Novotel announced today that 32 hotels and resorts throughout Asia Pacific have achieved Green Globe Sustainable Tourism Certification and a further 40 hotels have attained benchmarking status � the first significant step towards certification.

�Having 32 hotels certified and a further 40 in Asia Pacific region well on their way towards certification, is a notable achievement� says Evan Lewis � Vice President Communications for Accor Asia Pacific. �Certification is achieved hotel by hotel, requiring each hotel to be individually committed to the program and able to demonstrate environmental out performance. The pace at which the program has been adopted by each of the hotels is particularly pleasing, and resonates well with Accor�s overall environmental commitments. The most recent hotels to achieve certification are Accor�s three Novotel�s located in Hong Kong: Novotel Hong Kong Century, Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road and Novotel Hong Kong Citigate.

The Green Globe certification takes place in two stages; first an assessment of the environmental performance according to a benchmarking audit and then the establishment of environmental management system to improve each hotels performance with respect to sustainable development policies. Following this each hotel is externally audited for compliance to Green Globe standards.

Green Globe is an international organisation that provides certification for Sustainable Tourism, originally established in 1992 by the World Tourism and Travel Council and based on Agenda 21 (priorities of the 21st century for the planet).

�Travelers are increasingly seeking hotels that are able to demonstrate a commitment to the environment and Green Globe Certification provides visibility and the assurance of this commitment. Accor is committed to having the Asia Pacific network of Novotel hotels and resorts committed to the program by the end of 2009.� added Lewis

All details concerning Novotel�s commitment to Green Globe are available online at youandusforearth.com Here you will find general information, latest press releases, interview requests and press kit on the initiative.

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Novotel - As the mid-scale hotel brand within the Accor group portfolio, Novotel offers close to 400 hotels and resorts in 60 countries, situated in the centre of major international cities from business districts to tourist destinations. Novotel�s consistently high standard of service contributes to the wellbeing of both business and leisure travellers: think spacious, modular-design guestrooms, balanced cuisine available 24/7, excellent meeting facilities, attentive staff, dedicated children�s areas and rejuvenating wellness facilities. The Novotel group is a pioneer in sustainable development and all Novotel hotels participate in the Green Globe worldwide environmental certification programme. More information on Novotel hotels: novotel.com.

Accor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels, as well as the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 150,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in two core businesses: - Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Len�tre; - Services, with 32 million people in 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in employee and public benefits, rewards and motivation, and expense management.

Country Contact Evan Lewis Vice President Communications, Asia Pacific +65 6408 8840 Evan.Lewis@accor.com

Global Novotel Contacts Samuel Windak Communication Director +33 1 61 61 76 51 Samuel.Windak@accor.com

Caroline Llopis Media Relations Manager + 33 1 61 61 29 91 Caroline.Llopis@accor.com