At NH Hotels we are aware that our activities could, directly or indirectly, create an impact on the environment and the communities where we operate.
Inline with this statement, and in the context of our 2008 to 2012 Strategic Environmental Plan, we are on the verge of launching our brand new product: Ecomeeting. The plan, principally a gathering of people for information exchange purposes, but also characterized by four distinguishing parameters:
- Efficiency in the usage of energy and water
- Low impact materials
- Fair-trade products

One of our parameters: Efficiency of water usage
The fourth element is offering optional…
- carbon offsetting on client demand. Offsetting carbon strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Companies’ offsets are typically achieved through financial support of projects that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the short or long term. For this purpose our preferred choice and what we consider the best way is through renewable energy projects.
This is why NH hotels financially support a hydropower plant located in the Rôndonia, Brazil. This renewable energy river hydropower project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by displacing power from higher emission fossil fuel sources on the national electric grid.

The state of Rondonia, Brazil where the hydropower plant supported by NH is based.
NH Hotels clients can now choose to offset the emissions created as a result of their meeting, by including carbon offsetting in the Ecomeeting purchase agreement. The fixed extra cost is 1€ per person for low or medium travelling impacts, 2€ for meeting where attendees are coming from long distances and 3€ for transoceanic.
The client can also opt for a more detailed analysis of their meeting and the offsetting needed, NH Hoteles can calculate the offset required for the specific client. NH provides all this information for the client. Information such as: client origin, destination and transportation used. Clients under this special purchase agreement will receive an official certificate issued by Carbon Clear, stating the specific amount of CO2 equivalent, compensated by the hydropower plant project.

For as little as €1 per person, use the Ecomeeting option and offset your CO2 emissions
Here is a list of NH Hotels already taking part in the offsetting scheme:
- Milan: NH Milanofiori
- Vienna: NH Danube City
- Amsterdam: NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky
- Noordwijkerhout: NH Leeuwenhorst
- Berlin: NH Berlin Mitte
- Madrid: NH Eurobuilding
- Barcelona: NH Constanza
- Mexico DF: NH Santa Fe
- Buenos Aires: NH City & Tower

NH Eurobuilding Madrid, just one of our hotels which offers the Ecomeeting option
We expect to be able to extend this option to all NH Hotels portfolio very soon.
Thanks to this initiative at NH we involve our clients in our Environmental Strategic Plan, by giving them the opportunity to reduce the impact of their activities as well and to jointly become more sustainable.
For more tips on reducing your carbon footprint, check out Augusts blog on ‘Top Tips for Reducing your Carbon Footprint’