The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. (AH&LA) announced the winners of the AH&LA Achievement Awards, part of the annual Stars of the Industry Awards, which honor stand-out initiatives at hotel properties. In a ceremony held during the AH&LA Summer Summit at the Hilton Chicago, these awards, which have been awarded annually since 1966, distinguish individual hotels that have developed outstanding programs, events, and campaigns. Winners were chosen for awards in the categories of Good Earthkeeping, Guest Relations, Outstanding Community Service, Special Events (one-time event and ongoing), as well as exceptional diversity initiatives.

The environment and community service award winners this year include:

The Orchard Garden Hotel in San Francisco won the Good Earthkeeping award, small property category (less than 150 rooms), for making sustainability its guiding philosophy. As the first hotel in the state of California to earn LEED certification, its developers even selected the site location based on its proximity to public transportation and used building materials extracted or manufactured locally to build 77 percent of the hotel. Guestrooms feature recycled products, energy management, and recycling programs that function with or without active guest participation, and the entire property saves energy costs by making use of natural daylight in 82 percent of its occupied spaces. The hotel is constantly looking to improve upon their already succinct eco-friendly processes and engage their guests in sustainability measures, doing so based on environmental and in-depth consumer research.

The Sheraton Seattle Hotel is the winner of the Good Earthkeeping award in the large property category (150 rooms or more). The Sheraton’s green strategy focused on three major areas: building infrastructure and physical enhancements; associate awareness and involvement; and guest participation. Several successful green initiatives include giving guests the option to opt out of housekeeping service in exchange for a $5 gift certificate or 500 Starwood points; creation of a “compost only” associate cafeteria where all food waste and debris from meals is 100 percent compostable; use of green cleaning products in guestrooms and meeting rooms; and a 25 percent public transportation subsidy for associates. Energy and water conservation measures have saved more than 4,800 kWh of electricity annually, and through these and other initiatives, the Sheraton was able to reduce their energy index by 21 percent in the program’s first year and recycle approximately 12 tons of materials each month.

Sleeping Lady Wins Again

The Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat in Leavenworth, Wash., won the award for Outstanding Community Service, small property category. The hotel, which won last year’s AH&LA Good Earthkeeping Award for a small property, has adopted a philosophy of encouraging its employees to be active in the community and donating to needy organizations. In addition to implementing an annual employee food drive, the property also hosts a variety of events including a Special Olympics cross country ski event; the “Chicks on Sticks” event, which raises money for breast cancer research; and a recycled art show that earns funds for a local recycling group’s initiatives.

The Doubletree Hotel Tulsa at Warren Place in Tulsa, Okla., earned the Outstanding Community Service award for a large property. The hotel’s employees, known as the CARE Committee, made a dedicated effort to help those in need all over Tulsa in 2008 via donations to local food banks, participation in the local American Heart Association Walk, time spent beautifying the campus of their adopted school and educating students about sustainability, and assisting their long-term nonprofit partner, the Hospitality House of Tulsa, which provides home-like lodging and support services for families of patients in Tulsa for medical care. The Doubletree’s hospitality extends overseas as well. After donating a stay to a soldier in town on unexpected leave from Iraq, the employees wanted to spread the goodwill to those in his unit who were not able to take the leave. They sent 10 dozen of their famous Doubletree cookies to his grateful company.

The Mandarin Oriental Washington, D.C., is the winner of the Prism award for diversity. This property creates a workplace where employees are able to break down the socioeconomic barriers in their personal lives. In 2008, the hotel took the initiative to create a truly motivated and synergized workforce through a community center concept called the Colleague Resource Center (CRC). This center takes into account how an employee’s personal life and external influences impact team unity and, in turn, the guest experience. The new CRC provides a convenient location where employees can obtain life skills they may not have access to on their own, such as Weight Watchers, yoga, fitness, budgeting, computer classes, credit awareness courses, and language software programs. As a result, the hotel has seen gender, racial, and religious differences melt away and employees begin to relate to one another in new ways and find new common ground.

