MURRIETA, Calif., Sept. 10, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Globe International, Inc. (Pink Sheets:GGII), the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, today announced an exclusive 5-year licensing agreement with UAE based Farnek Avireal to utilize the Green Globe brand, the only internationally recognized certification label in the tourism and hospitality industry, covering tourism properties within 20 different countries throughout the Middle East.
More than 800 businesses in 50 countries have so far received the paperless web-based Green Globe Certification (GGC), and it is the only one globally in compliance with ISO17021. The GGC is the premier worldwide sustainability certification for tourism businesses and the Green Globe Index tool allows clients to calculate their CO2 emissions, the financial cost of that and enables them to track their performance of energy and water consumption as well as non-recyclable waste production.
"The need for credible, independent certification is particularly acute in the hotel industry, where more than two-thirds of travelers have serious doubts about green initiatives posted on company websites," said Marcus Oberlin, General Manager of Farnek Avireal Middle East.
Consumer interest in sustainability issues is gathering momentum however and nearly half of all travelers polled by "Travel Weekly" said they would be prepared to pay up to 10% more to stay in a green-certified hotel.
With sustainability in mind, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is preparing to implement its compulsory carbon reduction initiative this year, which aims to see Dubai hotels reduce their carbon footprint by 20 percent by the end of 2011. Consultancy from Farnek Avireal and certification from Green Globe would certainly help hotels to monitor and reduce their carbon emissions.
"We are pleased to have partnered with Avireal Middle East to deliver Green Globe branded services in the Middle East region," said Bradley Cox, Chief Operating Officer of Green Globe International. "As an internationally recognized leader in facilities management, Avireal is an ideal partner for the Green Globe brand -- the most globally recognised brand for sustainability. We look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership, which will allow additional hotels and other tourism related businesses in the region to participate in Green Globe programs and by doing so, demonstrate their commitment to sustainable business practices."
The Green Globe brand and program, which traces its roots back to the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, where 182 Heads of State endorsed the Agenda 21 principles of Sustainable Development, has primarily been used in the travel and tourism industry but is now being expanded to include a growing number of environmentally responsible businesses in a variety of market sectors. The Green Globe brand is an ideal symbol for the world's increasing awareness of environmental responsibility and response to global climate change.
The Green Globe brand and program, which traces its roots back to the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, where 182 Heads of State endorsed the Agenda 21 principles of Sustainable Development, has primarily been used in the travel and tourism industry but is now being expanded to include a growing number of environmentally responsible businesses in a variety of market sectors. The Green Globe brand is an ideal symbol for the world's increasing awareness of environmental responsibility and response to global climate change.
Green Globe International encourages all shareholders and others interested in following the progress of the company to subscribe to receive email alerts whenever new information is made public. To subscribe, please visit http://www.greenglobeint.com/stayconnected/email/.
About Farnek Avireal
Farnek Avireal is a joint venture company between Khalifa Juma Al Nabooda Group of the UAE and Avireal AG of Switzerland. The company has grown into one of the region's foremost property and facilities management outsource companies. With a skilled workforce of more than 1,200 people, Farnek Avireal maintains over 1,000 properties in Dubai alone on behalf of many international and regional companies.
About Green Globe International, Inc.
Green Globe International, Inc. is the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, which includes the leading sustainability certification and benchmarking programs, carbon footprint calculation and offset programs, and a broad range of consulting services. Green Globe International has been admitted as an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the business leaders' forum for the travel and tourism industry, is a 5% common stock owner of Green Globe International. For more information on the company and its programs, please visit www.greenglobeint.com or call +1 310-984-6807.
Green Globe services in the Asia Pacific are distributed, managed and sold exclusively by Green Globe Asia Pacific (GGAP) through EC3 Global. If you would like further information on GGAP, please visit www.greenglobe.org.
The Green Globe International, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6582
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the results of operations and business of Green Globe International, Inc., which involves risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual future results could materially differ from those discussed. The Company intends that such statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenues and earnings, and all other forward-looking statements be subject to the "Safe Harbors" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.