Green Meetings at RockResorts
RockResorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vail Resorts, with nine premier meeting resorts from Vail, Colorado to St. Lucia, has announced a more formal green meetings program. RockResorts offers, among other green options, e-brochures, paperless check in, and organic cuisine from local suppliers to help meeting planners who want to support environment-friendly events.
RockResorts even has a carbon calculator on their website, so that meeting planners can see the total environmental impact their meetings will have, including travel, lodging, and resources used for the event itself.
Green service standards include the basics such as recycling and waste reduction programs, procuring organic food and beverage and other sustainable locally where possible, and use of energy and water conservation fixtures and practices at the meeting facilities. Service staff at each resort is available to assist the meeting planner with meeting-specific conservation efforts, including sustainable decorations and transportation, reusable signage, and the use of low-impact marketing documents.
Julie Klein, director of environmental affairs for RockResorts, said “There are so many opportunities with an event or meeting where the overall experience can be enhanced by choosing environmental features, while also saving the event planner and meeting attendees money and time. To ensure meeting planners are aware of possibilities, we are here to offer assistance by creating service standards and options that allow them to know their event is having less of an impact than if they hosted it elsewhere.”
RockResorts’ Appetite for Life program promotes sustainable cuisine where possible, and is a part of all of RockResorts’ restaurants and catering operations. The program encourages use of organic and natural meat, sustainable seafood, seasonal produce, and organic wine and beverages, all obtained from local suppliers where possible.
