Le Meridien St Julians Hotel & Spa Goes Dark

St Julian's, Malta, April 05, 2012 --(PR.com)-- By spending an hour in the dark last Saturday, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa joined millions around the world to send a powerful message about a brighter future for the planet. The property turned off its lights in observance of Earth Hour, the global environmental awareness event created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Last year, Earth Hour 2011 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 135 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. 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.

To underscore the environmental dedication of its parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa applied energy-saving measures during this iconic Earth Hour. Management turned off the exterior signage lighting and all non-essential interior lights. They used candlelight in appropriate public areas such as the hotel’s Lobby and KuDéTa Lounge. To avoid paper waste, traditional hard-copy invitations to hotel guests were replaced by in-room television messages. Indeed, in-house guests, patrons and media joined for an informal stand-up reception in the Lobby area, where they were treated to a Welcome drink proudly wearing the Earth Hour colours.

The official Earth Hour 2012 video was projected on a giant screen for all to see and the start of Earth Hour was marked by Le Méridien evening ritual, whereas hotel associates lit up the many candles spread around the area, on a soothing yet powerful instrumental track. Guests were then invited to the KuDéTa lounge to embrace the candle-lit atmosphere whilst enjoying an extended Happy Hour at the bar. The ambiance was complemented by the pleasant unplugged performance of guitarist Mark Rapa.

For the occasion, the hotel also partnered up with GX-1, the first club to launch LES MILLS™ programs in Malta. During Earth Hour, from 8.30pm till 9.30pm, Anita Mullen, owner of GX-1, organized a relaxing VIP BODYBALANCE™ outdoor class on the terrace of the hotel’s lobby. BODYBALANCE™ is the Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates workout that builds flexibility and strength and leaves you feeling centered and calm. Controlled breathing, concentration and a carefully structured series of stretches, moves and poses to music create a holistic workout that brings the body into a state of harmony and balance.

"Linking a Bodybalance class with Earth Hour allows us to create awareness between the connection of Body, Mind and Earth,” explains Anita Mullen. “We all know we are responsible for our own body and mind... now we all need to start taking responsibility for our planet. Although we only get one life, Earth gives life over and over again and it is our duty to help keep this a healthy, natural and infinite process."

This outdoor candle-lit class was a tremendous success and participants loved it. GX-1 holds a varied and fun weekly schedule of effective work-outs, presented by Certified LES MILLS™ instructors, at the Fitness Center of Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa. More information can be found on www.gx-1.eu.

Earth Hour is drawing strong support from Starwood hotels around the globe. Last year, unlit hotels offered striking visual imagery that provided an apt symbol of Earth Hour. 150 Starwood properties from the EAME division (Europe, Africa, and Middle-East) took part in this glorious event.

“Switching off the lights is a simple environmental gesture that must come across as a celebration,” emphasizes Franco Vella, General Manager of Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa. “We wanted to go beyond a mechanical energy saving moment hence we invited all our patrons to take a stand with us by sharing the magic of a candle-lit evening.”

This year marked Starwood’s fourth annual participation in Earth Hour, making it one of the biggest worldwide companies to make a global statement with a voluntary hour of darkness.

More information at earthhour.org