Sustainable Travel

The solar powered 'Innovation Hotel' – now available for virtual viewing and exploring on IHG's Web site – outlines the latest technology in energy and water conservation and recycling. The project's features, listed below, may be earmarked as standard across all IHG brands within the next few years, according to company executives.

"We have some excellent examples of responsible tourism already under way in our hotels," says David Jerome, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility for IHG. "Now we're looking at setting company-wide goals for our business to deliver real benefits to the environment, based on clear understanding of where we can make a difference and on guests' needs."

Innovation Hotel features:

* Solar panels on the roof to heat water
* Wind power to generate electricity for the hotel
* Household waste to provide heat and power
* A rainwater harvesting system to supply water to toilets
* A roof garden rich in shrubbery to provide extra insulation
* Recycled glass windows
* Furniture and fittings made entirely from recycled materials

"People who do their bit for the environment when they're at home are likely to be interested in doing the same when they're staying in a hotel," Jerome says. "Responsible tourism is about growing in a way that makes sense for business while managing our impact on the environment and community. We want to know what ‘green’ features are important to guests before making them part of brand standards. [The Innovation Hotel] gives them a chance to weigh in with their ideas."

The first inkling a guest will get of the Innovation Hotel's green attributes is the green roof – planted with low-maintenance plants – which improves the thermal performance of the hotel and helps keep it cool in warm weather and insulate it in winter. The plants and thin layer of soil work like a sound barrier, particularly when they're wet, helping to reduce noise pollution. Other environmental benefits include improvements to air quality, biodiversity and storm water run off.

As for the other green attributes:

* On the roof there will be up to four huge solar panels drawing energy from the sun to heat water and help cut back on nonrenewable energy use.

* Harvesting systems collect rainwater in tanks either on the roof or underground. In regions where there's plenty of regular rain, harvesting is an effective and low-cost way of reducing demand on local water supplies.

* The hotel uses the rain water to flush toilets and water grounds, as well as for dishwashers and washing machines.

* Oil produced from household waste can be used as bio-fuel instead of fossil fuels to generate heat and power.

* Natural lava stone signage at the entrance and on the lawns replaces traditional plastic and metal signs.

* All the furniture in the reception is made from recycled material and all the paper used by the receptionists will also be recycled.

* The decor is low emission paint; all the artwork is produced by local artists to ensure a low carbon-footprint and there are recycling bins for guests to use.

* All unused food from the kitchens is packaged and delivered to local charities or food banks to cut wastage, and leftover scraps are composted to create a rich fertilizer for use on hotel plants and lawns.

* In the bedroom all furniture and fittings including towels are made from recycled materials; mattresses consist of natural fiber such as horsehair, as do carpets.

* Bathrooms feature low-flow showerheads and dual flush toilets.