Many of AH&LA’s partner state associations choose their own property award winners, which are submitted to the association for national judging. Making the decisions in this year’s competition were Bob Craycraft, vice president of industry relations for the American Resort Development Assn.; Phil Hayward, chief communications officer for the National Recreation & Parks Assn.; and Pat Maher, owner of The Maher Group, LLC, and AH&LA’s green consultant. The awards ceremony was sponsored by U.S. Foodservice.

For more information on AH&LA’s Stars of the Industry Awards program and a full list of this year’s property and employee winners, visit www.ahla.com/stars.

Posted by BrianM at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is challenging hoteliers across the country to track and improve their green business operations by taking the AH&LA Green Guidelines Challenge. Participants completing the challenge will be able to identify themselves as eco-friendly establishments based on benchmarking their operation procedures against AH&LA’s 11 minimum green guidelines, released in November 2008 by the association’s Green Task Force. The winner of the six-month challenge will also receive a green prize package from an allied AH&LA member.

The challenge began when AH&LA members received a tracking tool to aid their measurement of occupancy statistics, monetary and energy expenditures, and return on investment (ROI) from specific green practices. To enter the challenge, participants must complete the online Green Guidelines Challenge survey by October 1, 2009. AH&LA members who successfully implement practices in line with any of the 11 guidelines are also encouraged to write in their success stories and best practices to be considered for the green prize package and featured on the association’s Green Resource Center website. Throughout the challenge, members can ask operations questions directly to AH&LA’s Green Guru. Properties that are not AH&LA members are also encouraged to take the challenge to augment their eco-friendly practices, though they will not be eligible for the challenge prize or space on AH&LA’s website.

Based on existing environmental certification programs, including Green Seal, Green Globe, Green Key, and LEED, along with various state certification programs, the 11 minimum green guidelines define ways to give hotel owners and operators opportunities to reduce operating costs and environmental impacts through reduced utility consumption, recycling programs, employee training, and supply chain management. The guidelines also allow hotels to improve their fiscal performance by tracking ROI against their general statistics. Some examples of estimated savings properties* can achieve include:

• $35,478/298,961 kilowatt-hours (kWh) by installing digital thermostats in guestrooms and throughout a hotel;
• $17,029/141,912 kWh by replacing existing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs);
• $35,478/1,182,600 gallons of water as a result of installing 2.5-gallons per minute (or less) showerheads in all guestroom baths and any employee shower areas.

Procedural details for implementing each green guideline are available on the AH&LA Green Resource Center website, and detailed explanations of each will be sent to AH&LA members throughout the initial 11 weeks of the challenge.

Selected success stories from the Green Guidelines Challenge will be featured on AH&LA’s website as new Green Best Practices, part of a growing list of actionable strategies, case studies, and timely green news from AH&LA members leading the way to a more eco-friendly hospitality community. Go to the Green Guidelines Challenge.

*Estimates based on a 300-room hotel.

Posted by BrianM at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty recognized the Willard InterContinental for "Outstanding Achievement by a Hotel" along with 18 other District businesses and nonprofit organizations for their environmental stewardship, innovative best practices, pollution prevention, and resource conservation in the first-ever 'Mayor's Environmental Excellence Awards.'

"The Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the very best in sustainable commerce in the District of Columbia," said Mayor Fenty. "Every day, the winners demonstrate that taking care of the environment makes good business sense."

The awards are a component of the Mayor's Green agenda, and an effort to incentivize growth of local green enterprises, green existing businesses and District government, and train local workforce to fill green jobs of the future. Over several months, the management team at the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) accepted and considered 52 applications in 5 categories. Winners received an engraved award from Mayor Fenty in person at a ceremony today.

A leader in "Sustainable Hospitality", the Willard's award-winning, program, Willard InterContinental – The Next 100 Years is based on the Three P's (Profit-People-Planet), the holistic plan comprises interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Visit www.willarddc.com/sd, a comprehensive guide to the Willard's sustainability efforts.

