BETHESDA, Md., April 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its global sustainability strategy to address climate change, Marriott International (Nasdaq:MAR) announced the company's global energy intensity decreased cumulatively by 2.6 percent over 2013, 13.1 percent compared to a 2007 baseline.
Across the majority of the company's four global regions, energy results continued to decline. In The Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, energy intensity for managed hotels decreased over 2013 by 3.0 percent, 0.7 percent and 1.3 percent respectively. In the Middle East and Africa, energy intensity increased by 1.2 percent over 2013 as the region stabilized and travel increased.
"Our global decrease in energy intensity demonstrates the commitment Marriott International has made to attain its sustainability goals," said Denise Naguib, vice president, sustainability and supplier diversity, Marriott International. "As Marriott's global footprint expands, we continue to look for new ways to conserve energy at our more than 4,100 properties."
In March, Marriott announced water conservation results, sharing that global water intensity in its worldwide managed hotels decreased in 2014 by 5.3 percent over 2013, and 16.3 percent compared to 2007.
Since 2013, Marriott International has used Green Hotels Global to track the environmental footprint of each managed and franchise hotel in the company's portfolio. The data in Green Hotels Global allows the company to identify and drive programs to support the reduction of energy, water, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste.
Increasingly, travelers are seeking brands with comprehensive sustainability and social responsibility programs. By the end of 2014, more than 1,600 Marriott properties had earned a TripAdvisor GreenLeader™ badge, the largest number of hotels in the program, providing eco-conscious customers a vast array of choices that fit their conservation interests. Marriott also has nearly 50 Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design™ (LEED®) certified hotels, and over 400 electric charging stations at 170 hotels.
The company has been celebrating Environmental Awareness Month (EAM) at headquarters and in its hotels. To kick off EAM, hotels participated in the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour, a global event encouraging communities across the globe to switch off non-essential lighting, and bring attention to sustainability issues. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, ten Marriott Hotels together saved approximately 7000KW in just one hour. In Europe, hotels involved guests in the company's Spirit to Preserve. Encouraging the re-use of room towels, guests were invited to create towel origami, and share their designs on social media. For every post, a tree was donated to WeForest.
For more on Marriott's Sustainability Goals and to view the 2014 Sustainability Report, visit http://www.marriott.com/corporate-social-responsibility/corporate-responsibility.mi.
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq:MAR) is a leading global lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,100 properties in 79 countries and territories and reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.