Le Meridien Goes Dark!

(I-Newswire) March 22, 2010 - For the second year in a row, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel and Spa will participate in Earth Hour, on Saturday, March 27, the global environmental awareness event created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to send a powerful global message about the importance of environmental sustainability and caring for the planet.

Le Méridien St Julians will observe Earth Hour by switching the hotel’s lights off and taking several energy-saving measures for one full hour, further underscoring Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to environmental sustainability.

From Beijing and Brussels to Baltimore and Buenos Aires, Starwood hotels flying brand flags, including St Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Westin® and the recently launched Aloft® and ElementSM , will do likewise.

"Between 8.30 and 9.30 p.m. on Saturday we are also hosting an evening ritual with live music and celebration drinks in the KuDéTa – all by candle light", said Angela Saliba, general manager of Le Méridien St Julians. "From 9 p.m. there is also a Happy Hour during which patrons will benefit from 50 per cent off all consumption at the bar."

This year, in more than 90,000 hotel rooms, guests staying in participating Starwood properties will be encouraged to turn off the lights. Last year, the darkened hotels offered striking visual imagery that provided an apt symbol of Earth Hour.

Starwood hotels around the world will also co-ordinate Earth Hour awareness events, including community walk-a-thons, public candlelight ‘unplugged’ concerts, and guest receptions featuring signature green cocktails.

"The enthusiasm we saw from our guests and associates last year made it clear how much they share our passion for sustainability and environmental stewardship", said Sandy Swider, vice-president of Global Citizenship, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "Considering that Starwood does business in every corner of the world, we have a terrific platform for sharing messages about the impact each one of us can have if we work together."

Starwood itself made history when it launched Element Hotels, Starwood’s green trailblazer and the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. Across its entire portfolio, Starwood is rolling out initiatives that aim to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and enhance indoor environmental quality for Starwood guests and associates alike.

About Earth Hour

On Earth Hour, March 27, 2010, hundreds of millions of people around the world will come together to call for action on climate change by doing something quite simple –turning off their lights for one hour. The movement symbolises that by working together, each one of us can make a positive impact in this fight, protecting our future and that of future generations. Since its inception three years ago, Earth Hour’s non-partisan approach has captured the world’s imagination and became a global phenomenon. Nearly one billion people turned out for Earth Hour 2009 – involving 4,100 cities in 87 countries on seven continents. More at www.myearthhour.org.

About Le Meridien Malta:
Luxury seaside hotel in Malta, centrally located in pretty Balluta Bay. Le Meridien St Julians is a 5 star hotel part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. It boasts luxurious spa facilities and a whole floor dedicated to conference facilities.

Company Contact Information
Le Meridien Malta
Ludivine Bendotti
39 Main Street
Balluta Bay - St Julians - Malta
STJ 1017
Phone : +356 2311 0000