The Willard's Environmental Achievements at a Glance Include:
-100% wind energy to power the hotel.
-Decrease in electricity consumption of 12% over past 5 years, even as occupancy rose.
-Donation of water well to a village in South Africa -Donation of water well to a native American family in South Dakota -Contributes to Earth Conservation Corps Anacostia River clean-up, educational and vocational efforts.
-Overall electricity consumption including Café du Parc restaurant decreased 6.5% from 2007 to 2008 alone.
-100% water reduction with water-free urinals. In its first year, 2005, the Willard saved over 95,000 gallons of water. Projected savings by 2009 are over one million gallons.
-Green chemicals for in-house laundry.
-100% removal of PERC non-renewable dry-cleaning chemicals.
-All papers consumed on property are 30% recycled paper.
-Recycling success: 191 tons in 2008, land fill wastes (non-recyclables) decreased from 1029 tons in 2005, to 635 tons 2008, a 38% reduction, even with a new restaurant added and 27% of this reduction came in 2008.
-In 2005, our first test year, we composted one ton. By 2008, our composting increased to 37 tons with a 33% increase over 2007.
-100% elimination of oil-based paints
-"Adopted" local Thomson Elementary School for ongoing educational opportunities -Partnered with Hermes on Fashion Fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's
Hospital
-Hosted "Cinderella Ball" Prom for Disabled Young Adults

"For the District to continue realizing the Mayor's vision of one of the world's greenest cities, the private and nonprofit sectors have an incredibly important role," said DDOE Director George S. Hawkins. "Today's award winners take that role to the next level. We thank them for helping us start a new tradition in recognizing green businesses each year."

For winners of the 2009 Mayor's Environmental Excellence Awards and a detailed case study of each winning business, please visit http://ddoe.dc.gov/awards.

An American institution and leader in Sustainable Hospitality, the Willard InterContinental is located in the heart of the nation's capital on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House, the Smithsonian museums and the downtown business and theatre districts. A leader in Sustainable Hospitality, the Willard is the Washington D.C. hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world's business, cultural, social and political elite. The hotel's 332 well appointed large guestrooms include 40 elegant suites. Dining options Cafe du Parc, the popular French bistro with seasonal outdoor seating and traditional Afternoon Tea in Peacock Alley. The luxurious Red Door Spa offers a wide array of pampering treatments. The classic Willard InterContinental combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology. Tel. 202-628-9100, or Web site:
www.washington.intercontinental.com

"Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years" is a holistic sustainable hospitality program in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Visit www.willarddc.com/sd, a comprehensive guide to the Willard's sustainability efforts.

Posted by BrianM at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Day for Oceans Recognized 16 Years After First Proposed

Sixteen years after it was first proposed, the United Nations (U.N.) has notified Oceana of its official resolution to designate June 8 as World Oceans Day. Both the U.N. and Oceana are preparing events to honor the inaugural celebration of the planet’s oceans.

The U.N. decision comes after thousands of supporters of Oceana and other conservation organizations, aquariums, universities, and agencies, signed petitions asking the international body to establish an official day for the oceans. World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

“We applaud the United Nations for formally establishing a day for the other 71 percent of the planet,” said Andrew Sharpless, C.E.O. of Oceana. “Making World Oceans Day official will help us and other ocean groups to engage more people and to increase public support for efforts to reverse the declining health of marine ecosystems.”

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), three quarters of the world’s fisheries are now overexploited, fully exploited, significantly depleted or recovering from overexploitation. “The good news,” added Sharpless, “is that restoring abundant oceans is the most solvable global ecological challenge that we face today.”

Since World Oceans Day was first proposed in 1992, hundreds of museums, conservation organizations, and agencies have celebrated June 8 as a holiday for the oceans and worked for its official U.N. recognition. Oceana, along with other groups including the Ocean Project, delivered tens of thousands of petition signatures and e-mails to the U.N. asking them to make June 8 an official World Oceans Day celebration.

