The management of Apo View Hotel on Monday assured Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte that they are strictly enforcing the city’s anti-smoking ordinance within the hotel premises. Source: Sun Star Davao Apo View Hotel general manager Mariano “Sonny” ...
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  1. Management of Apo View Hotel asserts they respect the anti-smoking ordinance
  2. Philippines: Mayor threatens to close hotel where Korean guests continue to smoke despite the ban
  3. Does the "Green" Hotel Certification include being 100% smoke-free?
  4. From France: More 100% smoke-free hotels and 100% smoke-free rental cars
  5. Smoke-Free Hotels in the Philippines for World No Tobacco Day
  6. More Recent Articles

Management of Apo View Hotel asserts they respect the anti-smoking ordinance

The management of Apo View Hotel on Monday assured Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte that they are strictly enforcing the city’s anti-smoking ordinance within the hotel premises.

Source: Sun Star Davao

Apo View Hotel general manager Mariano “Sonny” Pamintuan Jr. said they were surprised by Duterte’s statement in his Sunday television program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” which mention’s the hotel’s alleged violation of the anti-smoking ordinance.

“I am alarmed by this because I personally have not seen them (Koreans) smoking other than in approved designated smoking areas and in the open-air garden or parking lot which is where they are often seen,” Pamintuan said in his letter to the mayor.

He said if there were indeed violation by some of their Korean guests “then it has been on the sly” or behind their backs or in the privacy of their offices or inside the Casino. It was learned that the hotel’s Casino is off limits to Filipinos.

   

Philippines: Mayor threatens to close hotel where Korean guests continue to smoke despite the ban

Read the story of the Apo View hotel in Davao City.

Source:  Sun Star Manila

Mayor threatens to close Apo View
By Ben O. Tesiorna

DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte directed the management of Apo View Hotel to order its Korean guests to smoke only in designated areas or face closure.

"Ginagago niyo na ako eh. Sige ko ug yawyaw diri, kamo... At dahil ginagago niyo ako, nakakalalaki na kayo. Kay nakakalalaki na kayo, mag-away na lang 'ta, wala ma'y laing padulngan 'ni (You are making a fool out of me. While I am often reminding residents about the smoking ban, you... And since you are making a fool out of me, you are thus challenging me. We'd better settle this now in a fight because that's where it's going anyway)," Duterte said over his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Sunday morning.

He particularly cited the hotel's Korean guests who, he said, showed no regard for the city's law.

"Ingna ninyo nang mga Koreano (You better tell all those Koreans), if you are in Davao City then follow our laws. Balaod na eh (That's the law)," he said.

He particularly hit Representative Prospero C. Nograles, who is rumored to be the new owner of the hotel.

Duterte appealed to Nograles to immediately take action on these alleged violations or he will be forced to enforce the full force of the law and close the Apo View Hotel for good.

"Kung dili nimo na maundang, sirhan ko nang inyong Apo View. Dugay na gyud kong nagpugong-pugong sa inyuha (If you cannot stop smoking in Apo View, then I will have that closed. I have long restrained myself regarding this)," Duterte said.

The city earlier compelled Apo View Hotel to comply with the anti-smoking ordinance in 2002 through a lawsuit.

When the ordinance was implemented on November 9, 2002, all business establishments were ordered to designate smoking areas and to restrict smoking in areas not designated as such. The Apo View Hotel management picked on a gray area in the ordinance and declared its whole restaurant and bar as its smoking area, to the consternation of the mayor.

The mayor said he is not trying to pick a fight with anyone especially with Nograles. But when it comes to enforcing the law, he said, nobody is above it, not even the Koreans or the businessmen who benefit from them.

"Kung dili ta magkasinabot dinhi (If we cannot come to an understanding here), maybe you should do it in your own time. Huwag lang during my term as mayor. Kung kamo na mayor kamo nay magbuot unsang gusto ninyo buhaton (If you become the mayor, then you can do what you want)," Duterte said.

