The Westin Melbourne is offering hotel guests the option to offset carbon emissions generated through their stay of business event as part of new carbon accounting technology it is now using.

The hotel’s new Make a Green Choice program has been developed in association with CarbonView, a carbon management and accounting solution provider which supplies organisations with the information and decision support tools that enable them to measure, monitor and mitigate their carbon emissions.

The technology allows The Westin Melbourne to measure and project the amount of carbon generated by an event or stay. The Make a Green Choice program provides guests and clients with the option to offset their activity through a tailored offset fee which is then invested in projects that reduce greenhouse gases.

The Westin Melbourne’s general manager, Richard Bussiere said the drive to effectively reduce their carbon footprint was one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today.

“The Make a Green Choice program offers our clients and guests the ability to make their business activities carbon neutral and reduce their impact on the environment,” said Bussiere.

He said the intiative was part of major program the hotel has put in place to reduce its overall carbon footprint.

“The Westin Melbourne has a long term strategy for reducing its overall carbon footprint. CarbonView has been instrumental in the measurement and monitoring of emissions data and with the ongoing management of emissions.”

CarbonView’s Fadi Geha said the company has assisted The Westin Melbourne to measure and monitor their carbon emissions and water consumption. “Not only is The Westin Melbourne now able to regularly measure and re-evaluate the impact of their carbon reduction initiatives, with the help of CarbonView, they are also able to take actions that realise significant operational cost savings”.