The U.N. notified Oceana that it will organize events to be held on World Oceans Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Meanwhile, Oceana is planning its largest-ever celebration in 2009 in honor of the now official World Oceans Day – including a special contest for its 300,000+ online supporters, a new shark conservation Public Service Announcement (PSA) featuring Mad Men star January Jones, red carpet events on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts (in New York with lifestyle brand Nautica and Vanity Fair magazine, and a separate event in Los Angeles), and special World Oceans Day promotions in major department stores nationwide.

Oceana campaigns to protect and restore the world’s oceans. Its team of marine scientists, economists, lawyers, and advocates win specific and concrete policy changes to reduce pollution and to prevent the irreversible collapse of fish populations, marine mammals, and other sea life. Global in scope and dedicated to conservation, Oceana has campaigners based in North America, Europe, and South America. For members of the media interested in images of the ocean, Oceana has a collection of more than 50,000 compelling images and photo stories that visually engage and help audiences understand the threats and challenges facing our world’s oceans.

Contact Juliana Stein to learn more about Oceana’s activities to celebrate World Oceans Day 2009 at jstein@oceana.org.

Posted by BrianM at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

May 1st to May 8th 2009
Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge
www.rosalieforest.com/ecofest.php

This week long festival will be bringing people together through a mix of seminars, guest speakers, workshops, panel discussions and displays of local and foreign talents. The theme of EcoFest is ‘A celebration of the world’s progress on saving our beautiful planet?’. Through which we hope that open discussion will explore the reality of our advancements, question them and their philosophy, and examine their validity.

So come spend a week, a few days, or just one night investigating the advances we have made towards preserving the planet for generations to come, and learning from the mistakes.

- Learn about the latest renewable energy technology, and how it is being put into practice on both local and nationwide scales. Featured in a full-day workshop will be the BioGas Helpline coming from India to install a biogas plant on site.
- See how local crafts and traditions are being integrated into tourism for all to benefit. Nature artists from Dominica and abroad will be showcasing their provocative pieces.
- Hear about micro-eco-projects from around the world. The International EcoClub will outline how you can do it yourself.
- Discover new and innovative products.
- Hike to some of Dominica’s spectacular nature sites. Join the DHTA in their HikeFest to end in an evening of panel discussions at EcoFest.
- Listen to a variety of quality music. To be showcased at this event will be singers, Free Joseph, Janet ‘Angel’ Azzouz, Brizee’s pan symphony, jinn ping, reggae and calypso stars.
Experience living sustainability, and learn from green minds brought together for this unforgettable event from all around the world!

Buy your tickets in advance and receive an early-bird discount! The price for shall be EC$100/US$40 for an all-day pass and EC$$50/US$20 for a half-day pass (1 event). Also EC$500/US$200 for a VIP all-day week-long invitation and EC$500/US$200 for a VIP half-day week-long invitation (one vent per day). Prices will be more if bought at the gate. Tickets available from Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge.

We also welcome eco sponsors for the event from all fields. You or your business could be showcased throughout the festival. Contact us for more details. If you have something eco you would like to display, and want to participate actively in the event, please contact us about getting involved in our Eco Exhibition.

To learn more please refer to our website or contact us at the following:
Email: ecofest@rosalieforest.com
Telephone: +1.767.446.1886
Website: www.rosalieforest.com/ecofest.php

Posted by BrianM at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Maldives, which is threatened by rising sea level as a result of global warming, is planning to become the world's first carbon-neutral country. The President of the Island country, Mohammed Nasheed, will reveal details of a plan to achieve full carbon neutrality within ten years on Sunday, the Independent reported. Maldives will join a small group of nations racing to be first, in what environmentalists have described as "the Carbon World Cup." Other countries planning to become carbon neutral are Costa Rica, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand and Monaco. The five nations have signed up to a UN-backed plan to become zero net emitters, but none intend to achieve carbon neutrality as quickly as the Maldives. Local environmentalists welcomed the plan, which requires individual resorts to use solar panels to generate electricity, and sea water for air-conditioning.

