RICHMOND, VA.—Winners of the Virginia Green Travel Star and Travel Leader Awards will be recognized at the Second Annual Virginia Green Travel Conference & Awards on December 8 & 9 at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, Va. The Virginia Green Travel Star Awards is the recognition program of the Virginia Green program, Virginia’s voluntary initiative to encourage green practices in the state’s tourism industry. The program is run through a partnership between the Virginia Tourism Corp., the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Hospitality & Travel Assn.
Virginia Green now has more than 1,550 tourism partners that have self-certified that they are engaged in a wide range of green practices and commitments. Virginia Green partners include hotels, restaurants, parks, museums, festivals and events, wineries and breweries, welcome centers, and supporting organizations—all aspects of Virginia’s tourism industry. The program also challenges green-minded consumers to travel green by choosing Virginia Green partners whenever they travel in Virginia by searching for Virginia Green at www.VirginiaGreenTravel.org.
This is the fifth year of the Virginia Green Travel Star Awards. Recipients are those Virginia tourism businesses that have distinguished themselves by embracing green practices in their operations and supporting green tourism efforts in Virginia. Participants applied in the categories of (1) Green Programs of the Year; (2) Most Innovative Green Projects; and (3) Green Supplier of the Year. This year, Virginia Green chose 12 partners as Virginia Green Travel Stars, the highest level of recognition in the program. Virginia Green is also awarding 16 Virginia Green Travel Leader awards for exemplary commitments to green practices in 2014.
2014 Virginia Green Travel Star Award Winners
• Green Attraction of the Year: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville
• Green Brewery of the Year: Port City Brewing, Alexandria
• Green Event of the Year: EnRichmond Foundation, Richmond
• Green Hotel of the Year: Lorien Hotel & Spa, Alexandria
• Green Inn / Cabins of the Year: Shadow Mountain Escape, Luray
• Green Restaurant of the Year: Local Roots Restaurant, Roanoke
• Green Winery of the Year: North Gate Vineyard, Purcellville
• Green Supporting Organization of the Year: Norfolk International Airport
• Green Supplier of the Year: Natural Organic Process Enterprise, Richmond
Most Innovative Green Projects:
• Hyatt Regency Reston Laundry Project, Reston
• Virginia Oyster Shell Recycling Program, Richmond
• Inns at Montpelier Virginia Green Project, Montpelier
2014 Virginia Green Travel Leader Award Winners
• Adventure Kayak Tours, Chesapeake
• Arcady Vineyard Bed and Breakfast, Charlottesville
• Blue Mountain Escape, Linden
• Broad Appétit, Richmond
• Clay Corner Inn, Blacksburg
• Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Richmond
• Mountain Song Inn, Floyd
• Natural Bridge Hotel & Conference Center
• Oak Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast, South Boston
• Richmond Multisports, Richmond
• Salamander Resort and Spa, Middleburg
• Sandbridge Blue Realty, Virginia Beach
• The Westin Richmond
• University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg
• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach
• Virginia Living Museum, Newport News
An official press release from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will be issued in conjunction with the conference, and award summaries will be made available at the time on the Virginia Green website.
