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Jill Stone

Your Meeting Matchmaker Fairy Godmother

Happy Earth Day!

in: Eco Friendly Meetings

Earth Day

Earth Day 2016 falls on Friday, April 22 this year. Now in it’s 46th year, this movement is meant to “inspire, challenge ideas, ignite passion, and motivate people to action,” particularly on environmental issues.

The meetings industry has experienced a lot of greening up over the years; both in how we approach and plan our meetings, as well as the venues we choose. In past blogs I’ve shared ways in which meeting planners can go green:

Is Your Meeting Really Green?

Green Up Your Meetings

Your Meeting’s Carbon Footprint

Go for the Green!

Today we are going to talk about some of the greener hotels. While there are green hotels around the earth, today I am going to highlight a few in the good ole USA:

Proximity Hotel in Greensboro is a LEED Platinum hotel, which was built to use 40% less energy and 30% less water than in a comparable hotel. Guest rooms offer oversized windows to let in plenty of natural light and fresh air.

Bardessono in Napa Valley is also a LEED Platinum hotel that provides luxury and green at the same time. Wood used throughout the hotel are milled from salvage trees, linens and cleaning supplies are organic, recycling and composting are standard, plus products in the spa and restaurant are primarily sourced from local organic or sustainable producers.

Earthship in Toas touts itself as “radically sustainable.” These are actually fully furnished homes with all the modern amenities. If you want to experience what it’s like to live off the grid, but not really feel like you are doing so, this is the place for you.

Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, OR features solar hot water, no use of plastic bottles and they have ‘Green Eco-Roofing’ which provides insulation and cuts down on energy use.

Sleep Inn & Suites in Miles City, MT features motion sensor lights in all rooms, the hotel recycles leftover soap and shampoo, and there are recycling centers throughout.

Vail Resorts is a place I was lucky enough to visit just recently! They use only glass bottles in the rooms, and the housekeeping staff refills them each day with filtered water.  They also recycle approx. 98% of the trash.

Learn more about Earth Day here. The theme for 2016 is Trees for the Earth, so go out and plant a tree, or contact a service that will plant one for you!

 

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