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Orlando CVB’s Green Database
The Orlando CVB has developed a database of environmentally conscious tourism options within Orange County and the Central Florida region.  The database is part of a larger initiative to foster ‘responsible travel to natural, coastal, cultural and historic sites in a way that enhances the visitors understanding and appreciation of the site while preserving and protecting the resource.’ [1]

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Sheraton Rittenhouse Square Hotel Clears the Air
As part of a larger greening initiative, the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square Hotel in Philadelphia has implemented several measures to ensure its indoor air is of the utmost in freshness.  Guest suites include 100% organic, dye-free cotton linens and mattresses and chemical-free carpeting and paints. Fresh, filtered air is pumped into rooms 24 hours per day. And 25-foot tall Adonidia Palm trees grace the Atrium Ballroom, specifically chosen for their 38 percent oxygenation rate. Hotel management believes the greening measures have paid off in higher employee productivity, guest loyalty and positive PR.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Eco-Meet Program
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts makes green conferencing easy for hosts and planners, offering an environmentally friendly conference service at several of its properties. 'Eco – meet' includes four key elements:

• Eco-service
  Waste-free food and beverage services, 100 % recycled note pads, biodegradable pens, and containers for recycling in meeting rooms. Left-over food is donated to food banks.
  
• Eco-accommodation
  In-room information, recycling bins, optional linen replacement, energy-efficient lighting, biodegradable soap, recyclable amenities, water-saving showerheads and taps.
  
• Eco-cuisine
  Menus that include local, seasonal, and organically grown foods. 
  
• Eco-programming
  Offering environmentally responsible activities and speakers.

Eco-meet is currently offered at six Fairmont properties. Contact: Lyle Thompson: lyle.thompson@fairmont.com

Boston Park Plaza’s Efforts Pay off
Boston Park Plaza’s greening efforts involved a major revision in the facility’s operating practices in order to reduce water and energy waste, eliminate toxins and chemical cleaners and use more recyclables.  The installation of thermopane windows reduced heating costs by $84,000 per year, and a recycling system cut laundry waste water in half.  The hotel also offers the ‘Boston Naturally’ Package, a guest service that includes a canvas knapsack left on guest beds with walking maps of the city and public transit passes. [2]

Fairmont Royal York Gets a Bright Idea
With more than 34,000 light fixtures, The Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto was able to save over $80,000 annually be replacing consumable bulbs with fluorescent ones.  Further energy and cost savings are realized through a system to disable the HVAC system in unoccupied rooms, resulting in another $20,000 - $30,000 saved annually. [3]

Fairmont Vancouver Airport – Saving Energy Through Green Design
Built in 1999, the Fairmont Vancouver Airport was designed for energy efficiency. Triple-glazed windows were installed to reduce heat escape and airport noise. An exterior glass curtain wall reduces internal energy consumption and the penetration of ultraviolet rays and sound. Lighting and heating in guestrooms is computer controlled to shut down when guests exit, and resumes at the settings chosen by guests when they return. When guests check out, room temperature reverts to a standard setting and the lights shut off automatically, resulting in an energy savings of 35 percent.

Hotel Inter-Continental Miami Cuts Waste
Implemented in 1992, the Hotel Inter-Continental’s waste reduction program recovers 45% of the hotel waste stream, saving an estimated $31,000 per year.  Materials collected for recycling include: paper; plastics; cardboard; glass; metal; batteries; kitchen and motor oil; fluorescent lamps.  Reused and donated items include edible leftover food, soaps and lotions, furniture and appliances, sheets and live Christmas trees.

Water Conservation at India’s Hotel Guestline Days
Located at the foot of the Tirumala hills in Tirupati, the Hotel Guestline Days is in a region where water is scarce.  The hotel makes use of rainwater, in particular during the monsoons, for toilet flushes, and of filtered and chlorinated rainwater for cooking and drinking.  A hydro-pneumatic ring system is installed to regulate flushing water.  Wastewater is treated and used in the hotel gardens and fountains, with excess grey water used on local farmlands. Finally, guests are provided with notices asking them to limit their water consumption.

