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Destination
Hotels & Resorts Creates Green Meetings Platform
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New
Program Creates Standards for Meetings at Destination Properties
Destination
Hotels & Resorts Creates Green Meetings Platform
Englewood,
CO – January 2010 – Building on its successful Destination
Earth environmental sustainability program, Destination
Hotels & Resorts has created a new platform for all group and meetings
business which is built on green practices to reduce waste, conserve water,
better manage energy output and more.
“A
‘green’ meeting will now be standard throughout all group, meeting and
conference center properties in the Destination collection,” said Mark
Hickey, senior vice president of operations for the company. “Basic principles
of waste reduction, water conservation, as well as sustainable food and
beverage practices are among the customary meeting offerings. However,
there are different shades of green available too if a planner wants to
employ even more aggressive sustainability practices. We believe this will
provide our corporate clients, meeting planners, wedding planners and others
to make informed choices about the environmentally aware options available
throughout the collection.”
The
Destination program was developed in conjunction with existing clients
to address and meet their changing needs for group and meeting programs.
Meeting planners who have worked with the company provided input and recommendations
as the company developed its green meetings platform. “We really listened
to the meeting planning community,” added Hickey. “We understand how important
these offerings can be to a company who practices sustainability, and we
kept this in mind as the program offerings evolved.”
Meetings,
conferences and events at Destination properties now will take into account
various sustainability practices in food and beverage operations and sourcing,
meeting room setup and supplies, waste management, purchasing, energy efficiency
and water conversation. Some of the key principles include:
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Recycling
stations and bins will be available in all meeting rooms.
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White
boards will be available instead of flip charts. However, if flip charts
are used, only post-consumer recycled content paper will be available.
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Leftover
conference supplies such as pens and paper will be donated or reused until
depleted.
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Condiments
such as ketchup, cream and milk will be offered in service vessels instead
of individually packaged items.
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Local
and in-season regional ingredients from sustainable suppliers and partners
will be incorporated into menus.
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Any
bottled water that is used will be sourced from within 750 miles from the
hotel’s location.
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Digital
thermostats will be installed to control meeting room temperatures.
Group
and meeting planners also can choose to enhance their function by selecting
even more sustainable options. Based on the needs of the planner, budgets
and access to various products, properties also will offer:
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Organic
food and beverage options along with sustainable meat, fish, pork and chicken.
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Bio-based
flatware and recyclable/biodegradable plates and cups instead of plastic
items.
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Various
options can be selected to create a carbon-neutral event such as alternative
fueled airport shuttles, free parking for hybrid vehicles and access to
purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs or Green tags).
Destination
offers a variety of distinctive settings and experiences for group and
meeting planners seeking the perfect setting for their function. From intimate
gatherings to seven IACC-certified meeting facilities, there is a destination
for any group or incentive program. The selection spans coast-to-coast
and from sea level to altitude, with meeting experiences in one-of-a-kind
settings. With such a unique array of choices, and valuable input from
customers, Destination created a baseline meeting program that supported
sustainable practices across the portfolio.
The
program was designed in conjunction with Destination
Earth, which creates a baseline standard of sustainable practices for
the company’s hotels and condominiums while encouraging individual properties
to be innovative in their operations. As properties reach various stages
in their implementation, new levels of green business practices are identified
and outlined for the collection. All properties are encouraged to be resourceful
in indentifying and implementing green practices that are relevant to their
operation and community.
“The
collection’s green meeting standard is just one example of how we’ve created
new levels of sustainability throughout the collection,” said Hickey. “Destination
Earth is a dynamic program which evolves at each property based on the
feedback of guests and associates. We believe our green meetings program
will take on the same dynamic evolution as we continue to receive feedback
from meeting planners, our suppliers and other key stakeholders.”
Destination
Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to practices and programs that pay respect
to and lessen its footprint on the changing environment. Destination Hotels
& Resorts recognizes that its customers, owners and associates all
benefit from and desire a healthy, sustainable environment. As the company
continues on the journey of environmental stewardship, it is committed
to maintaining the superior guest experience that customers have come to
expect while reducing impact on the earth’s natural resources.
For
more information on the company’s green meeting program or to book a program
at a Destination property, please visit www.DestinationMeetings.com.
Destination
Hotels & Resorts is consistently rated one of the top 10 independent
hospitality management companies in the United States with more than 30
luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and conference centers. The company
has developed a variety of initiatives to better serve its communities,
stakeholders and customers including Destination Earth, an environmental
sustainability program, and the Destination Delivers guest loyalty program,
which provides the best available offers to members. Destination operates
properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Washington,
D.C., Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Palm Springs, Houston and Lake
Tahoe. Destination is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development
and management firm Lowe Enterprises. For more information on the properties
in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.DestinationHotels.com
or to join Destination Delivers, visit www.DestinationDelivers.com.
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Media
Contact:
Kristin
Yantis
Malen
Yantis PR
for
Destination Hotels & Resorts
775-351-7904
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