Posted by BrianM at 3:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, in partnership with Sustainability Intelligence today announced the launch of the Green Globe Index to provide a common platform for all travel and tourism related companies to measure, rank and demonstrate sustainability.

The Green Globe Index tool, which can be accessed at www.greenglobeindex.com, will allow clients to calculate their CO2e footprint, the financial cost of that CO2e, and to track their performance of energy and water consumption and non-recyclable waste production.

As part of the launch announcement, Green Globe Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Brad Cox said, "The global travel and tourism industry has a wide range of initiatives and measurement processes. The Green Globe Index provides a common platform to enter data and deliver global ranking and education, using the independence of the industry's only global sustainability and certification brand - Green Globe

"The index is based upon company submissions using an online questionnaire and data entry process to deliver a ranking by business type both nationally and globally. Users who achieve a minimum level of attainment are placed on a public index for consumer and corporate buyers to identify sustainable companies," added Mr. Cox.

The entry cost for the index is US$85 per year, with users able to update and increase their data delivery an unlimited number of times each year. Volume users can receive reduced pricing, and all users can receive further licences at a preferential price to engage their supply chain.

The index is global and not country or industry sector specific and designed for all companies in the global travel and tourism industry whether large or small, supplier or principal. The index will be accessible to corpo rate buyers and consumers to identify travel and tourism companies who are making a difference. Alternately users can rank their own performance without having to share it publicly.

Companies who are new to sustainability can identify areas for action and focus using the index. Index reports are automatically generated to assist clients identify future improvements required to increase sustainability.

The index can also be used to assess and improve supply chain sustainability. Index users can demonstrate their achievements to prospective and existing suppliers and clients, supporting increased sustainability focused procurement.

About Green Globe International, Inc.
Green Globe International, Inc., publicly traded in the U.S. under the symbol GGLB, is the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, which includes the leading sustainability certification and benchmarking program, carbon footprint calculation and offset programs, and a broad range of consulting services. Green Globe International has been admitted as an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the business leaders' forum for the travel and tourism industry, is a 5% common stock owner of Green Globe International. For more information on the company, please visit www.greenglobeint.com.

Posted by BrianM at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Attendees at the first ever Green Travel Summit collaborate to define the leading challenges facing Corporate America’s efforts to reduce their carbon footprint related to business travel and corporate meetings

Unicomm, LLC announced today the results of a collaborative effort undertaken by leading corporate travel executives attending the first ever Green Travel SummitTM. The report identifies the top ten challenges facing organizations in greening corporate travel.

Over 160 corporate travel executives and industry suppliers attended the Green Travel Summit, the first fully dedicated forum focused on exploring green travel strategies and their impact on business travel and corporate meetings.

Following were the top issues attendees identified in implementing carbon reducing programs:

1) Where to begin - The single greatest challenge for many executives is defining a road map of the process to BEGIN greening business travel and meetings.

2) Perception vs. reality regarding costs - Understanding the costs associated with “greening” is often at odds with the internal perception of the process.

3) Overcoming resistance to change - In many organizations corporate travel expectations are at odds with the change required to reduce the associated carbon footprint.

4) Buy in from senior management - The need to have top management support of related green initiatives.

5) ROI - A better understanding of the actual ROI of greening initiates and tracking tools to report ROI.

6) Securing budget - In a difficult economy identifying and allocating funding for green initiatives is increasingly difficult.

7) Reporting standards and metrics - As green travel programs are instituted, procedures, technologies and standards to report progress are not clearly defined.

8) Green washing: Truth vs. fiction - Cutting through the hype to achieve environmentally sustainable practices is increasingly more critical.