Key Cards Boost Energy Savings at Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village
At the Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village in Australia and the Neptune Hotel in Denmark, energy saving “key cards” are required to power up all rooms.  This system is especially effective for hotel guestrooms, where the card is placed in a holder signifying start-up for all light switches and electrical outlets.  In order to exit the room, guests must remove the card, effectively shutting of the power source until their return.

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David L. Lawrence Convention Center – Green by Design
Pittsburgh’s new David L. Lawrence Convention Center, scheduled to open in 2003, is green by design.  The facility’s design and construction incorporate a variety of greening elements, including the use of natural lighting, re-use of waste water, recycling of up to 80% of waste, and the use of non-toxic and recycled materials.  The greening efforts are anticipated to cut the facility’s utility costs by 40%, paying for the initial investment in 7 to 10 years.  In addition, the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitor Bureau expects the green convention center will attract business and help clean up Pittsburgh’s image as a polluted steel town. [4]

Interface Helps Grand Wailea Resort and Spa Save US$1 million/year
At its 1997 world meeting, Interface achieved dramatic environmental and cost savings through the joint efforts of delegates and the meeting venue.

The resort chosen to host the 1,000 delegates over six days was the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa in Hawaii.  While the resort was not particularly ‘green’ at the outset, management responded to Interface’s greening requirements by altering standard operating procedures and implementing capital improvements, such as installing solar panels. Delegates joined in the effort by reducing their own consumption while on site.

Data were collected each day on utility usage and waste generation, and reported the following morning at plenary sessions. Total consumption was compared with the average of a similar convention held the previous year. The results were impressive: total electricity consumption had been reduced by 21 percent; water use by 48 percent; and solid waste by 34 percent. Amortized over time, the greening measures were estimated save the resort over US$1 million per year.

Contact: Pauline Armstrong: pauline_armstrong@eu.interfaceinc.com

Sweden’s Sanga Saby Centre uses renewable energy sources
At the Sanga Saby Conference and Study Centre in Sweden 67% of the facility is heated and cooled using marine and geothermal energy.  The remainder of the Centre’s energy requirements is derived through boilers fuelled by rapeseed oil.

Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre saves energy
More than a decade ago, the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre reduced the flow of energy to 75 % of the operating voltage to 130-volt bulbs used as incandescent lighting.  As a result, the bulbs last approximately 2 ½ times as long as they used to.  In addition, exhaust fans that used to run continuously at the VTCC are now operated on a thermostat as necessary.  The cost of the thermostats was recovered in six months as a result of the energy saved.

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Journey’s Travel Cool Program
Journey’s Travel has carved a niche out of offering environmentally responsible travel options to its clients.  The travel consultant will organize eco-tours for clients, rent them natural gas or electric vehicles, or book green lodgings.  In addition, clients can donate a percentage of their flight cost to support projects and technologies that reduce greenhouse gases by booking through Journeys’ ‘Travel-Cool’ program.

British Airways reaches new environmental heights
British Airways [17] is one example of an air carrier that has achieved a high level of success in implementing environmental programs.  British Airways published an environmental policy in 1990 and have since implemented a number of programs to reduce their impact on the environment, resulting in several environmental awards.  Some of their achievements include: a decrease in the volume and incidences of fuel jettisoned, a dramatic reduction in the amount of solid waste produced, a decrease in ground energy consumption, and ongoing environmental training for managers.

Cardiff to Introduce Pollution-Free, Driver-less Taxis
In 2004, Cardiff will launch the ULTra, a network of driver-less, light-rail taxis. The system consists of electrically powered vehicles, each running on 2kW of power atop dedicated low-visibility ground level and elevated tracks. Each vehicle will carry up to four passengers and operate as an on-demand taxi service within the city center. The quiet, emission-free cabs weigh 800kg and have a top speed of 40km/h. Planners estimate that the ULTra will use 75% less energy per passenger kilometer than a car and 80% less than a tram or light rail system network.

