India :  It’s lights out for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

The Starwood Hotels and Resorts will join millions around the world in turning off lights for Earth Hour 2013 to illuminate a powerful message about environmental awareness and action.

Earth Hour 2013 takes place on March 23 at 8:30 p.m. local time.  Created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour is the largest movement for the planet in human history, spanning 7,000 cities, 152 countries, with a digital reach of 200 million.

This year’s theme is “Uniting People to Protect the Planet.”  With that in mind, Starwood hotels will turn off exterior signage lighting; dim or turn off non-essential interior lighting; use candlelight in appropriate public areas such as restaurants and bars; and use in-room voicemail messages and in-room television messages to inform guests about Earth Hour observances. The participating hotels will also institute signature campaigns for their guests.

Candlelight dinners will be held at various restaurants to highlight this movement, like Bene, Durbar, Persian Terrace at Sheraton Bangalore; Asian Kitchen and Sky Grill at Four Points Sheraton, Mumbai; Prego across Westin Properties; Favola at Le Meridien, and many more. Each of these restaurants will also create their own signature Earth Hour Cocktails and green menus to be served during that hour. Le Meridien Kochi, will also share with their guests Earth Hour Green Recipes created for the occasion.

Other Starwood initiatives include events like the drawing competition on World Conservation hosted by the Four Points by Sheraton, Mumbai. Aloft Chennai and Sheraton Udaipur will host tree plantation drives. Le Meridien Pune will also launch a ‘Going Beyond +60’ car-pooling initiative.

Sheraton Udaipur has launched a week-long campaign prior to Earth Hour to create awareness in the city. The hotel will organize a painting competition for children and a sumptuous organic open air high-tea. They have also tied up with Pyrotech who will set up a four-day demonstration on saving electricity.

Last year, Earth Hour broke records to cement itself as the largest voluntary action for the environment.  Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off.  People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

“It’s a privilege for us to support such a powerful movement with such a simple gesture,” said Dilip Puri, Managing Director, India and Regional Vice-President, South Asia, Starwood Hotels and Resorts.  “Earth Hour also reflects a philosophy we try to practice year-round:  The small steps each of us take can make a big difference together.”

Starwood’s pioneering Global Citizenship philosophy reflects the same dedication to sustainability among its 171,000 associates worldwide. In 2012, more than 650 hotels participated in Earth Hour in various ways.

This year will mark Starwood’s fifth annual participation in Earth Hour, making it one of the largest worldwide companies to make a pronounced global statement with a voluntary hour of darkness.  Earth Hour is just one of the many ways Starwood acts in support of its 30/20 by 20 goals, which is the company’s commitment to reduce energy consumption by 30% and water consumption by 20% by 2020 across its entire portfolio.