Blu is the new green for Radisson Blu

Rezidor Hotel Group, managing company of Radisson Blu, is taking the opportunity presented by the rebrand to improve energy efficiencies and to further reduce the impact of its business on the environment.

Having conducted extensive research into finding the most environmentally friendly and cost effective signage solution, the group was advised that the growing trend towards using LED technique signage, instead of NEON, was the way forward.

LED technique signs have a duration of up to 50,000 hours - much longer than light and NEON tubes. With a 12 hour per day operation time, approximately 10 years durability can be expected.

The conversion to the LED technique reduces the impact on the environment of ecologically harmful substances - such as mercury and lead - which are present in elderly light and neon tubes, but not in LED's.

Marko Hytonen, Area Vice President of Rezidor Hotel Group, said:

"Rezidor Hotel Group passionately believes in operating responsibly throughout every part of our business. We recommend that our hotels take this unique opportunity to change from NEON to LED for three main reasons; NEON contains toxic gases and mercury and is therefore not environment friendly at all, LED consumes very little power compared to NEON, and so the operational costs will be substantially reduced and LED has a longer lifetime than NEON and is more reliable, so maintenance costs will also be reduced and the replacement need will be delayed."

The mechanics of the change of name have been engineered to eliminate unnecessary waste: indeed, they've been designed to benefit the environment. The new exterior signage is now in place at the following UAE hotels; Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek, Radisson Blu Residence Dubai Marina, Radisson Blu Media City and Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah.

Radisson Blu Yas Island Abu Dhabi will follow suit when it opens in October this year and, throughout the course of 2009, the signage will be updated in all Radisson Blu hotels throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa.

"As a pioneer in environmental work in the hotel industry, with more than 20 years of responsible business tradition, Blu will now be the new green," said Hytonen.