Cinnamon Grand wins John Keells Chairman’s Award for Sustainability

Triple Presidential Travel and Tourism Award winner and pioneer entrant into the Presidential Hall of fame as the Best Five Star City Hotel in Sri Lanka, Cinnamon Grand Colombo is the proud winner of the John Keells Chairman’s Award for Sustainability. The honour was bestowed upon the hotel at the recently held Chairman’s Awards 2012/13 where individuals and business units who performed outstandingly during the year were recognised.
The award came as reinforcement for the hotel, as it moves closer towards achieving its sustainability objective of becoming the most sustainable city hotel in Sri Lanka, by 2015. It was commended for “introducing and implementing many green and energy saving initiatives during the year as well as creating awareness amongst internal and external customers.” Having received a host of national and international awards during the year in question, the award was presented “in recognition of its commitment to sustainability and contribution towards maintaining a cleaner and greener environment through energy, waste and water management.”
Uninterrupted ISO certification
Notably, Cinnamon Grand received the Green Globe Certificate endowed by the Green Globe Certification, Los Angeles, as well as a re-certification for OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 and ISO 22000, making it the first five star hotel in Sri Lanka to receive and maintain uninterrupted ISO certification. On a national level, Cinnamon Grand bagged a Merit certificate in the large scale category of the hotel sector at the Sri Lanka National Energy Efficiency Awards 2012, presented by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Ministry of Power and Energy. Further, the hotel secured a Merit certificate in the larger hotels and boutique hotel category, at the EU Switch Asia greening hotel award 2012, bestowed by the EU-Switch Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotel Project, which was re-awarded this year. The Grand also won a Bronze Award at the National Green Awards 2012, conferred by The Central Environmental Authority, making it the only city hotel to do so.
The prelude to Cinnamon Grand’s winning at the John Keells Chairman’s Awards noted, “A forerunner in the Group’s Leisure Sector, this business unit managed to lower its energy consumption, carbon footprint, water consumption and integrate efficient waste management systems, working within the constraints of its architectural design. Identifying its critical impact areas, this business unit also put in place strategies to increase recycling of waste and bring down its injury rates, whilst constantly innovating and intertwining its products and services with local culture.”
It further acclaimed, “Managing a year on year rise in its occupancy, this hotel has achieved a 11% reduction in its carbon footprint per guest night this year, in comparison to the last. This was achieved through initiatives such as the installation of sensor lights, variable speed drives, efficiency improvements to its water pump systems and replacing of regular incandescent lights with LED lighting and also reduced its energy footprint through its Building Management System. It also saw a 14% reduction in water consumption per guest night through better management by means of sub-metering at all points of consumption, installing sensor taps, introducing filtration and reusing of AC condensate water in its water fountains and rain water harvesting.”
Great strides in its waste management
Cinnamon Grand was further congratulated for taking “great strides in its waste management through improved segregation methods and recycling and reusing, with less waste being sent to landfills, minimising its impact on the environment. Lead by its committed Green team and aptly supported by all of its Heads of Departments and the General Manager, this hotel introduced and implemented sustainability initiatives and awareness campaigns that help tackle business challenges under the Economic, Environmental and Social pillars, continuously providing timely sustainability data for Group wide reporting, during the year.”
Notably, the hotel’s Green Team lead by the Head of Sustainability Tharika Goonathilake is constantly and continuously looking for ways to better improve and implement sustainable measures that benefit people, planet and profit. The latest such achievement was the hotel’s ‘Village in the City’ Nuga Gama being certified as Asia’s first CarbonNeutral venue.
General Manager Rohan Karr said on this occasion, “It is an honour to be the recipient of the Chairman’s Award for Sustainability. As a key player in the hospitality industry, five star luxury and indulgence is an offering we afford all our guests. But we do so within the precincts of our green vision, focused on reducing our carbon foot print, conserving energy and being environmentally responsible.”