The Ministry of Environment accredited four hotels -- Westin Chosun Seoul, Westin Chosun Busan, Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas and Intercontinental Seoul Coex -- as an eco-friendly hotel for the first time in Korea.
The presentation ceremony is held at the Westin Chosun hotel on May 27 with the participation by the Vice-minister of Environment Moon Jung-ho, the Korea Hotel Association and the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, etc.
At the ceremony, the ministry and the Korea Hotel Association sign an MOU on invigoration of eco-friendly hotel services. By the MOU, the ministry will encourage public institutes to use eco-friendly hotels for public events and the association will promotes its members to participate in the eco-friendly hotel services accreditation. Also, the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute will provide related training services.
Since the Eco-mark system was introduced in 1992, accreditation has been invigorated centering on industrial products and it is the first time to accredit in the field of services. An official from the ministry said the eco-friendly hotel service accreditation is not the system to regulate hotels but to give benefits to hotels by reducing maintenance expenses through energy and resources conservation and creating new customers.
