Destination Hotels & Resorts Creates Green Meetings Platform

Destination Hotels & Resorts has created a new platform for all group and meetings business 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."

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:

--Recycling stations and bins will be available in all meeting rooms.

--White boards will be available instead of flip charts. However, if flip charts are used, only post-consumer recycled content paper will be available.

--Leftover conference supplies such as pens and paper will be donated or reused until depleted.

--Condiments such as ketchup, cream and milk will be offered in service vessels instead of individually packaged items.

--Local and in-season regional ingredients from sustainable suppliers and partners will be incorporated into menus.

--Any bottled water that is used will be sourced from within 750 miles from the hotel's location.

--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:

--Organic food and beverage options along with sustainable meat, fish, pork and chicken.

--Bio-based flatware and recyclable/biodegradable plates and cups instead of plastic items.

--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).

www.destinationmeetings.com