Minto Suite Hotel Receives Highest Eco-Rating
Minto Suite Hotel, a four-diamond all suites hotel in Ottawa, receives 5 Green Key Eco-Rating from the Hotel Association of Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, ON (September 18, 2012) – Following a comprehensive review of it’s environmental practices, Minto Suite Hotel has received the highest 5 Key Eco-Rating from the Hotel Association’s Green Key Eco-Rating program. The rating is given to a hotel that exemplifies the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility throughout all areas of operations – employing cutting edge technologies, policies and programs that set the international standard for sustainable hotel operations.
Only five other hotels in Ontario have achieved a 5 Key Eco-Rating, while only 55 other hotels in North America have received it out of the nearly 3000 hotels participating in the program. Minto Suite Hotel has also achieved BOMA BESt level 3, a Canadian industry standard for green building certification from the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada.
“This achievement was made possible because of the passion that our entire Minto team demonstrates towards making the world a better place,” says Rob Pike, President of Minto Properties. “Our guests appreciate the many environmental initiatives offered at Minto Suite Hotel and the inspired thinking that our team exudes each day. We are honoured to have earned this recognition for our efforts.”
Since receiving a 4 Key rating a couple of years ago, Minto Suite Hotel was able to identify further opportunities to reduce environmental impacts and operating costs through reduced utility consumption, employee training and supply chain management. The Green Key program assesses five main operational areas of a property, including corporate environmental management; housekeeping; food and beverage operations; conference and meeting facilities. Within these operational areas, the program examines sustainable practices such as energy and water conservation, waste management, indoor air quality, community outreach, building infrastructure, land use and environmental management.
To earn its 5 Key rating, Minto Suite Hotel increased staff training in environmental awareness and behaviour and participated in government energy reduction programs, such as Save-on-Energy. The Hotel has adopted a 100% smoke-free policy and features eco-friendly products and amenities. Meeting planners and clients are educated about the Hotel’s environmental policies, including recycling and composting programs and conference rooms equipped with reusable white boards to eliminate the need for flip charts. Food and beverage preparation is done with high efficiency appliances, using bulk purchases in reusable containers. The use of CFCs (refrigerants harmful to ozone layer) has been greatly reduced, hazardous waste is being safely diverted, and energy, waste and water audits are routinely performed.
About Minto:
The Minto Group, established in 1955, is an Ottawa-based real estate, development, construction and property management company with operations also in Toronto, London (ON), Calgary, and Florida.