June 5, 2008 Hilton Hotels has unveiled a long-term plan for reducing its environmental impact that the company says will weave sustainability into the core fabric of its business. Upon becoming a truly global company with the acquisition of Hilton International and following the acquisition of our company by Blackstone late last year, we are in an ideal position to lay down a framework for sustainability within our global hotels and corporate offices, Hilton CEO Christopher J. Nassetta said in a statement.

The initiative kicks off with a set of short-term goals for companywide environmental performance. By 2014, the 3,000 hotels now operating under the Hilton umbrella have pledged to cut energy use, carbon emissions, and waste by 20% and reduce water use by 10%.

Over the longer term, Hilton says it is committed to further greening its buildings and operations, including sustainable design and construction, chemical management, and purchasing. The company has also committed to pursue renewable energy as a source of power for its operations, not only to reduce its carbon footprint but to develop a viable commercial infrastructure for powering hotels and corporate offices, according to Hilton.

Last year, Hilton brought in an independent consultant to assess its global operations and identify areas in which Hilton could make the most impact with its sustainability efforts. The company recently appointed its first-ever vice president of global sustainability to implement the plan.