Club Med Village Chamonix Renews its Green Globe Certification for the Second Consecutive Year

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Issued Wed 27^th Jul 2011, 7:00 am ET;

Los Angeles, Calif.– Green Globe Certification

In 2011, the Club Med Village of Chamonix renews its Green Globe certification, verifying its commitment to sustainable tourism.

This step is part of the systematic deployment of certification at all Club Med Villages. To date, among all Villages, 12% are already certified or labelled, and 21% are engaged in a process of certification.

Green Globe’s sustainable tourism certification was created in 1993 in the United Kingdom. Based on the commitments made by the tourism industry at the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, Green Globe’s certification applies to all sectors of travel and tourism.

This demanding certification verifies the travel and tourism industries’ active approach to sustainable tourism and is based on the Green Globe Sustainable Tourism Standard covering the three pillars of sustainable development. The Standard includes 40 major criteria, underpinned by 300 indicators of compliance. Certification is granted when the mandatory requirements are met and the compliance rate is greater than 50%. Continuous improvement is necessary to maintain the certification.

For example, in Chamonix: 50% of electricity is purchased from renewable energy sources, and an automatic management system optimizes heating, ventilation and lighting across the Village. Other modifications in the Village include the installation of water regulators on all taps, and the use of granulated lava rock in landscaping for greater water management. Sorting of waste separates glass, packaging, paper, wood, oils, food, batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges, and even bottle caps. Some of these recycled material are donated to local associations.

Other examples of sustainable practices include participating in business development seminars with local groups, as well as working on conservation issues regarding the Alpine environment.

Club Med guests are educated and encouraged to use water reasonably, and Club Med clean-up crews are trained in the minimum use of detergents. Gardens and other green spaces have been designed with native mountain vegetation, including ferns, grasses, Junipers and black pines, connecting with the rivers and forests of Chamonix.

Chamonix is one of 10 Club Med Villages to have achieved accreditation for sustainable management. The other accredited Villages include Opio in Provence and Tignes in France; Ixtapa Pacific and Cancun in Mexico; Columbus Isle in The Bahamas; Turkoise in Turks and Caicos; Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic; Rio das Piedras in Brazil; and Cherating Beach in Malaysia.

Chamonix is the first Club Med Village to renew its Green Globe certification, and is in accordance with the new Green Globe Sustainability Standard updated in 2010. This rigorous international certification of a large Alpine site, is further recognition of Club Med’s commitment to sustainable tourism, which aims, among other things, to certify 100% of its Villages in two years.

About Chamonix Club Med Village

Chamonix Club Med Village is located in the heart of an exceptional Alpine area, between the glaciers and summits of Mont Blanc and the nature reserve of Red Needles. The Village of Chamonix, at an altitude of 1035m, offers ski enthusiasts and families 182 kilometres of ski runs. Outside of the ski season, Chamonix is a prize destination for hiking enthusiasts with local knowledge provided by professional guides. The Village has a swimming pool, a fitness room, Turkish bath, sauna and a host of resort amenities expected by Club Med guests.

For more information visit

www.clubmed.fr

www.greenglobe.com

For Press Contact

Thierry Orsoni

Tel. : +-33-1-53-35-31-29

[email protected]

Julien Charles,

Tel. : +33-1-53-35-40-01 Fax : +33-1-53- 35-31-77

[email protected]

About Green Globe Certification

Green Globe Certification is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is the only certification brand to be an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). For information visit www.greenglobe.com

Contact:

Green Globe Certification

Phone +1-310-337-3000

Fax +1-310-626-9982

www.greenglobe.com