InterContinental Genève: 6 years of Green Globe certification

Green Globe first certified the InterContinental Genève in 2014.

Ideally located on an oasis of calm in the diplomatic district, InterContinental Genève offers elegantly designed rooms and suites with breathtaking views of Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc.

This year, the hotel celebrates its 6^th year of recertification and remains firmly committed to its many sustainability efforts.

Francois Chopinet, Hotel General Manager explained, “At InterContinental Genève we have included major principles for sustainable development in our daily processes and we continue looking for new ones. We do our best to reduce our footprint and to do this we have put specific systems in place in different areas of the hotel. We are equipping the common areas, the 333 rooms and 2000 m2 of conference facilities with LED lighting and we have developed sustainable business and human resource practices.

“Our staff has access to ongoing training programs. We promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle, for instance eliminating salt from all cafeteria food, organizing team and individual sport activities, and putting in place a fitness center for employees available at the hotel 24 hours a day. We strongly believe that sustainable human resource management is healthy for our employees and allows us to provide a high quality service to our customers.”

The InterContinental Genève and the United Nations use water from the lake to cool their buildings as part of the Geneva-Lake-Nations (GLN) project. This project, coordinated by the Services Indutriels de Genève (SIG), allows the InterContinental Genève to use 100% renewable energy to cool its premises thereby achieving significant savings in electricity usage and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, as a member of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the hotel will be implementing CO2 reduction goals that will further contribute to its sustainability performance.

Over the years, sustainable efforts at the InterContinental Genève continue to be recognized by Green Engage and Green Globe.

Since June 2018, only biodegradable straws are now provided at bars and restaurants in acknowledgement that the impact of plastic waste on the oceans and environment is far too important to be ignored.

To stimulate regional economic activity, IHG has partnered with a local farm, Ferme de Budé, located just 100 meters away from the property. Fresh, local and seasonal food is sourced year round from the farm for restaurant kitchens. Guests are also encouraged to visit the farm on market days to observe how local food is grown and produced. Furthermore, the hotel sponsors a local beekeeper at the property to preserve bee species. The 100% natural honey is served at the breakfast buffet.

Last year, to give back to the community, the InterContinental Genève proudly participated in two campaigns where staff members collected clothing and bedding

for the Geneva Red Cross. Each year, more than 90,000 kg of clothing is discarded or donated to charities. In 2018, the hotel collected a total of more than 130 kg of clothing to be distributed to adults, children and the elderly.

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). For information, please visit greenglobe.com.