2nd Annual Green Lodging and Hospitality Conference

"Greener Roads Ahead"

Rosen Centre Hotel

Orlando FL

Dec. 9-11, 2009

Greening This Conference

What UF/TREEO is Doing:

The University of Florida TREEO Center is committed to conducting this conference in an environmentally responsible manner.  We have incorporated the following initiatives to ensure that sustainable and environmentally sound practices are followed:
 
Waste Reduction
  • Reusing nametag holders
  • Minimizing paper by not producing a program booklet
  • Ensure that as much as possible produced at the conference is recyclable or biodegradable and has high recycled content.
  • Create a plan identifying all types of waste that will be created at the conference and how to reduce, reuse or recycle them
  • Requesting presenters minimize paper hand-outs (make double-sided if necessary)
  • Collecting recyclable and/or reusable products
  • Providing reusable containers for handouts or samples
  • Selecting products made from recovered materials where recycled materials are not available
  
Site Selection
  • Holding the conference at a central location for conference attendees
  • Selecting a hotel and/or venue that practices environmental best management practices
  • Seeking naturally lighted meeting and exhibit space
Communication and Registration
  • Communicating the conference environmental policy by posting the policy on the conference web page
  • Informing conference attendees regarding environmental savings, if possible
  • Conducting marketing electronically
  • Offering secure online registration
  • Providing updated conference information online
 
Conference Coordination
  • Gathering speakers' information online and sending notifications by email
  • Providing online evaluations
  • Posting Power Point presentations on conference web site at conclusion of conference
  • Sending attendee reminder letters via email
  • Asking participants to sign-up for meals in advance, thereby reducing food waste and cost
  • Establishing a Carbon-Neutral initiative to counteract CO2 emissions
 
Food and Beverage Production
  • Providing reusable cutlery, dishware and linens
  • Estimating number of attendees at meals to reduce costs and waste
  • Reducing waste by not pre-filling water glasses, by not garnishing plates and not providing bottled water
  • Using locally grown produce and meat, where available
  • Serving beverages in bulk
  • Composting any waste or donate to charitable organization
 
What you can do
 
We invite our conference participants and vendors to join us in this goal to incorporate environmentally responsible procedures, practices and the use of environmentally responsible products while participating in this conference. Working together we can make this a successful ‘Green’ event. Please remind yourself and help others to remember to reduce, reuse and recycle.
 
Detailed Environmental Policiy
Orlando Goes Green
With an expanding inventory of quality hotel rooms, meeting space, new restaurants and entertainment options, as well as world-class golf courses and spas, Orlando is transforming into the ultimate business destination. And rapidly becoming green-friendly and sustainable, too.
 
The Orange County Convention Center is the first U.S. facility of its kind to be ISO 14001-certified for its recycling program, and the center is currently developing a solar energy project. Many of the area’s convention hotels and resorts have been admitted in the Florida Green Lodging Program by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
 
Don’t forget about the destination’s numerous golf courses, venues, restaurants, as well as theme parks and attractions that are implementing environmental practices when feasible:
Hotels & Resorts
Convention Center & Venues
Golf
Dining
Theme Parks
 
To strengthen the destination’s meeting green knowledge, the Orlando CVB is currently building a relationship with Meeting Strategies Worldwide, a consulting group focused on event management and training. We’re also monitoring the upcoming industry-wide baseline standards being developed for sustainability by the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Green Meetings and Events Practices Panel (GMEPP).
 
http://orlandoinfo.com/meet/green/index.cfm
 

The Rosen Hotels & Resorts Commitment to Sustainability: www.rosengreenmeetings.com

Harris Rosen Green Lodging Quote:

“We take environmental responsibilities to heart. We made it a point in the design phase of Rosen Shingle Creek to conserve water and energy and reduce waste as much as possible, and as a result, we save valuable resources,” said Harris Rosen, President/COO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts. “Guests may never notice the small changes we’ve made to help save our planet, but we do them because it’s simply the right thing to do. Those guests who do take note applaud our efforts because they too, are socially responsible citizens who are concerned about the effects man has on his environment.  Rosen Shingle Creek, Rosen Centre, and Rosen Plaza have the Florida Green Lodge Certification.  What does this mean? What do we do as a facility to display our commitment to the Green Lodge Program?
 
Water Conservation Programs
  •  We offer a towel reuse program in our guestrooms 
  •  We offer a linen reuse program in our guestrooms
  • We use only low flow faucets in our guestrooms
  • We use only low flow showerheads in our guestrooms
  • Our guestrooms are equipped with low flow toilets
  • We use only water efficient laundry machines
 
Energy Conservation Programs
  • We use only energy star rated equipment in our Kitchens and laundry facilities
  • We use programmable thermostats
  • We have sensor outdoor lighting (100%)
  • We use sensor lighting in the back of the building (30%)
  • We use high energy efficient lighting (fluorescent)
  • We have an energy management system
  • Our programmable energy system allows us to schedule when temperature control units are turned on and off. They are programmed to come on 1 hour before the meeting starts, and go off 1 hour after meeting’s end
  • Lights are turned off after meetings are over and when the space is unoccupied
 
Waste Reduction
  • We recycle all newspapers and office paper on the property
  • We provide an opportunity for our guest to recycle aluminum and plastic - bins are available in vending rooms on each floor
  • We participate in reduced packaging programs
  • Water dispensers are provided in the meeting rooms to save waste from plastic bottles
 
Clean Air Practices
  • We use only cleaning products that have earned the Green Seal. (All-Purpose, Glass Cleaners and Bathroom Cleaners)
  • We use environmentally preferable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters
  • We clean all air handler units and coils at least annually and follow a preventative maintenance schedule and keep a record of these activities
 
Rosen Recycling Program
  • Company-wide – all pads and paper purchased for use by the Rosen Staff, will be recycled paper
  • Recycle containers are provided when requested
  • Banquet set-up teams recycle all items left on tables when readying rooms for our meeting guests
  • Any usable items left over from conventions, such as notebooks and binders are donated to local schools. For example: We recently donated over 100 boxes of note pads to Tangelo Park Elementary, a local underprivileged school, that were left by a previous convention