9) Buy in from both the planner and the supplier –Establishing acceptable standards and implementing across the corporate travel industry supply chain is needed.

10) Communicating and educating all relative stakeholders - Once green corporate travel policies begin to be implemented, communicating the program and the desired results to relative stakeholders is critical to success.

The Green Travel Summit was held at the Fairmont, Newport Beach, California, March 23-24, 2009 and assembled executives from a cross-section of the travel industry including: corporate travel buyers, managers, meeting and incentive planners as well as travel marketing executives, corporate travel suppliers and destination marketing organizations.

Seminars and keynote addresses focused on corporations accelerating their efforts to create enterprise-wide sustainability strategies to address the climate change issue and to realize cost savings while positioning themselves for competitive advantage. With travel as the second largest variable expense for organizations, there was recognition of the opportunity to attain measurable cost savings, reduce carbon emission liability and differentiate themselves from their competitors as socially responsible companies to stand out in the marketplace.

The Green Travel Summit has attracted premier organizations serving the corporate travel and meetings industry including American Express Business Travel who joined the event as Presenting Sponsor, Fairmont Hotel as Official Hotel, Co-sponsor National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and Intercontinental Hotel Group as Gold Partner. Maritz Travel and American Airlines have joined as Silver Partners, BCD Travel and TSX as Bronze Partners and the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME) as Association Sponsor. The event is supported by Media Sponsors Business Travel News, Successful Meetings, Meeting News and TravelMole. SkyTeam is the Official Airline Alliance and EcoSecurities Official Carbon Offset Provider.

For details on the event, please visit the website www.greentravelsummit.com.

Posted by BrianM at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) has released a new publication addressing the complexities and “unintended consequences” of giving and volunteering while on holiday. “Travelers’ Philanthropy: Dos and Don’ts of Travel Giving” provides insights from a dozen tourism experts to some of the most frequent suggestions made by well-meaning travelers who desire to help, interact, and learn while on vacation.

The publication, as well as a bookmark with Travelers’ Tips, is available in print or electronic format at Travelers' Philanthropy/Resources or by clicking here. CREST has also launched an online discussion forum on this topic of traveler giving and volunteering. Travelers, philanthropists, and industry professionals are invited to share any comments, questions, and reactions as part of a lively discussion of these issues. The forum can be accessed by clicking here.

“Oftentimes, people who vacation in poor parts of the world are moved to try to help by either volunteering or donating financially or materially to those in need. But because these good intentions may have negative impacts, we have compiled thoughtful insights and responses from a dozen leading tourism experts,” explains CREST co-founder and Co-Director, Dr. Martha Honey. “Our aim is to help educate travelers and tourism companies about how to contribute in ways that help to strengthen communities and don’t perpetuate cycles of dependence on charity.”

The publication addresses some of the ideas most frequently proposed by tourists, including sending books or used clothing, visiting an orphanage or school, and volunteering as part of a vacation. CREST solicited responses from a dozen tourism practitioners with long experience in supporting projects in local communities. While these experts sometimes expressed differing views, they agreed that how and what to contribute needs to be decided by the host community, not the tourist or the tourism company.

The publication, part of CREST’s Travelers’ Philanthropy program, will be incorporated into a Handbook on Travelers Philanthropy to be completed by late 2009.

Earlier this month, CREST released a pre-publication version of "Dos and Don'ts of Travel Giving” at the ITB-Berlin travel show. CREST’s Washington, DC Coordinator David Krantz gave a presentation at the "Workshop on Travel Philanthropy and Responsible Tourism" which was organized by Gopi Parayil, Founder and Cheif Excecutive of The Blue Yonder. Representatives from The Blue Yonder, GoPhilanthropic, and Travel to Care also presented their travelers' philanthropy projects during the workshop.

Travelers’ Philanthropy, a program of the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), is part of the growing global trend of travelers and travel companies to contribute to community and conservation projects in tourism destinations. The Travelers’ Philanthropy website includes a range of resources, including an easy to use portal that permits tax deductible donations for a range of projects that are being supported by responsible tourism companies.

