Destination Earth

PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT, ONE DESTINATION AT A TIME

Destination Earth is...

In recognition of the need to preserve the world in which we operate and serve our guests, Destination Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to practices and programs that pay respect to, and lessen our footprint on, our changing environment.

As the fourth largest independent hospitality management company in the country, we are committed to creating a new benchmark for our hotels and resorts through a series of environmental initiatives, both on the corporate level and at each of our individual properties.

HOW ARE WE MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

Corporate Practices

We are proud to have a "Destination Earth" taskforce, comprised of leaders throughout the organization and representing hotel and resort operations, to ensure that all departments and associates of Destination Hotels & Resorts are personally involved and committed to the program.  Each of our properties has a designated "green team" onsite and has made a commitment to pursuing:

• Sourcing environmentally  responsible services and products locally, and purchasing organic, environmentally friendly- and recycled supplies, whenever possible.
• Purchasing fresh and sustainable foods locally grown, whenever possible.
• Creating partnerships with other organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to preserving the environment.
• Leading our associates to apply eco-friendly practices in their daily operations.
• Utilizing environmentally responsible building materials and strategies for new properties and renovations to reduce environmental impact.
• Retrofitting existing properties with energy efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, as well as water-saving devices.
• Implementing tools that allow us to continually measure the progress of our individual properties and support their commitment to preserving the environment through the Destination Earth program.

Destination Hotels & Resorts recognizes that our customers, owners and associates all benefit from and desire a healthy, sustainable environment. As we continue on the journey of environmental stewardship, we are committed to maintaining the superior guest experience that our customers expect, while reducing our impact on the earth's natural resources. Throughout our portfolio, our hotels and resorts have received numerous awards, recognitions, certifications, and honors for implementing eco-friendly practices.  The following is a sample of sustainable initiatives taking place at our properties:

Wild Dunes Initiatives

At Wild Dunes Resort southern hospitality compliments a pristine, oceanfront environment. Being greener means little changes in how we live daily, as well as fundamental shifts in policy and procedure. As new and innovative technologies present themselves, as people share ideas, we continue to evolve. We're proud to share with you sampling of what our team is currently doing every day to lessen our footprint.

Conference Services

• Work with meeting planners to find creative ways to make their meetings greener, from recycling to finding purveyors of locally grown produce for conference meals
• Use pitchers of waters on tables for meetings instead of bottled water
• Offer recycling bins in meeting rooms for conference attendees
• All lighting and AC/Heat in meeting rooms and banquet areas are shutdown within two hours of being vacated, and HVAC is setback to unoccupied room settings.

Food and Beverage

• The Sea Island Grill and The Lettered Olive at Wild Dunes are both partners of the South Carolina Aquarium's Sustainable Seafood Initiative, which promotes the use of environmentally-friendly, locally- captured seafood. As part of our partnership, Executive Chef T. Cooper Thomas was given the opportunity to participate in the Green Cocktail Party at the South Carolina Aquarium in September 2008. This "green" tie event kicked-off the inaugural Charleston Green Fair which was founded in an effort to create excitement and enthusiasm for green products, services and technologies available to the residents of the Lowcountry using an environmentally responsible forum of education and entertainment. He also hosts educational dinners for locals and Resort guests throughout the year in conjunction with the SC Aquarium.
• We have recycling bins at all special events for guests to recycle.
• All restaurant freezer doors /curtains are kept in perfect working order.
• Eliminated all styrofoam from restaurant, kitchen and bar - replaced with alternatives that are recyclable (paper plates, paper cups) or made with eco-friendly materials (e.g. corn-based plastics)

Island Adventures® Recreation Program

• Provide opportunities for guests to learn more about the unique Lowcountry environment, its flora and fawna through recreation programming like our eco-tours to Caper's Island Heritage Preserve, Francis Marion National Forest hikes and marine bio-camp.
• Our bike shop does not sell water. Instead, we sell water bottles for the same price as bottled water, and let guests fill them up for free.
• The bike shop made our own recycling receptacles and reduced trash by half.
• Lights outside of general use pool areas are on timers.
• We use man-powered pool covers in winter, saving on heating and electricity.

