Radiating Positive Impact through Resort Sustainability
By Jess Hoover, Sustainability Coordinator & Hilary Chu, HR Director (Breckenridge Grand Vacations)
We who work in the vacation industry are fortunate to
help create memories and experiences that touch the lives
of our owners, guests, employees, and communities. Because vacation ownership
is frequently passed down through generations, we also have an incredible
opportunity to showcase sustainable ideas and practices designed to ensure that
these experiences continue well into the future.
The impacts of resort sustainability
are
far-reaching. Businesses with strong sustainability ethics set examples for
other companies in their industries, their communities, their customers, and
their employees. Sustainability makes business sense, too. Increasingly,
consumers report supporting businesses with established sustainability
programs.
Moreover, adopting environmentally friendly behaviors, such
as recycling and decreasing energy usage, are often cost beneficial. These
behaviors foster habits
that employees can take
from work to their communities and homes. And, of course, sustainability is
important for maintaining the vitality of the local environment.
It is important to make sustainability fun and engaging by
celebrating events like Bike to Work Day
and
Earth Day with employees and guests
on
property. Consider creating resort activities that relate to sustainability
issues.
When starting your sustainability program, map
out how your efforts will fit in with your company’s
larger mission, culture, resort, and community—aligning strategically along key
paths of change. Your leadership team should understand not only how
sustainability can be practiced at your resorts but also its role at the
department level. Challenge your departments to think of what actions they can
take to reduce their overall impact.
As with any new program or initiative, it is always good to
walk before you run. And once you’ve made some impactful changes, be sure to
share them!
For the full article on this important topic,
see this month’s Developments Magazine.