The Quadrant Hotel Auckland

The Quadrant Hotel is  big on looking after people, planet and profitability – constant improvement and recognition of efforts of staff is key to affecting behaviour change in a resource intensive industry.
Since 2006 Auckland's hip  Quadrant Hotel has been setting new standards for sustainability - they are committed to making staff aware of the benefits and are doing everything possible to encourage  guests to reduce the impact of their stay.

With 80,000 guests a  year everything from water use, travel planning, procurement, cleaning products, energy use, buying local produce, promoting hybrid taxis, engaging and recognising the efforts of a very diverse workforce has a potentially large impact .“ We're improving all the time”, says Quadrant's  Richard Bungeroth who acknowledges support and commitment from both management and staff is essential to constantly improve environmental performance and raise awareness.

Sustainability issues are raised at body corporate  and  management meetings and being a small kiwi owned business decisions can be made quickly. For example deciding not to have bath tubs in rooms has led to huge savings of around a 14 400 000L per year whilst replacing incandescent light bulbs with high efficiency CFL/LED bulbs the Quadrant expects to reduce power usage by over 83% saving  $735,000 over the lifetime of the bulbs.

Maintenance Manager John Cox, lives sustainability on a daily basis, responsible for collection and safe disposal of old batteries. Significant when you consider each room uses at least 20 batteries to operate its various remotes, door locks and alarm clocks. John’s next challenge is to install re-chargeable batteries in all hotel rooms.  Staff recognition is key to achieving behavioural change and  small steps toward sustainbility goals are recognised to cultivate a culture that values planet, people and profit. Actions speak louder than words and John has been instrumental in numerous other green, energy and water efficiency initiatives such as: A feasibility study to heat Hotel water through solar heating; filling the lobby water feature with rain water and use hypermizers to reduce overall Hotel kilo wattage output per hour.

Other initiatives include:
•    Working with contractors to remove plastic wrap from drycleaning
•    Sponsored world car free day and promote hybrid taxis
•    guests given option of inclusive or exclusive housekeeping reducing laundry load
•    Sustainability is part of formal procurement and new staff induction
•    Staff contribute time in cleanup and planting at Fernglen Native Plant Gardens, Birkenhead

•    Donate goods and room packages to City Mission raising $7000 in 2010
•    research into porous paving to reduce run off
•    Supported earth hour by switching all non-essential lights and equipment off for an hour and promoting this to guests.

Research into porous paving to reduce run off

 This story is only a beginning – constant improvement and sustainability thinking that values small and incremental daily improvements means Quadrant Hotel is the place to stay when you visit Auckland City.