Hilton Colombo joined 16 other Hilton hotels in the Asian region recently in committing to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Earth Hour initiative for the first time.

``WWF Earth Hour is a global initiative which hopes to eventually reach out to more than one billion people, asked individuals, businesses and Governments to switch off their lights for just one hour on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm. This symbolic gesture is designed to highlight the importance of action on climate change,’’ the hotel explained in a news release.

Andy Ridley, Global Director of Earth Hour for the WWF said: "The business community has an incredible ability and responsibility to engage employees, customers and suppliers to create a sustainable future for our planet, and we therefore welcome the involvement of major international businesses such as Hilton Hotels in Earth Hour."

Hilton Colombo’s General Manager, Jerome Aivity said "To support this important initiative, Hilton Colombo developed a series of activities to provide a wonderful opportunity for engagement between guests and hotel staff on March 28 such as: all lights were switched off in all the Food & Beverage outlets and lobby, The laundry machines, boilers, swimming pool pumps, tennis court lights, hotel logo neon light, concessionaire shop lights and pond pumps were switched off too from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on the night of "Earth Hour".

"Apart from this one elevator was shut down, back corridor lights was reduced by 50% and all floor corridors kept on an emergency lighting for one hour. However the hotel did not neglect any of their customers as there were candles lit in all Food & Beverage outlets and the lobby area. The highlight of the event was of course the "Earth Hour Cake" the team prepared in a shape of a clock.’’

Speaking about Hilton’s support of Earth Hour, Martin Rinck, President of Hilton Hotels Corporation - Asia Pacific said: "At Hilton we are committed to the heart of the communities in which we operate. Our support of Earth Hour will enable us to illustrate this in a tangible way, while simultaneously improving our environmental practices. Most of all Earth Hour at Hilton will allow our hotel team members to work together with our guests, to raise awareness that everyone can make a difference."

Hilton is committed to constantly working to improve its environmental performance and was one of the founding members of the International Tourism Partnership (www.tourismpartnership.org). This organization is designed to bring together leaders of some of the largest travel and tourism companies to work through collective, industry-wide action at local, destination and country level to encourage real progress towards a more sustainable hotel, travel and tourism industry, the news release said.

The support of Earth Hour by Hilton Colombo and other Hilton Hotels in Asia is in addition to support given by the hotel group in Europe and the US.