Residents, businesses and visitors are encouraged to switch off their lights and conserve as much power as possible for an hour from 8.30pm tomorrow to support action on climate change.
The Novotel, a 273-room property, has already demonstrated its support for environmental sustainability: the hotel is Green Globe certified and in the process of getting a Qualmark enviro rating.
In August last year, the hotel became Green Globe certified, which recognises Novotel's dedication to operating at the world's highest environmental standard.
Before achieving certification, Novotel Queenstown Lakeside successfully benchmarked using the Earthcheck tool against key environmental indicators including energy and water consumption, total waste production and community commitment.
Stewart Moore, chief executive of EC3 Global, the manager of the Green Globe programme, said the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside was a "prime example" of an organisation committed to environmentally sustainable tourism.
"They have demonstrated through a variety of initiatives that their business and its employees can make a difference by reducing their environmental impact.
"The commitment they have shown by participating in the Green Globe programme underpinned by Earthcheck science, and the achievements they have made within the programme, set an example for other businesses to follow."
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside general manager Jim Moore said as a company, Accor took environmental sustainability "very seriously".
"As a company we were put into the top 100 worldwide for environmental sustainability projects ... It's been a large focus of ours for a number of years.
"We have an environmental charter which has over 40 points on it, things like saving water, educating guests, energy savings and cutting down of pesticides."
Also included in the charter was to "plant trees". Mr Moore said it was part of an international hotel initiative, which meant for every five towels "saved", a tree would be planted in a plantation overseas.
"In our rooms, we have a card that basically says, `Rather than throwing out your towels each day, if you hang it up and reuse it during your stay, for every five towels we save we'll put money towards planting a tree."
'Novotel Queenstown Lakeside sales manager Diana (Giana) Mendes said Earth Hour would be something quite fun for the full-house of guests.
"We're getting something like 80 or 100 candles in. All of the lobby, restaurant and public areas will be lit by candle for the hour."
Mr Moore said guests were also being informed of the mood-lighting for the hour, through the hotel television screens' promoting Earth Hour.