Administrative Offices

Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, Accounting, Property Management, Wild Dunes Real Estate

• Wild Dunes Resort's administrative offices are environmentally conscious, using recycled paper in office use and marketing pieces, repurposing everyday materials and replacing plastic cups with reusable cups/mugs.
• We scan and email documents instead of mailing or faxing whenever possible.
• Our reservations team works to get email addresses from guests to send e-confirmations instead of printed confirmations.
• Teams use scrap paper instead of notepads.
• Human Resources includes green tips in the monthly employee newsletter to keep employees informed about what they can do at home and in he office to be greener.
• All copiers are defaulted to double sided.
• Recycling bins in all departments and personal offices (paper, plastic and cans)
• All major office buildings have cardboard, glass/plastic recycling pick ups.
• Styrofoam/plastic drinking cups have been reduced greatly in all break areas.
• Human Resources uses paperless pay stubs for all employees.
• All departments are encouraged and have been ordering recycled office products.
• All cartridges used on the resort are recycled.
• All major reports (night audit, occupied unit etc.) are now scanned to save paper.
• All bubble wrap and wrapping products are recycled from the boxes and packages we receive-we have not ordered any packing supplies because of this change since January 2008.
• Cardboard from our bins is recycled every week.
• Some employees use bikes we have provided instead of cars to get around the Resort.
• Employee break rooms are stocked with reusable mugs.
• Much of the Resort's marketing effort has gone online, instead of traditional direct mail methods
• We use recycled paper products (napkins, plastic cups, copy paper, etc) throughout the Resort.
• Utilize the Resort magazine to educate guests on the Lowcountry landscape and what indigenous animals and mammals call it home.
• We set all administration computers to a sleep mode default.
• Established a computer shut down policy for all departments
• Created listing for guests and employees on locally available eco-friendly restaurants, businesses, and services

Maintenance/Engineering

• Created an energy efficient guest room protocol for check in: One light and radio only upon check in
• Provide permanent/reusable hangers in guest rooms (i.e. wood)
• All lights in back of house/administration area, public restrooms, guest hallways, and guest room closets are energy efficient - CFL's, T-8's, T-5's or LED's
• Set all business center computers to a sleep mode default
• All faucets (back of house and guest room) are confirmed to have low flow aerators.
• Established leak detection and repair program for guest rooms

Housekeeping

• Wash guestroom linen upon request from guests
• Drastically reduced the number of large black trash bags used per day. Instead of using them to bag all our soiled linen, we installed a reusable soiled linen bag to each housekeeper's cart. It saves hundreds of bags per year.
• Cut back on cleaning administrative offices/trash removal from every day to twice a week.
• Reuse administrative office trash can liners throughout the week
• Convert retired towels and linens to rags or donate to charity
• Have washable (reusable) mugs and glasses available in guest rooms
• Donate retired bedspreads and other soft goods to charity
• Use eco-friendly all purpose cleaning products
• Pull curtains closed at cleaning for the next check in to keep it naturally cooler in the room

Spa

• Wild Dunes Resort's spa, Sand & Sea, offers natural and organic products. Much of the product packaging is recycled as well. All massage oils and lotions are purchased locally.
• The spa uses facial tissues with at least 30% post consumer recycled content.

Golf

• Wildlife promotion: Sensitive wetland areas have been created to restore and sustain the natural habitat for the Island's many species of wildlife, including birds, deer, fox and fish.
• Dune restoration: Wild Dunes recently completed a major dune restoration project on the 18th hole of the Links Course which restored more than 600 feet of dune with native plantings and dune fencing.
• Water conservation: Reclaimed water from the city of Isle of Palms is used to irrigate both the Links and Harbor golf courses.
• Golf carts: Energy saving battery chargers have been implemented to conserve energy when charging the Resort's all-electric golf cart fleet.
• Golf tees: Eco-friendly bamboo golf tees are used at both golf courses reducing the need for wooden tees thus preserving our forests.
• Pest Management: Our golf maintenance team is currently implementing an integrated pest and diseases management program with principles that include using pesticide for spot treatment only and environmentally friendly products.

Resort-wide

• Wild Dunes Resort has established a team of employees committed to implementing earth-friendly practices and adopting principles to make all Resort employees better stewards of the environment. They meet once a month establish policies and procedures.
• Organized by South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium in partnership with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Beach Sweep/River Sweep is the largest one-day litter cleanup of South Carolina's beaches and waterways. Wild Dunes employees are proud to participate every year to help Isle of Palms maintain its "Blue Wave Beach" award.
• Additionally, the Resort's leadership (management) team organizes and participates in an Isle of Palms beach sweep every other month.
• We work with eco-friendly transportation options for guests, like Charleston Green Taxi.
• Donate annually to the S.C. Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital and the National Arbor Foundation
• We dim oceanfront Resort lighting during sea turtle nesting season and ask guests staying in oceanfront accommodations to do the same.

