Starwood to install eco-TV sets in guest rooms across North America

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Phillips Electronics to put energy efficient TV sets into its 460 properties across North America. The $100 million deal will save Starwood an estimated $12 million per year in energy costs. The Phillips SmartPower2 televisions cut use of electricity by up to 40 percent.

"This is a defining agreement for us, and is indicative of the fundamental change in mindset we have implemented around procurement and sourcing, and the partners we want to work with to achieve this," said Paul Davis, Senior Vice President of Global Sourcing at Starwood. "Philips has shown us that it is easy to simultaneously provide our guests with the very latest technology while making a sound business decision that significantly impacts costs and reduces energy consumption."

Roughly 80,000 eco-televisions will be placed in guest rooms, beginning immediately. Starwood's brands include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element.

For more than two years, Phillips has supplied Starwood hotels with energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting.

"This partnership with Starwood highlights Philips’ ambitions to become a major sustainability and global innovation partner for the hotel industry," says Willem Houck, head of global business key account management for Philips Electronics. "Whether it be lighting lobbies around the world or choosing the right television when it is time for a replacement, we demonstrated to Starwood that there was no need to compromise on product quality in its goal to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and achieve important environmental goals."