The Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh has announced that all meetings and events taking place on or after 1 July, 2007 will be certified 100% carbon neutral through a partnership with The CarbonNeutral Company. The costs involved in making all meeting and events carbon neutral will be borne by the hotel, and will go towards specific carbon offsetting projects pre-selected by the hotel’s staff. 

The move comes as part of a larger effort by the hotel to reduce the environmental impact of the hotel’s operations and work with guests to minimise harmful effects upon the environment.  Since January 2007, when the hotel became the first in Scotland to hire a full-time member of staff to address environmental responsibility, the hotel has reduced waste volume by over 50%, and electricity usage continues to fall, with consumption down 10% from 2006 usage.

The hotel was recently short-listed for the National Business Awards for Scotland in the categories of Environmental Awareness and Corporate Social Responsibility.  Additionally, it was awarded the Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold Award, its highest level of recognition for environmental excellence.  As a direct result of this achievement, the hotel received an event booking worth £10,000.

Alexandra Hammond, Responsible Business Consultant explained: “Offering our meeting and events guests this service not only serves to build awareness of environmental issues, it also gives us the opportunity to engage our clients in the hotel’s efforts to foster environmental responsibility”. 

In choosing carbon offsetting projects, the hotel has opted for the highest quality initiatives, including a wind power generation project in New Zealand and, more locally, Carrifran Wildwood tree planting in Dumfries and Galloway.  Carbon emissions calculations are produced by the independent Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management and all projects sponsored by The CarbonNeutral Company are independently audited and certified as “new projects”.  Where possible, The Radisson SAS Edinburgh supports projects approved as Gold Standard by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). 

The hotel was first in the marketplace last September to offer guests the opportunity to offset their stay or event at the hotel.  The move to make all meetings and events carbon neutral from 1 July 2007 stems from the success of this programme. 
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