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CERES 2002 Conference
Menu development
CERES worked with the Hyatt Regency to create an organic menu, using all organically grown produce and baked goods when available. The hotel specially purchased organic, shade grown coffee (Rainforest Blend, a brand of Prebica) that is Fair Trade Certified. CERES worked with the hotel's chef to ensure that all organic food be purchased locally when possible (local vendors include Sunnyside Farms, Uptown Bakery, Lyon Bakery, Eco Farms, Kearny, and Ferarro Naked Juice). The pastries were purchased by Fresh Start Catering*, an affiliate of the D.C. Central Kitchen, an employment project that trains traditionally unemployable men and women in the culinary arts. CERES made a conscious decision to offer only vegetarian selections throughout the conference.

Reducing waste at banquet functions-food donations and composting
At CERES' request, individual servings of milk, cream, and sugar were eliminated and no disposable items were used. In another effort to reduce waste, CERES and the Hyatt worked with an organization called Community Harvest* in partnership with the Sustainable Washington Alliance* to compost all our organic food scrapes from the conference. Community Harvest is a DC based organization whose belief is that ALL people should have access to good, healthy food regardless of one's neighborhood of income level. Over the course of the two day event, 1000 pounds of food waste was diverted from landfill and taken to Urban Oasis, an urban mini-farm that uses organic farming methods. The farm provides produce for the inner city community at a fair price and helps educate the local youth on growing food, a healthy life, and protection of the environment. The 1000 pounds of food waste collected at the conference fertilized enough produce to supply two of the three farmer's markets throughout an entire growing season. All edible, unused food products from the conference will be donated to the D.C. Central Kitchen.

Caterer selection and menu development for the Botanic Garden reception
This off-site event was catered by Fresh Start Catering*, an affiliate of the D.C. Central Kitchen (mentioned above). Fresh Start's high quality, full service catering employs only graduates of their Culinary Arts Training Program, a program that trains traditionally unemployable men and woman. CERES is excited to be working with a company that has such a dynamic social mission. In-line with CERES decision to adhere to a full vegetarian conference menu, CERES worked with Fresh Start to create a wide range of vegetarian selections for the reception.

Citizen action promotes fair trade coffee at the G-8 in Alberta
A little letter writing power of a handful of Canadian citizens resulted in 1,000 lbs. of fair-trade certified coffee being served at the 2002 G-8 Summit in Alberta. Letters addressed to the Prime Minister's representative to the G-8 promoted the idea of serving FTC coffee to  demonstrate Canada's commitment to ending poverty in the third world amongst coffee growers.  That, plus some followup calls and a chance meeting with the PM's representative, generated the will to overcome the initial resistance of the local hotels to serve FTC at every site and every venue throughout the international meeting. President George Bush, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among other heads of state, could not have missed the tent cards at every urn denoting the FTC from Africa. G-8 organizers even promoted fair trade coffee at a showcase event during the meetings. Flush with this success, the FTC campaigners worked to have an additional 100 lbs. of Fair Trade Coffee served at the Hilton in New York City to conference-goers at the Micro-Credit Summit +5. Increasingly participants and organizers of progressive conferences are challenging conventional practices of conference facilities to improve the lives of impoverished coffee growers in the third world.

Ray's Boathouse Restaurant & Cafe
In 2001, Ray's Boathouse Restaurant & Cafe in Seattle composted 17 tons of pre-consumer food waste. Ray's also renders cooking oil and donates excess prepared food from banquets to local food banks. [5]

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PATA Cuts Paper Waste
At its 2002 annual conference held in New Delhi last April, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) reduced paper waste by replacing a literature distribution service with a special marketing display area for members who want to exhibit their literature. All publications left at the end of the conference were recycled.

Olympic Hosts Compete for the Green
Without a comprehensive greening plan, organizers vying for the Olympic bid have little chance of winning.

It began in 1994 in Lillehammer, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) signed an agreement with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to "jointly undertake specific international actions" to help make sports events environmentally friendly.