Property Initiatives

Suncadia Resort Cle Elum, WA

LEED® Certification

The Glade Spring Spa at received LEED® Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in June 2009.

Awards

Suncadia was awarded the Environmental Achievement Award by the Pacific Northwest Section of the Air and Waste Management Association In November 2009

Suncadia is a 3 Star Built Green Community and it’s next phase of development in Nelson Preserve is committed to build only 3 Star Build Green certified or better.

Sunriver Resort Sunriver, OR

LEED® Certification

The Sunriver Resort Marina and Sunriver Stables Trail Ride Registration Facility received LEED® Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in January 2010. These buildings made history for both the resort and the Sunriver community as these are the first two facilities in Sunriver to accomplish this.

Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavilion Washington, D.C.

Awards

The Embassy Suites at Chevy Chase Pavilion in Washington, D.C. was a runner-up in the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Green Guidelines Challenge. The Challenge urged hoteliers across the country to track and improve their green business operations by taking the AH&LA Green Guidelines Challenge. Hotels used a tracking tool to air their measurement of occupancy statistics, monetary and energy expenditures and return on investment from specific green practices.

The Embassy Suites at Chevy Chase Pavilion has also been recognized as an Energy Start Partner and recently was awarded the 4-Key Award from Green Key which certifies the hotel as a leader in hotel sustainability programs.

InterContinental Tampa Tampa, FL

Green Certifications

InterContinental Tampa is recognized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a "One Palm" member of The Florida Green Lodging Program. The Florida Green Lodging Program is a voluntary initiative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that designates and recognizes lodging facilities that make a commitment to conserve and protect Florida's natural resources.

Stowe Mountain Lodge Stowe, VT

Green Certifications

Certified as a "Green Hotel in the Green Mountain State".

Received The Audubon Green Leaf certification, with a score of 4 of 5 Green Leaves.

Stowe Mountain Club: The golf course received Signature Sanctuary Certification from Audubon International.

Tempe Mission Palms Hotel and Conference Center Tempe, AZ

Transportation

Participates in Maricopa County's Trip Reduction Program by offering benefits to its employees who commute. The hotel has been noted as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters for exceeding the national standard of excellence designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Terranea Resort Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Preservation

Terranea was meticulously built on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with more than 631,800 square feet of native habitat areas. One example of habitat preservation is that approximately 45 mature trees dating over 50 years were boxed prior to construction and then replanted throughout the site as a tribute to the history of this location.  Additional environmental mitigation efforts include, but aren't limited to, protecting and enhancing local water quality. To do this Terranea is implementing a series of environmental best management practices that include wet ponds, bioswales and storm filters. Bioswales are vegetated channels, essentially created wetlands, which enhance water quality and provide a habitat for many avian species.

The Carolina Inn Chapel Hill, NC

Water Conservation

All public area restrooms are equipped with sensor toilets, minimizing water flow. In addition, water efficient shower heads have been installed in all guest rooms. A towel and bed linen reuse program is in place and the housekeeping department uses a patented aqua-fusion laundry system that customizes the amount of ozone delivered to each washer. The system reduces hot water usage and overall water use by 30%, decreases energy expenses, shortens wash cycles and reduces linen replacement costs.

The Driskill Hotel Austin, TX

Recognitions

The Driskill Hotel was recognized by the City of Austin as a "Green Partner" and a Waste Smart business for their efforts to create less waste by recycling and buying recycled products. They were also recognized as a "Partner" with the Clean Air Partners Program in Central Texas. Clean Air Partners assists employers in reducing emissions with a variety of options, while promoting their clean air successes to the community.

Destination Earth Partners

GAIA Consulting Group helps us strategically gain maximum value for our sustainable efforts through environmental reporting systems, increased public relations and marketing, and enhancing our brand image.

www.gaiaconsultinggroup.com

Five Winds International is a sustainability consulting firm and provides important strategic and tactical support to maximize our program's development and success.

www.fivewinds.com