COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.—Cheyenne Mountain Resort has become an official Partner Member of the Green Hotels Association, solidifying the resort’s commitment to protecting the environment through a multi-faceted, resort-wide program of water- and energy-saving and waste-reducing practices and other eco-friendly actions.
“At Cheyenne Mountain Resort, we have been steadily reducing our impact on the environment by adopting such practices as buying local and organic produce, switching to energy-efficient lighting, using environmentally friendly paints and implementing cost-effective towel and linen reuse options for multiple-night guests,” said Laura Neumann, the resort’s vice president and general manager. “Now we are cementing our commitment to the environment by becoming a Partner Member of the Green Hotels Association and further expanding the measures we are taking.”
Since its founding in 1993, the Green Hotels Association has been a leading force within the lodging industry to help preserve the environment. The association has successfully moved the hospitality industry toward environmentalism through a variety of programs and messages, from showing hoteliers that conservation both saves money and is socially responsible to demonstrating that conservation is wanted and expected by today’s hotel guests.
“The ‘Green Hotel’ flag flying at the front of the property signals to guests that Cheyenne Mountain Resort is committed to operating an environmentally friendly resort,” Neumann said. “Cheyenne Mountain Resort has put into effect a number of green practices and actions to reduce the resort’s global footprint.”
The Resort’s Action Steps
• Recycling containers have been placed throughout the entire back of the house. In addition, the first custom millwork recycling container to the main coffee break station was added. Additional front-of-the-house containers are in the works.
• The cleaning products the resort uses meet green standards and are purchased in bulk containers and dispersed into refillable smaller bottles.
• Disposable utensils and Styrofoam cups have been removed from the employee cafeteria and replaced with silverware purchased at local thrift stores and washable cups.
• Incandescent light bulbs have been replaced with fluorescent lighting throughout most of the clubhouse, Health & Fitness Center and Aquatics Center, while approximately five guestrooms are being changed out every month.
• All new paints purchased are the most environmentally friendly paints available.
• A linen and towel reuse option is in place in sleeping rooms that has reduced laundry volume by 30 to 50 percent.
• The resort has switched to 100 percent recycled facial and toilet tissues and 40 percent recycled paper towels.
• Copy paper used throughout the resort is now composed of a minimum of 30 percent recycled products.
• Large copy machines have been programmed with a default setting that automatically copies double sided.
Go to the Cheyenne Mountain Resort and Green Hotels Assn.
