Carson City hoteliers, those in hospitality industry invited to May 11-12 green lodging workshop

GreenUP!, the Tahoe Water Supplier Association, Sierra Business Council, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Western Nevada College are partnering to offer a free green lodging workshop for small to medium hotels, lodges and the hospitality industry to grow environmental protection and sustainability efforts in the Tahoe Truckee region.

The workshop is made possible with grant funding provided from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

While the organizers are targeting small to medium hotels and lodges around the Lake Tahoe region and vicinity, any hospitality establishment or industry professional may attend the virtual event to learn best practices for operating at the highest environmental operational efficiency.

The workshop also explores ways to get tourists engaged in sustainable practices when they come to the region. To register: https://tinyurl.com/TahoeGreenLodging

“Sustainability experts from across the Lake Tahoe Region will be representing at the Tahoe Truckee Green Lodging Workshop on May 11 and 12,” said Donna Walden, President of the greenUP! Board. “This is an interactive workshop and the vision is to help businesses preserve Lake Tahoe and other tourist destinations for future generations.”

“Everyone has a chance to make a difference in protecting the environment locally as well as to support addressing larger issues like climate change,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division Director Jeff Scott. “We hope that Nevada hospitality leaders will be able to both reduce their environmental footprint and improve their bottom-line as green businesses.”

“As part of the workshop, hotels and lodges are encouraged to join the California or the Nevada Green Business Networks,” said Kristin York from the Sierra Small Business Development Center. “This is not a requirement to attend but will help facilitate easier adoption of actions necessary to become a green establishment.”

“For over 50 years, agencies and organizations in the Lake Tahoe Region have taken actions to enhance our beautiful lake and surrounding regions,” said Devin Middlebrook, sustainability program manager for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. “Hotels and the hospitality industry play a large role in making Tahoe more sustainable.”

“Tourists and hotel guests and their destination decisions play a huge part in the sustainability of our region,” said Madonna Dunbar, Resource Conservationist, Incline Village GID and Executive Director of the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association. “Tahoe guests can become environmental stewards and contribute towards making Tahoe a clean destination for this millennium and the next.”

“Western Nevada College hosts the green business program for the state of Nevada,” said Dr. Georgia White, Professional and Applied Technology Division Director. “The hospitality industry is a significant sector in our state. The opportunity to learn from industry leaders and implement best practices will improve the environmental scorecard for our state.”

Panels Descriptions:
Green hospitality has moved from trend to imperative. Green practices offer a competitive advantage by reducing costs and attracting more guests. In fact, Bookings.com reported that 70% of global travelers surveyed are more likely to book green accommodations. Green practices will also help to protect Lake Tahoe, a treasure recognized for its natural beauty and outdoor adventures. Lodging and hospitality businesses can help preserve this gem for generations to come by embracing Green Business best practices.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/TahoeGreenLodging to register and to download the event program.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Jeff Scott, EPA Pacific Southwest Land Chemicals, and Redevelopment Division Director will give welcoming remarks and highlight the overarching benefits of sustainability for the hospitality industry. Angela Sandoval, Manager of the EPA Pacific Southwest Zero Waste Section will share how pollution prevention methods can help lodging/hotels reach their goals to become a certified green business.

Panel 1: Food Waste Diversion for Hospitality: Food waste is a growing concern across the globe and new regulations in the region are driving food diversion efforts in the region. The panel discusses climate change and effect of food waste in landfills, regulations and implications for hotels and lodges, implementation of food waste programs, best practices to avoid contamination and how to co-exist with Tahoe animals, and cradle to grave dynamics of food waste and composting.

Panel 2: Moving Forward with Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle traffic has grown exponentially in the Lake Tahoe region. This panel will cover reimagining the Tahoe experience using alternate transportation and highlight innovative ways that the Tahoe region is encouraging visitors and the public to walk, bike, carpool and use transit. A new micro-transit program for the Tahoe region will be revealed encouraging the public to leave their cars while enhancing their Tahoe experience.

Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Panel 3: Customer Experiences to Engage Stewardship. This panel discusses tourism activities that don’t harm the environment and a how Tahoe is developing a respectful informed community that values this gem enough to preserve it for future generations. Discussion topics will include how to encourage reusable water bottles, protecting Lake Tahoe’s water quality and opportunities for tourists to learn more about the region’s native history and connect to the land.

Panel 4: Green Business Certification for Lodging: The new standard for hoteliers is green — more than 30,000 hotels worldwide are already certified. This panel will explain how hotels and lodges can take meaningful steps to green their operations by becoming green certified. The Cedar House Sport Hotel will discuss why certifications matter and why our industry should provide them. Also discussed will be Truckee’s journey to become a sustainable tourism destination.

About:
greenUP! is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides environmental education for businesses helping Nevada cut down on waste, reduce valuable resource consumption and fight climate change in an environmentally safe and cost-effective manner. See http://greenupnow.biz

The Tahoe Water Suppliers Association (TWSA) is a Lake Tahoe based partnership comprised of California and Nevada municipal water agencies, dedicated to providing clean and safe drinking water. Our water source is Lake Tahoe, allowing us to deliver some of the finest drinking water in the world: https://www.yourtahoeplace.com/public-works/water/source-water-protection

The Sierra Business Council pioneers and demonstrates innovative approaches and solutions to increase community vitality, economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social fairness in the Sierra
Nevada. We act as steward leaders of the region, taking responsibility for the care and responsible management of our place, guided by the triple bottom line that considers the economy, environment, and community simultaneously. See https://sierrabusiness.org

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment. See: https://www.trpa.gov/

Since 1971, Western Nevada College has helped students embark on the road to success by preparing them for a variety of careers through associate and bachelor degrees, industry certifications and workforce training. WNC offers exemplary academics, affordability and student satisfaction. Many Western grads become leaders in their communities and excel in their professions. Through its multiple campuses, resource and learning centers, cohorts and expanding online offerings, Western is able to meet many students’ needs, whether they are residing in remote parts of Nevada or trying to fit in their education while raising a family. For more information, visit: https://www.wnc.edu.