Destination Bejing For GECAS' Eco-Friendly Conference

China World Hotel, Beijing successfully hosted its innovative first eco-friendly conference on August 15, 2010, welcoming delegates on behalf of GE Capital Aviation Services and Air China.

As part of the carbon-less meeting program, 62 senior executives based in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Europe from GECAS, and Air China and other airlines took part in a seminar based on a green package designed by China World Hotel, Beijing.

Thanks to measures included in the hotel's unique green package, an estimated 700 kilograms of CO2 emissions were saved during the one-day event.

Features of GECAS-Air China's customised CMP included: VIP guests were met on arrival by concierge staff using iPads instead of card signage; hybrid BMW cars were used to transfer the VIP guests to the hotel from the airport; power points, socket adaptors and Wi-Fi access were made available throughout the conference hall to enable guests to use laptops, thereby reducing the need for paper and pens; individual carafes of lemon and mint water were served to every guest, along with fresh fruit and jellybeans, replacing the traditional bottled water and individually wrapped mints; and coffee breaks and lunch set-ups featured sustainable materials and seasonally fresh, locally sourced produce with some organic elements.

The organizers announced at the start of the seminar that they had chosen the program offered by China World Hotel because it was good for the environment and supported a worthy charitable cause — with 2% of the revenue generated by the seminar went into the China World Hotel, Beijing Green Fund, which will be used for sustainable, eco-friendly projects together with the hotel's non-profit partner, the Hua Ao School for migrant children.

John Rice, the general manager China World Hotel, Beijing, presented the organisers with a scroll of thanks for choosing the green program and said that he hoped they enjoyed the eco-friendly set-up which was part of the hotel's efforts to operate in a more sustainable manner.

The organisers of the seminar also presented each delegate with a collection of charity moon cakes as a parting gift.