L'HOTEL DES SEIGNEURS SAINT-HYACINTHE, the largest regional hotel and convention centre in the Province of Quebec, has received the 2006 Phoenix Award (Les Phénix de l'environnement)  in recognition of the hotel's "ZERO WASTE" eco-management program.

Presented annually by the Province's Ministry of Development, Environment and Parks, the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export, RECYC-Quebec, Collecte sélective Québec, Fondation québécoise en environnement  and Mouvement Desjardins, the environmental Phoenix award (Les Phénix de l'environnement) is given to an organization that makes an extraordinary commitment to environmental sustainability.

The "Zero Waste" program was implemented by L'Hôtel des Seigneurs' Green Committee and executive team in 2004 and, with the participation of hotel associates and guests, has positioned L'Hôtel des Seigneurs as a provincial leader in hotel eco-management of events.  The ZERO WASTE program involves responsible management of residual materials from events, banquets, meetings, conventions and exhibits, while raising public awareness of ecological issues. 

Bill Churma, Quebec regional vice-president of operations for CHIP Hospitality, accepted the 2006 Phoenix Award on behalf of the hotel.  "We are extremely grateful for this recognition of L'Hôtel des Seigneurs' commitment to the environment and share this award with the meeting planners who have supported the Zero Waste program since it was launched in 2004", he said.

L'Hôtel des Seigneurs, situated between Quebec City and Montreal in Saint-Hyacinthe, hosted three major events in 2005 and, through the combined efforts of hotel associates and the event planners, were able to divert 30 tons of paper, 1.8 tons of plastic, glass and metal, 36 tons of carton, 1100 fluorescent lighting and 300 lbs of batteries from the landfill.  L'Hôtel des Seigneurs continually looks for ways to improve eco-management and has installed exterior compost bins and constructed a leaf enclosure, created an interior natural aquatic environment, prepares organic breakfasts for associates during special events and plants trees during Earth Day and Kindness Week celebrations.

The hotel generates over 380 tons of residual materials per year and the property's eco-management program has had a direct and positive impact on the environment, resulting in the recycling of over 150,000 kilograms of products in 2004, an 8% reduction in energy consumption and the creation of a compost program within the property.  In the five months from May to September 2004, over 25 tons of organic materials were recuperated.  Furthermore, 33.38% of total materials generated throughout the hotel in 2005 have been diverted from the landfill sites.

L'Hôtel des Seigneurs is a property of CHIP Hospitality, a Canadian hotel company with a long-standing commitment to the environment through organization-wide efforts to manage energy use wisely, preserve natural resources and minimize the environmental impact of their operations without compromising the service and safety of their associates and guests.  L'Hôtel des Seigneurs is part of CHIP's "Proud to be Green" company-wide program and has been awarded 4 Green Keys by the Hotel Association of Canada's Green Key ECOmmodation program.   For more information about L'Hôtel des Seigneurs, visit www.greatcanadianhotels.com.  For more information about the Les Phénix de l'environnement, go to http://www.phenixdelenvironnement.qc.ca/

CHIP Hospitality is one of Canada's leading hotel management companies and currently manages more than 30 hotels and resorts in Canada with approximately 7,000 rooms.  The company manages independent hotels, and hotels operating under major franchise brands including some Delta Hotels, Crowne Plaza, Radisson, Residence Inn by Marriott, Holiday Inn, Quality, Gouverneur, Best Western, Ramada and Coast properties.  A subsidiary of CHIP REIT, CHIP Hospitality uses management strategies, upgrades, repositioning and franchising to improve the operating performance of the properties in its portfolio to create value for its investors and owners