the John Keells Leisure Sector’s pledge, ‘I Will Care,’ associates of the hotel actively volunteer to participate in CSR activities.  With a view to encourage ethnic unity amongst associates, the hotel planned CSR projects embracing all four major ethnicities prevalent in the country. CSR projects were organized whereby employees assisted in the restoration of the historic Abeygiriya temple, St. Anne’s Church and Ayeshwariya Lakshmi Amman Kovil.
For the first project, the seventy five member team assisted authorities to transport three cubes of 3 ¼ metal, bricks, stones and cement to the top of the Abeygiriya Dagoba.  The team also helped lay bricks and clear rubble to restore the historic temple to its original glory.
The second cultural restoration took place in Kuruwita at a church which receives little outside assistance. Eighty associates from the hotel along with General Manager, Denis Gruhier, conducted a complete restoration of the church which included installing a brand new front door, new gutters and refitting the washroom with brand new fixtures. Both the interior and exterior of the church was painted and a cinnamon plantation cultivated by the church was cleaned up.  
With the third project, the hotel’s HR department gathered names of 100 volunteers within two hours of calling for participants.  The team contributed by clearing and tidying the rubble at the four storey Ayeshwariya Lakshmi Amman Kovil.  Plans are in place to continue the cultural CSR series by assisting a Muslim Madarasa in keeping with the hotel’s ‘One creed for all, All creeds for one’ vision.
On Poson Poya Day, Cinnamon Lakeside hosted a Dansala held near the Gangaramaya Temple preparing and donating 1,800 dinner packets for the cause. This initiative too will be continued the following year with 4,000 dinner parcels.
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is continually developing Green Globe initiatives in order to maintain and contribute to a greener environment.  
For its green practices, amongst other achievements, the hotel was recognized as the Best Luxury Hotel at the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2012 and as the Best Five Star City Hotel by Sri Lanka Tourism.