"Sa sunod inspeksyon kung wala gihapon moy buhaton, magkita na lang ta sa korte. Or kung gusto ninyo, awayon nato ni. Kung wala nay mupalag sa violations ninyo, ako na mismo ang mupalag. Tapuson nato ning storyaha sa akong panahon (In the next inspection, if the hotel management still does not do anything about this then we will just see each other in court. Or, if you want, let's just settle this in a fisticuff. If you think no one is taking a stand against your violation, then I will be the one to do so. We will finish this issue during my term)," the mayor added.

On the other hand, Nograles denied rumors he is the new owner of the Apo View Hotel.

"The mayor was misinformed by his people because we own the Royal House and not the Apo View Hotel. Sonny Pamintuan's family owns the Apo View. Sonny and I are just old and best friends having grown up and studied together, even as room mates, at the Ateneo de Manila Loyola from 1960-63 and barkada and drinking buddies in golf till now. Just very close," Nograles said.

He said he would help by talking with the Pamintuan family on how to solve the problem.

"But the city must formally write the hotel about the specific violations of smoking rules so the hotel management can immediately correct whatever mistakes are being made by them. We will not fight about law infractions. I am a lawmaker not a lawbreaker. He needs to enforce the law as mayor too. Just give them (Apo View) the usual procedural due process and make them explain violations," Nograles said.

Duterte revealed that the influx of Korean visitors in the city, in particular at the Apo View Hotel, does not benefit the City Government at all. He clarified though that he is not against the visit of Korean nationals in the city but said the hotel management must inform them of the laws and they must follow these laws.

   

Does the "Green" Hotel Certification include being 100% smoke-free?

Reading this article about "Green Hotels" I wondered if being 100% smoke-free is part of the check list?

Greening the Hotel Industry One Eco-Property at a Time
   
    April 20, 2007 — By Heleigh Bostwick for ENN

With eco-tourism on the rise, eco-hotels are fast becoming the darling of the travel and hospitality industry. These days however, staying at an eco-hotel doesn't necessarily mean vacationing in a tree house in the Costa Rican jungle, although that is definitely an option.

The majority of eco-hotels fall into one of several categories; hotels and resorts that conserve ecologically significant habitats, "green" hotels that reduce, recycle, minimize waste, and conserve water, sustainable hotels that harvest food from gardens on the hotel property or obtain part or all of their power from renewable energy, hotels that encourage community involvement such as guests participating in trail clearing, and hotels that offer some form of environmental education to their guests.

As such, eco-hotels are a diverse bunch. Sophisticated urban hotels like Intercontinental The Willard Washington, D.C. focus on energy conservation whereas The Rosario Resort & Spa on Orcas Island in Washington state offers a wildly popular "green" vacation package where guests can "take a hike, clear a trail, and enjoy a vacation" and in return receive a special "green" rate. Gyreum is a hostel in Sligo, Ireland that is oriented towards the sunrises and sunsets of the summer and winter solstices, uses sheep wool insulation, is powered by the sun and wind, and has a living roof as well as an organic garden. There's even a "green" cruise ship that bills itself as "The World--Sailing Through Green Waters".

Then of course, there's the granddaddy of eco-resorts, the Maho Bay Camps in St. John, US Virgin Islands. When Maho Bay first opened its doors in 1976, the words eco-hotel and eco-tourism did not even exist. Maho Bay was constructed using recycled materials and harnesses the power of the sun and wind to generate electricity. It has received numerous awards and accolades over the years including a Commendation Award at the 2000 Green Globe Achievement Awards and 2003 Environmental Quality Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It also remains one of the most popular eco-resorts in the world with a return rate of more than 80%.

No matter what you call them, eco-hotel, eco-lodge, eco-resort, or green hotel, they're all part of the "greening" of the tourism industry, representing a conscience effort on the part of hotels to promote themselves as environmentally, and quite often socially, conscience entities.

Part of what drives this greening of the hotel industry is no doubt competition. Going green is yet another way to distinguish themselves from the multitude of other excellent hotels that consumers have to choose from, but for many hotels including Maho Bay, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and smaller eco-boutique hotels like The Ambrose in Santa Monica, California, it's also part and parcel of their corporate philosophy. With the concept of "going green" firmly entrenched in consumers' minds, eco-hotels take it to the next level, and whether or not money is the driving factor behind the greening of the hotel industry doesn't matter so much as that it's good for the planet.

