Sheraton Abuja Hotel joined millions around the world in turning off lights for one hour on March 19 at 8:30 p.m. local time to illuminate a powerful message about environmental awareness and action.
The hotel went dark to shine the light on climate change with Earth Hour 2016.
The theme of the 2016 Earth Hour celebration focused on climate change following a successful United Nation’s COP21 conference in Paris.
The annual global environmental awareness event was created and instituted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2007 to emphasise the threat of global warming and the need to reduce carbon emissions.
Sheraton Abuja Hotel participated by engaging in a host of activities such as planting of Moringa trees around the football pitch on the eve of the celebration and switching off all lights around the pool area between the hours of 8:30 and 9:30 on Saturday, March 19, 2016.
Guests and associates danced around a bonfire stake while they enjoyed hotdogs, Tropicana cocktail mix and complimentary grilled steak (Suya).
To further promote the cause, funds raised from the event will be deployed to the planting of more trees later in the year during the Starwood Cares initiative.
Speaking on the event, the Deputy General Manager, Mr. Emad Rizk said, “It’s a privilege for us to support such a powerful movement with such a simple gesture”.
According to him, “Earth Hour reflects a philosophy we try to practice year-round that we all must do our part and together we can make a big difference. Climate change affects everyone and it also has an impact on the continued success of our business”.
Last year, nearly 600 Starwood properties around the world participated.
In addition to conserving energy, many properties hosted events and activities that engaged associates and guests.
Some projects and programmes included themed menus designed to highlight local and organic foods and Earth Hour inspired cocktails, special performances, tailored concerts and displays of traditional entertainment and distinctive campaigns devised to support individual community initiatives and conservation efforts.
Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF.
Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 19, 2016 at 8:30 p.m. (local time) to show their support for environmentally sustainable action.
Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and has grown to hundreds of millions of people around the world.