First hotel in Belgium certified for sustainability by Green Globe

LOS ANGELES, California – Green Globe announced certification of the Crowne Plaza Hotel – Le Palace, in Brussels, Belgium. Over the past few years, this 4-star property has demonstrated social responsibility and commitment to sustainable entrepreneurship.

“We are very proud to be the first hotel in Belgium to earn the prestigious Green Globe certification and the international recognition,” said Eric van Dalsum, General Manager at the Crowne Plaza Brussels – Le Palace Hotel, “Our green philosophy is anchored in our business policy, and we strive to meet and exceed guest expectations of operational sustainability. Two years ago, we installed a combined heat and power system (CHP), which enables the hotel to generate its own electricity by collecting and releasing heat. With this system in place, our energy consumption has been reduced by 46% for electricity, 15% for gas, and 17% for water. We also set up a special Green Team, consisting of 20 employees from different departments and with various responsibilities, shaping and realizing our environmental goals.”

The Crowne Plaza Brussels – Le Palace Hotel implemented a long-term sustainability management system; greenhouse gas emissions from all sources controlled by the hotel are strictly measured. Guests are encouraged to support a carbon-neutral stay and to minimize their environmental footprint. Cleaning of bed linen and bathrooms are provided on request, or every three days; all cleaning products are non-toxic and eco-labeled; and the hotel offers a line of amenities free of petrolatum, mineral oil, synthetic colors, animal ingredients, parabens, and solvents. The commitment extends to the hotel’s restaurants, and all menus offer local, seasonal dishes with organic ingredients. Packaging is reduced to a minimum, and local suppliers adhering to sustainable practices are given preference.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel Brussels is a member of “Natagora,” a Belgium non-profit organization dedicated to protecting nature in Wallonia and Brussels, and to preserving biodiversity, restoring nature in balance with human activities.

Green Globe Certification’s CEO, Guido Bauer, commented: “We are delighted to certify the Crowne Plaza Brussels Hotel – Le Palace, in Belgium. The hotel’s efforts to continuously improve their environmental standards on all levels are impressive. Employees benefit from an outstanding training plan, ‘The Natural Step,’ based on the four sustainability principles, and daily eco-gestures are actively conducted.”

ABOUT CROWNE PLAZA BRUSSELS – LE PALACE HOTEL

The Crowne Plaza Hotel Brussels is situated at the Place Rogier in the heart of Brussels, in walking distance to the world-famous Grand Place and historical center. The location is convenient to business districts, NATO, and the EU district. The property offers 354 Art Nouveau-inspired guest rooms of different categories, all with a high degree of comfort and equipped with all modern amenities for business and leisure travelers. In addition, the hotel has meeting capacities for up to 700 delegates, combined with state-of-the-art technology.

Contact: Eric van Dalsum, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Brussels – Le Palace Hotel. Rue Gineste 3, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium, Phone +32 2 203 62 00, Fax +32 2 203 55 55, Email [email protected] or: [email protected] , www.crowneplazabrussels.be

ABOUT GREEN GLOBE CERTIFICATION

Green Globe Certification 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 Certification is based in California, USA, and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe Certification is a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, supported by the United Nations Foundation. For information, visit www.greenglobe.com .