Instituting "green" policies, programs and initiatives in the areas of water usage, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality, in what hotels call "back of house operations", is a large part of the greening of the hotel industry. So is eco-hospitality, using non-toxic cleaning supplies for instance. Many hotels also offer "green packages" or institute policies that allow guests with hybrid vehicles to park free. After all, a majority of hotels are in urban and suburban areas and not in pristine natural surroundings.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has been at the forefront of the "green" hotel movement for more than a decade. Their Green Partnership program guide was instituted in 1990 and has since been used as the prototype for other hotels including Four Seasons and Hyatt. It focuses on sustainability according to Environmental Affairs Director Michelle White, encompassing everything from recycling and organic waste diversion in the hotel's kitchens to retrofitting energy efficient lighting, purchasing green power, and employing alternate energy technology As part of its eco-hospitality efforts, Fairmont provides in-room recycling and recently launched Eco-Meet, a green meeting and conference option. It also plans to introduce organic or biodynamic wines and menus prepared with locally grown foods this spring.

On a smaller scale, eco-boutique hotels such as The Ambrose also consider themselves to be what Deirdre Wallace, a hotel developer and owner of The Ambrose, calls sustainable hotels. "We don't use toxic chemicals for cleaning, the carpets are being replaced with eco-friendly ones. All of the paint we use is low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and 15% of our power comes from renewable energy. We serve an organic breakfast and the mini bar stocked with healthy choices," says Wallace.

Then, there are hotels like the Fairmont Pittsburgh scheduled to open in 2009 that are planned and built with sustainability in mind from the start. Many of them, Fairmont Pittsburgh included, are aiming for LEED certified gold, a trend that is expected to gain momentum as green building becomes the industry standard. LEED, which is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a voluntary national standard for the design and development of sustainable buildings.

Wallace is also building a second eco-boutique hotel in Venice Beach, CA that she describes as an eco-luxury full service hotel. Built on the site of the former studio of modern design pioneers Charles and Ray Eames, The Ray Hotel is considered an adaptive re-use project that Wallace says will use solar panels on the roof and gray water systems to conserve water. "We're keeping a large percentage of the original building to house guests and building a new wing that will house a small retail shop selling sustainable high design goods and a green spa with natural and organic spa treatments," says Wallace.

Wallace's goal is to have the hotel become LEED certified gold in the adaptive re-use category. Scheduled to break ground this year she says the plans for Ray Hotel are now at city hall awaiting approvals from the planning commission. When asked why she decided to go for LEED certification, Wallace's answer is simple. "Sustainability is part of our company's values and green building is highly respected in the building industry."

The proliferation of eco-hotels has given rise to the need for a set of certification standards and agencies to govern the green technologies and environmental practices used by these eco-hotels. Without a certification process in place, any hotel could call itself an eco-hotel even if it's only claim to "green" fame was recycling.

"Today, there are now hundreds of environmental programs, eco-labels, and certification schemes worldwide, sponsored by industry associations, national or local governments, and non-governmental organizations. In Europe and the Americas, two separate initiatives are underway to accredit the certification schemes and help consumers sort through the myriad of programs," says Bill Meade, head of the environment and tourism unit at PA Consulting Group.

For example, the luxury eco-tourism resort Tres Ríos in the Riviera Maya was recently awarded by SEMARNAT, the organization in Mexico responsible for developing policies of environmental protection, for being at the forefront of environment stewardship. In Ecuador hotels can be Eco-Certified by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism and the Ecuadorian Ecotourism Society (ASEC).

Audubon International also has a certification-type program called The Audubon International Signature Program, designed to assist in the development of communities that integrate an ecosystem approach to construction and management and provide environmental education for those that live, work and recreate in the community. Resorts that fall into the sustainable communities category such as Spruce Peak in Vermont, the first mountain resort in the US to become the recipient of the Audubon Green Community Award, and Cotton Bay Estates & Villas, scheduled to open Fall 2007, have worked closely with the Audubon International Signature Program. Similarly, Mata de Sesimbra in Portugal, the world's largest sustainable living community and resort project, where an anticipated 30,000 residents will share 13,000 acres of nature reserve on Portugal's pristine Costa Azul, is based on 10 principles of One Planet Living communities, an organization that aspires to achieving the highest quality of sustainable living.