Shortly thereafter, environmental responsibility became the third pillar of the games, joining ‘sport’ and ‘culture.’ Since then, each of the Olympic Games - Atlanta in 1996, Nagano in 1998, Sydney in 2000, and Salt Lake City in 2002 - has made efforts to be environmentally responsible. 

Sydney’s efforts are the most highly acclaimed, including a solar powered athletes’ village and the use of reclaimed rainwater. In addition Suppliers and sponsors made commitments to improve their practices, such as Coca-Cola’s promise to phase out the use of environmentally unfriendly refrigerants.

Salt Lake’s environmental campaign included a zero net emissions goal, an urban forestry project and an urban heat island project called Cool Spaces 2002, an attempt to reduce air temperature and pollution in the Salt Lake area by planting trees.

The Bid Corporation responsible for the Whistler-Vancouver bid want to take the concept even further.  Some of the sustainability initiatives planned for Whistler-Vancouver are:

• Establishing a sustainable transportation system for the Vancouver- Whistler corridor;
• Creating a legacy fund for the community; and
• Using the mountains natural contours for ski runs and jumps.

Of course the decision is yet to be made on which city will get the 2010 winter Olympics.  One thing is clear, however, to be in the running, hosts must demonstrate their plans to make the games as environmentally responsible as possible.

APEC ’97 Re-Use Program
The 1997 APEC Summit, held in Vancouver, minimized waste at its Trade Show.  Show staff wore removable APEC pins, so their generic uniform blazers could be used again.  Live plants were used for decoration, and donated to a local charity following the event

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PATA’s Leafy Legacy
To offset the harmful greenhouse effects of CO2 resulting from delegate travel and energy consumption during its 2002 conference, the PATA Sustainable Tourism Committee arranged for the planting of hundreds of seedlings in Delhi, the conference’s host city. The seedlings, which were planted by delegates in a special ceremony, were provided free of charge by the country’s Ministry of Environment and Forests.  They were placed on hotel grounds, where operators agreed to look after the trees as they grow.

2002 Forest Leadership Forum
One of the greenest conferences ever achieved for its size, The 2002 Forest Leadership Forum, April 25-27 in Atlanta, proved that environmental and economic objectives can coexist.  The community of 1,300 participants from 45 countries—including retailers, forest industry representatives and environmentalists—explored their common interest in supporting well-managed forests through certification.  More than 50 green meeting practices were used to reduce cost and environmental impact, from paper-less registration to eliminating the use of more than 80,000 disposable plates, cups, napkins and utensils.  Demonstrating the competitive advantage of environmental responsibility, the Forum achieved a lasting impact through ongoing partnerships and practices.  For more detailed information please visit Meeting Strategies Worldwide, or download the case study (*.pdf file).

CERES 2002 Conference
On-line registration and conference updates
CERES used an on-line registration process to help reduce associated paper waste. Registration confirmations and updates were sent via email to reduce paper waste.

Conference Binder
All purchasing decisions for the various binder components were based on recycled content. Following are the recycle content details for each part of the binder:3-ring binder-board used has 60% post consumer paper content, the steel has 39% post consumer steel content, the vinyl has approximately 20% post consumer vinyl material; tabs- printed on 20% post consumer paper content; paper for contents- printed on 100% post-consumer content and processed chlorine free. Recycled Paper Printing, Inc. created, printed and assembled the conference binders.

Banner & Signs
The banner was printed on 5% post consumer recycled vinyl material, and signs were printed on 100% post consumer paperboard-banner and signs made by Recycled Paper Printing, Inc.

Conference Brochure
The brochure was printed with soy-based ink on Mohawk Navajo 80lb Brillian White cover stock with 20% post consumer content. Printing by Recycled Paper Printing, Inc.

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Footnotes:

[1] Source: IACVB Members Survey; 10/30/2000
[2] Source: “Hotels Go Green” by L.C. Nojechowicz, Natural Life – www.life.ca, March 1997
[3] Source: “The Green Partnership Guide” Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Second Edition, 2001
[4] Source: Pittsburg Business Times, September 17, 2001
[5] Source: www.resourceventure.org/foodwaste.htm