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For the interest of sustainably minded travellers,
ethical travellers, future-shapers, or green consumers,
our Inn is a four green key property.
We have joined the Green Hotels Association to assist us in keeping up on the new ideas and support for Greening of our Industry.
The Hotel has a four green key rating:
A 4 Green Key rating is awarded to a hotel that has shown national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide ranging policies and practices. The Hotel has mature programs in place that involve management, employees, guests, and the public, and which have shown substantial and measurable results.
To reduce the impact of our Hotel operation on the environment in which we live and work, the Best Western Festival Inn wishes to be respectful of the environment.
Based on the feedback from our guests and staff, a plan of action was created to lead the company to a position of environmental stewardship. Key points were identified to initially promote property level improvements in the areas of waste management, energy conservation, water conservation and purchasing practices.
With a target of reducing landfill waste, we implemented comprehensive recycling programs for a variety of materials. We reduced materials such as newspaper, cardboard and recyclable products to recycling depots while donating used soaps and amenities to local shelters and charities.
The hotel was built and later enhanced with Power Smart programs to ensure all appropriate lighting to conserve energy where possible and still have appealing lighting for the guests.
Best Western has established corporate purchasing policies for the purchase of, and conversion to environmentally friendly products. These include the elimination of hazardous chemicals and synthetic perfumes, a conversion to unbleached Kraft and recycled paper and the replacement of aerosol products with ozone-friendly alternatives. In 2007 we have changed our main pool to a salt chlorinator, which makes chlorine naturally out of rock salt thereby eliminating the chemicals previously purchased.
In our guestrooms, water efficient showerheads and tap aerator are helping to conserve energy and low flow toilets were originally installed to reduce water waste. We have instituted optional towel and sheet exchange programs; our valued guests are also doing their part for our environment by conserving enormous amounts of water, energy and detergents in this manner.Old towels and linen goes to shelters or to africawecare . org
We are asking all guests to turn off lights when possible and we have turned off part of our hallway lights. As Staff and Management we are continually looking at ways to assist our community in environmental issues and how we can upgrade our greening effect.
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