There is also ISO standard 14000, which refers to environmental management practices that include minimizing harmful effects on the environment caused by an organization's activities. The Portuguese resort of Jardim Atlantico is not only in compliance with ISO standard 14000 it has also received the "European Ecolabel", which is the highest environmental Certification available from the European Union. It is Green Globe 21 certified as well.

"Green Globe 21, perhaps the most popular international environmental certification scheme specifically for the tourism industry, has evolved from a membership program where members only signed a commitment to an international performance benchmarking and third-party verification and certification program," says Meade.

Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa was the first all-inclusive resort to earn Green Globe 21 Certification in 1998 and within three years, all of the Sandals Resorts were included in the certification. The eco-friendly Sunset at the Palms Resort & Spa in Negril, Jamaica where guests stay in treetop suites and dine on fruits and vegetables harvested from the 10-acre tropical gardens on the property was also among the first eco-hotels to be certified by Green Globe 21 in 1998.

None of these certification programs are regulated however, and compliance is voluntary, but that has not stopped any of these eco-hotels from becoming certified. In fact it's to their advantage. As Meade says, "Hotels see a net benefit to transforming their facilities and operations, meaning the benefits (savings in operating costs and increased revenue from attracting a responsible tourist) outweigh the costs (e.g., equipment, human resources, consulting fees, and certification costs)."

The future of eco-hotels is bright and many such hotels have clearly done their part in "greening" the hotel industry, but according to Meade, who also is on the Governing Council of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism and chairs the board of the Certified Hotel Environmental Manager, there's more work to be done in terms of consumer awareness and eco-tourism as an industry. "Few if any visitors select their hotel based on its environmental and social programs. Tour operators, travel agents and even Internet booking sites are beginning to highlight environmental and social achievements, but a lot more still needs to be done to increase the number of ecotourists or responsible travelers that will ultimately be needed to transform the industry as a whole."

Heleigh Bostwick is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Organic Producer, Natural Family Online, Collectors News, and D'Luxe magazine, and is the publisher of Marigold Lane, an online resources for Simple Living with a "Green" Twist.

   

From France: More 100% smoke-free hotels and 100% smoke-free rental cars

To celebrate World No-Tobacco Day rental car company Europcar France announced all its cars will now be 100% smoke-free. As for the Hotel Chain Ibis that had its first 100% smoke-free hotel in 2006, the trend is growing with now 40 such 100% smoke-free Ibis Hotels.

«PAS DE FUMÉE à l'intérieur » : ce thème de la Journée mondiale sans tabac, qui se déroule aujourd'hui, Europcar a décidé de l'appliquer à la lettre et sur le long terme. A partir de demain, le loueur de voitures interdira à ses clients de fumer à l'intérieur des 50 000 véhicules de sa flotte. « Nous sommes les premiers en Europe à avoir pris une telle décision. Il est déjà interdit depuis quelques années de fumer dans les avions et dans les trains. C'est au tour des voitures de location », explique Eric Ledroux, directeur général d'Europcar France. Cette initiative ne découle d'aucune obligation légale puisque le décret Bertrand, entré en vigueur le 1 e r février, ne concerne que les entreprises et les lieux publics clos.

« Une mesure positive »

