Nikko takes care of Mother Nature this Christmas season

Hotel Nikko Saipan’s housekeeping department demonstrated not only creativity, but also an environmentally friendly holiday spirit during the hotel’s 2nd Annual Recycled Christmas Decoration competition.

Taking the first prize were Allan Palomares and Frank Sotelo, whose delicate streamer-like Christmas tree captivated judges Qamar Schuyler, John Moreno, and Laura Williams.

In second place, Luz Sayson and Jhong Loyola’s Christmas tree had a very unique shape, which the judges found fun and cute. Third prize was won by Aida Guarizo and Zeny Javate, who created a very colorful and festive tree.

The judges had an extremely difficult time, however, and felt that all of the participants should be commended for their creativity and effort.

Thus, the teams of Linda Hayes and Amihan Lazaga, Eugene De Leon and Lulu Eusebio, and Lina Abuan and Vicky Letranca were awarded honorable mention.

Nikko executive housekeeper Erlinda Gonzalez came up with the idea or the competition last year. She said that the competition encourages teamwork among the staff as well as emphasizing the importance of reusing and recycling.

“This year’s theme, ‘Tree of Hope,’ reflects the idea that even in challenging times, we must still maintain hope,” she said.

The rules for the competition were simple, 80 percent of the materials incorporated into the trees must be previously used items acquired at the hotel. Certain items such as glue or paint may be purchased, but they must be listed, along with their cost, in the information card accompanying the decoration.

The decorations are judged on originality, use of reused materials and cost consciousness, and complexity and creativity of design. This year, an additional rule required the trees to be no more than four feet tall and two feet in base diameter. The simple rules encourage creativity to run wild. Participants used such materials as discarded flip flops, shower puffs, disposable ponchos, and even toothbrush boxes, to create elaborate designs which hang in the stairways on each floor.

The employees work as a team, with each floor competing for prizes.

This competition is just one of the many ways that Hotel Nikko encourages environmentalism, Gonzales said. “

Nikko’s management has long recognized that being environmentally friendly not only helps our world, but also helps their bottom line. Programs such as recycling and energy conservation make Hotel Nikko a model for others on this island to emulate,” she said.

The hotel follows the three Rs of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. By installing dispensing units for soap, shampoo, and body lotion, the hotel reduces the number of small plastic bottles that are usually discarded at most hotels. Programs such as the annual decoration competition encourage reusing of materials. And, the hotel has a very advanced system for recycling.

Ray Dela Cruz, formerly of the Department of Public Works Division of Solid Waste Management, now organizes the hotel’s recycling program. He has placed recycling bins in every guest room, and keeps careful tabs to ensure not only that guest items are recycled, but that cardboard from all departments is segregated and recycled. The food and beverage department also does its share of trash reduction. Not only do they recycle cardboard boxes, but they also collect wet waste such as food scraps. Camacho Equipment Rental, the hotel’s waste hauler, also runs a piggery, and the wet waste is fed to their animals.

Hotel Nikko is also a leader when it comes to energy conservation. The designers of the hotel, recognizing the amount of money that could be saved with relatively simple techniques, installed automatic sensors in every room when the hotel was built 17 years ago.

When the balcony doors are open, the air-conditioning automatically shuts down. In addition, most lights in the hotel use compact fluorescent bulbs. All faucets are installed with special fixtures to reduce the water flow while still maintaining the pressure.

“You, too, can use the same techniques as Hotel Nikko to cut down on your bills. Installing compact fluorescent bulbs can help you conserve energy, as it uses only a fourth of the energy that a regular light bulb would use,” said Dela Cruz.

By composting your wet waste (or feeding it to your pet pig) you can also save on tipping fees. Recycling your aluminum cans, glass containers, cardboard, paper and scrap metal also lessens your tipping fees. These are gifts you can give yourself and the environment not just for the holidays, but everyday. (QAMAR SCHUYLER)