The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) is an non-profit international institute affiliated with Stanford University and headquartered in Washington, DC. Its Co-Director based at Stanford is Dr. William Durham. CREST conducts policy-oriented research, programs, and field projects designed to minimize the negative impacts of tourism and maximize the positive contributions to host destinations and conservation. Formerly known as the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, the organization recently changed its name to better reflect its work with all sectors of the tourism industry.

For interviews, or to order copies of the publication please contact: Whitney Cooper wcooper@responsibletravel.org and 202-347-9203 ext 414. For more information about CREST's work please visit CREST’s two websites: www.responsibletravel.org and www.travelersphilanthropy.org.

Posted by BrianM at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Walt Disney Company announced a landmark set of strategic environmental goals and challenging three to five year targets to reduce emissions, waste, electricity and fuel use, and its impact on water and ecosystems. The goals are part of Disney’s 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report, which details the company’s approach to critical corporate responsibility issues ranging from charitable giving to nutrition and from online safety for kids to workplace diversity.

“Disney’s enhanced corporate responsibility efforts make our brands and products more attractive, strengthen our bonds with consumers, make the company a more desirable place to work and build goodwill in the communities we operate,” said Disney president and CEO Robert A. Iger. “All of this contributes to shareholder value.”

The interactive multimedia report, now available online only at www.disney.com/crreport, provides a detailed snapshot of the company’s philosophy and activities in five areas: children and family, content and products, environment, community and workplaces. Details include the company’s first comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory and updates on Disney’s pioneering policies on healthy food guidelines and smoking in films.

Result of Two-Year Project

Building on 20 years of work by Disney’s environmental affairs department, the new goals and targets were formulated over the last two years by an Environmental Council of senior executives from across the company. Charged with developing and implementing sustainable strategies for Disney’s impact on the environment, as well as ways to use the company’s media reach to encourage positive action, the Council has taken a measured, scientific approach in analyzing company operations and crafting strategic objectives.

“While Disney has always been a leader in environmental stewardship, we are taking ambitious steps to help preserve our planet for future generations,” said Disney senior executive vice president and CFO Thomas O. Staggs.

The long-term environmental goals outlined in the report are:

• Zero waste;
• Zero net direct greenhouse gas emissions from fuels;
• Reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions from electricity consumption;
• Net positive impact on ecosystems;
• Minimize water use;
• Minimize product footprint; and
• Inform, empower and activate positive action for the environment.

For additional details and medium–term targets visit www.disney.com/crreport.

“We applaud Disney for its leadership in adopting these goals, especially at such a challenging time in the global economy,” said Peter Seligmann, chairman and CEO of Conservation International. “Disney’s vision underscores the continued interest in the environment among people worldwide and the growing recognition that environmental leadership can help revitalize the economy.” Conservation International provided advice to Disney on its new goals and targets.

Integrated, Transparent Strategy

The 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report represents the latest phase in Disney’s longstanding heritage of corporate social responsibility and reflects a company-wide effort to build an integrated, transparent strategy focused on serving the needs of the company’s primary stakeholders: consumers, employees, shareholders, business partners and the communities in which it works. The report is organized as follows:

• Children and Family—guiding principles, kids’ health and nutrition, creative practices, programming philosophies and marketing policies;
• Content and Products—standards and practices, content diversity, product safety policies and parks accessibility and safety;
• Environment—environmental initiatives, progress and long-term goals;
• Community—charitable giving, VoluntEAR and community outreach updates; and
• Workplaces—employee diversity, benefits and international labor standards.

The report anchors a broader suite of publications being issued. Six additional reports provide information specifically on Disney’s Parks & Resorts segment and the following operations: Disney Cruise Lines, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland. The suite of reports highlights issues of importance to local communities at some of the company’s largest sites.

Posted by BrianM at 7:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)