Cet excès de zèle d'Europcar dans la lutte contre la cigarette vient en fait d'une demande de la clientèle. « Il nous est arrivé que des clients refusent de prendre une voiture à cause de l'odeur de tabac froid. Car, malgré tous les efforts de nettoyage, lorsque quelqu'un a passé quatre jours à fumer dans l'habitacle, l'odeur persiste. La demande pour des voitures non-fumeurs devenait de plus en plus importante, y compris de la part de fumeurs », continue Eric Ledroux. Le loueur de voitures s'est donné trois mois pour tester et évaluer cette mesure. Si les clients ne sont pas satisfaits ou s'ils sont partis chez la concurrence, la cigarette sera de nouveau la bienvenue chez Europcar. En attendant, toute la flotte automobile d'Europcar sera munie demain d'un autocollant spécial. « Nous n'avons pas pris le logo classique de la cigarette barrée mais une voiture verte avec une fleur. C'est une mesure positive, pas répressive », souligne le directeur général. Toutefois, pour les récalcitrants : les frais supplémentaires de nettoyage seront à leur charge. Car une voiture non-fumeur coûte moins cher à entretenir qu'un véhicule souillé par les volutes de nicotine. Europcar n'est pas la seule entreprise à avoir dépassé les exigences de la nouvelle loi. Précurseur dans l'hôtellerie, la chaîne Ibis lançait il y a un peu plus d'un an les premiers hôtels non-fumeurs. « Nous en comptions une dizaine sur 300 il y a un an. Aujourd'hui nous en avons 40. C'est un vrai succès », affirme la porte-parole d'Ibis France. Certes. Mais cette chasse à la clope, jusque dans le lit des fumeurs, n'est-elle pas un peu excessive ? « Nous laissons le choix aux clients. Ils sont avertis dès leur réservation. Si cela ne leur convient pas, nous les orientons vers un autre établissement de notre chaîne », souligne la porte-parole. Au final, faut-il craindre que s'en griller une à la maison soit un jour interdit ? Selon Michel, d'une agence immobilière Fnaim à Paris, ce n'est pas à l'ordre du jour. « J'ai des propriétaires qui ne veulent pas de locataires avec des chats ou des chiens. Mais la cigarette, ça va. Pour l'instant... », conclut l'agent immobilier.

Alexandra Echkenazi
     Le Parisien        , jeudi 31 mai 2007
   

Smoke-Free Hotels in the Philippines for World No Tobacco Day

According to the Manila Times, a few hotels and restaurants have decided to go 100% smoke-free. They include in Makati City the Marco Polo Hotel, the Renaissance Hotel, Le Souffle Restaurant,  the Dusit Hotel,  the Intercontinental Hotel,  the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, in Quezon City the Fernandina Suites 88, the Robbinsdale Hotel, the Sulo Hotel, in Pasay City the Sofitel, in Mandaluyong EDSA Shangri-La Hotel  and in Manila the Hyatt Casino Hotel, Kimberly Hotel and Manila Hotel .

DOH: Hotels and restaurants impose total smoking ban - Manila Times

May 29, 2007

By Katrice R. Jalbuena, Reporter

THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday announced that number of hotels and restaurants have committed to make their places smoke-free in time for the worldwide celebration of World No-Tobacco Day on May 31.

“We are considering these turn of events as a high point in the government’s campaign for a healthy lifestyle,” said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque 3rd.

“Smoking is deadly, even in its secondhand form. There are as many nonsmokers who develop lung cancer as their are among smokers themselves,” Duque added.

Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke from burning tobacco products generated by smokers. According to experts, when tobacco smoke contaminates the air, especially in enclosed spaces everyone breathe it in, exposing smokers and nonsmokers to its harmful effects.

According to the Framework Convention Alliance Philippines (FCAP), at least three hotels and restaurants, including the Marco Polo Hotel (Makati City), Fernandina Suites 88 (Quezon City) and Le Souffle (Makati City), have committed to a total smoking ban.

The DOH said that there are also a handful of other hotels and restaurants that pledged for a nonsmoking day on May 31 to observe the event.

Nonsmokers could enjoy a day without tobacco smoke around at 14 establishments all over the metro that would be smoke-free on May 31.

These include Dusit Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Le Souffle Restaurant and Renaissance Hotel in Makati City; Robbinsdale Hotel and Sulo Hotel in Quezon City; Sofitel in Pasay City, EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong; and the Hyatt Casino Hotel, Kimberly Hotel and Manila Hotel in Manila.

“There is no doubt that secondhand smoke is dangerous. In fact, it will take six Typhoon ‘Milenyos’ to clean up a smoke place because ventilators, ionizers and other related devices simply cannot do all the work,” Duque stressed.

Health authorities also disclosed that there are 4,000 known chemicals in tobacco smoke and that more than 50 of them are known to cause cancer in humans. Aside from cancer, secondhand smoke also causes heart disease and many serious respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in children and adults.

To date, the economic burden in the Philippines caused by firsthand smokers alone reaches about $6 billion annually.

   

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