ACME, MI, July 15, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Current trends show that environmental awareness is on the rise. "Going green" takes on a whole new meaning when an entire resort commits to placing environmental concerns first by incorporating them into its daily operations. Grand Traverse Resort & Spa has been a leading example in the hospitality industry for years, applying a variety of eco-conscious and sustainability practices that are of the utmost importance to the local community and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, which owns and operates the Resort.
In 2008, the Resort was certified as a "Leader" by Green Lodging Michigan, a state organization dedicated to encouraging environmental stewardship within the hospitality industry. Prior to becoming a certified "Leader," the Resort formed a Green Committee, composed of employees from every department.
The committee recommends eco-friendly improvements to operational procedures, members attend environmental seminars and reach out to volunteer with environmental organizations in the area. For example, committee members partner with the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center to monitor and protect Acme Creek, which courses through Resort grounds and branches into the 973-square mile Grand Traverse Bay watershed. Another example is roadside clean-up conducted by committee members three times-a-year along a two-mile stretch of U-31 north of the Resort - a volunteer program administered through the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Employee training is key to keeping the Resort on the environmental track. All Resort employees are trained to be environmentally-conscious and actively support the Resort's eco-friendly practices. Following the training, employees sign a "Green Wall," affirming their awareness and commitment to protect the environment at work.
A further green milestone for the Resort included certification by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program for its eco-friendly practices. In addition, the Resort received recognition from the Environmental Institute for Golf for retrofitting its golf course maintenance equipment with catalytic converters. In addition, the Resort supports local, sustainable agriculture by using the freshest local ingredients available in its restaurants, and sponsoring the Michigan Land Use Institute's "Taste the Local Difference" program.
Some of the Resort's environmentally-friendly practices include:
• In-room recycling bins for paper and plastic products
• A linen reuse program
• Biodegradable plastic waste bags
• Bio-friendly room cleaners
• Donating used linens to veterinary clinics
• Energy efficient light bulbs for all Hotel and Tower guest rooms
• Earth-friendly bleach alternative for laundry
• Resort-wide ink recycling and refill program
• Employee shuttle service to encourage car pooling and minimize fuel costs
• New high-efficiency boiler system to warm water
• Recycling used copper and other materials
• Growing herbs on-site for culinary use
• Printing restaurant menus on recycled paper...and much more.
Located on 900 acres near Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa is one of the Midwest's finest, full-service, year-round resorts featuring 600 rooms, suites and condominiums, 85,000 square feet of meeting space, 54 holes of championship golf including courses designed by legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, a full-service spa, and upscale dining and shopping. Call 800-748-0303 or visit http://www.grandtraverseresort.com.
Media Contacts:
J. Michael DeAgostino
Public Relations Manager
Phone: 231-534-6352
Toll Free: 800-748-0303, ext. 6352
E-mail: publicrelations@gtresort.com
Visit: http://www.grandtraverseresort.com
Melissa Renna
Ypartnership Public Relations
407-838-1855
Melissa.Renna@ypartnership.com
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