Hilton Colombo observes Earth Hour 2012

Hilton Colombo plans to mark Earth Hour 2012 from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm local time on Saturday, March 31 as people and organizations around the world turn off their lights in support of action on global climate change. Hilton Colombo along with 3,800 hotels that are part of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands are expected to take part in the event that will mobilize more than one billion people worldwide.

"We are pleased to join this global effort that galvanizes organizations and individuals around the world to symbolically switch off their lights in support of energy conservation," General Manager Rudolf Tröstler said. We aim to make Earth Hour meaningful, fun and engaging for our guests while also enriching our guest experience. Hilton Colombo encourages all our guests to join in on the movement, Tröstler added.

Keeping in line with the Earth Hour theme of 60+, Spices, Spoons and the Thorana Lounge will be switching off their lighting for one hour, allowing diners to enjoy their dinner by candle light. Spices restaurant will be serving an authentic Hydrabadi themed buffet that is created by the hotel's very own Indian Chef Pawan Singhl. Spoons has gone a step further by creating a four course proximity/organic set menu, with most of the ingredients being sourced locally from within the Colombo district and all produce being organically grown. The objective of sourcing the ingredients from within Colombo is to reduce the carbon footprint.

Guests can also enjoy the Earth Hour Jazz night at the hotel's exquisite Thorana Lounge and bar with live jazz music - 'unplugged' for guests to serenade the night away. The hotel's well-known Fine Things pastry shop joins in on the celebrations with green themed, organic cup cakes. The cupcakes will be prepared by the chefs at the hotel using fresh organic ingredients with a host of flavours such as carrot, pineapple, beetroot, banana and mango.

Other activities planned out to observe Earth Hour would include the lighting candles along with organic cupcakes in the shape of the Earth Hour 60 + sign which will illuminate the lobby. All monies collected as donations for the sale of the organic cup cakes will be used towards a tree planting initiative by the Hilton Colombo in the following month keeping to the symbolic gesture of going beyond the hour. The well known Hilton neon logo, will also be switched off as a symbolic gesture to further demonstrate the support to Earth Hour.