Coast Hotels & Resorts Launches Carbon Offset Program for Guests

Hotel Guests Can Purchase Carbon Credits to Offset Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Their Stay

VANCOUVER, June 2 /CNW/ - Coast Hotels & Resorts announced today that effective June 1, 2010 guests staying at any of the hotel chain's 17 participating Canadian properties are able to voluntarily offset harmful greenhouse gas emissions from their hotel stay by purchasing carbon credits in eco-friendly projects.

Coast Hotels & Resorts is inviting guests to join in its efforts to combat climate change by encouraging them to add $1 per day to their room bill to purchase carbon credits equivalent to one night's stay at the hotel. Members of Coast Hotels & Resorts' loyalty program have the option of reducing their environmental footprint by redeeming 25 Coast Rewards points to purchase enough carbon credits to offset each night's stay.

Coast Hotels & Resorts has purchased carbon credits from Pacific Carbon Trust, a Crown Corporation established by the B.C. Government to deliver B.C.-based greenhouse gas offsets. On the hotel chain's behalf, Pacific Carbon Trust will apply these carbon credit payments to purchase carbon offsets from emission-reducing fuel switching and energy efficiency projects in B.C., making a guest's hotel night completely carbon neutral.

"Travel and tourism does have a significant impact on the environment," said Graeme Barrit, President of Coast Hotels & Resorts. "Even the most environmentally conscious travellers admit that their green tendencies tend to diminish when they're on vacation, leading them to leave the lights on or take longer showers, which is one of the reasons we launched this carbon offset program. We wanted to empower guests to take a personal role in combating climate change in a positive and cost-effective way."

"Promoting sustainable tourism is an extremely important part of the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Pacific Carbon Trust CEO, Scott MacDonald. "Pacific Carbon Trust has partnered with Coast Hotels & Resorts to provide high quality offsets - a meaningful way to show visitors that Canadian businesses are conscious of climate change issues and are taking active steps to reduce carbon emissions."

Coast Hotels & Resorts recently completed an extensive study to gain a better understanding of the extent of its carbon footprint. Working with InterVISTAS Consulting Inc., the company measured the carbon dioxide generated by three representative hotels (Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina, Coast Inn of the North in Prince George, B.C., and the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel) to determine a representative per-room-night carbon footprint for Coast Hotels. Based on the number of available room nights, the weighted average per-room-night footprint was determined to be 28.69 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Coast Hotels carbon offset program is just one of the steps the company is taking to encourage sustainable tourism. As part of ecoast, Coast Hotel & Resorts' in-house environmental program, the hotel chain regularly sources eco-friendly goods and supplies. Last year, Coast Hotels & Resorts started purchasing 100 per cent recycled, chlorine-free paper products (hand towels, facial tissues and bath tissues) from SCA Tissue North America. The approximately 3,000 cases of EcoLogo certified paper products Coast Hotels buys each year prevents 118.64 cubic meters of waste from going into the landfill. Recyclable key cards are also used throughout the hotel chain, significantly reducing plastic destined for landfills. Guests at Coast Hotels are also provided with shampoo, bath gel and lotions in bulk containers to reduce the number of small bottles used. Individual hotels in the chain have wide-ranging recycling programs in place, have retrofitted their properties with energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and have installed low-flow toilets and shower heads in guest rooms. Three Coast Hotel properties have also installed Sempa hybrid heating systems enabling them to dramatically reduce their energy costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Hotels participating in the Coast Carbon Offset Program include:

    
    -   Coast Vancouver Airport Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.

    -   Coast Bastion Inn, Nanaimo, B.C.

    -   Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna, B.C.

    -   Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel, Edmonton, AB

    -   Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina, Victoria, B.C.

    -   The Hillcrest Hotel, a Coast Resort, Revelstoke, B.C.

    -   Coast Inn of the North, Prince George, B.C.

    -   The Coast Hotel & Convention Centre, Langley, B.C.

    -   Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, Vancouver, B.C.

    -   Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, Vancouver, B.C.

    -   Coast Prince Rupert Hotel, Prince Rupert, B.C.

    -   Coast Blackcomb Suites at Whistler, Whistler, B.C.

    -   Coast Edmonton House, Edmonton, AB

    -   Coast Pyramid Lake Resort, Jasper, AB

    -   Coast Chilliwack Hotel, Chilliwack, B.C.

    -   Coast Sundance Lodge, Sun Peaks, B.C.

    -   Coast Fraser Inn, Williams Lake, B.C.
    

About Coast Hotels & Resorts

Coast Hotels & Resorts is a leading hotel chain in western North America. The company's philosophy of serving its guests through a superior standard of value, hospitality and service enables its continuing expansion. Coast Hotels & Resorts now owns, manages and franchises over 40 hotel and resort properties located throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territories, the western United States, Alaska and Hawaii. Visit www.coasthotels.com or call 1-800-663-1144 for more information.

For further information: For media inquiries please contact: Martin Livingston, BreakThrough Communications Inc., Vancouver, B.C., [phone]