SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—The devastation of the recent Southern California fires may have wreaked havoc on the lives of many, but it has not dampened their spirits. It is with that spirit that the California Luxury Collection of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts—including Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica, Fairmont Newport Beach, Fairmont San Jose, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, and Fairmont San Francisco—are coming together to lend a hand by purchasing 500 trees from TreePeople in an effort to assist in regrowth in the various forests.
“The devastation in Southern California is overwhelming and our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted,” says Michelle White, Director of Environmental Affairs for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “Given our commitment to sustainable tourism, we are proud to support TreePeople in taking the first steps in “re-greening” beautiful Southern California.”
Over a century ago Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was founded on an enduring connection to the land, communities and people where it does business. Then in 1990 its Canadian hotels pioneered The Fairmont Green Partnership, literally writing the book on sustainable best practices in the lodging industry, while developing a comprehensive commitment to minimizing its hotels’ impact on the planet. Today the company continues to grow environmental stewardship in 10 countries—from setting expectations with external vendors, to daily business decisions affecting hotel construction, operations, renovation and training.
TreePeople is a nonprofit organization that has been serving the Los Angeles area for more than three decades. Simply put, its work is about helping nature heal cities. Founded in 1973 by teenagers, TreePeople staff and volunteers continue to plant trees and restore the pollution-damaged mountains of Southern California. TreePeople has pioneered more than 200 tree-planting groups worldwide, and as one of the largest environmental educators in the United States, TreePeople has initiated numerous large-scale public and youth education programs. The result: millions of people caring for their local environment by planting trees, recycling and preventing the pollution of storm water.
Both regionally and nationally, TreePeople is helping to promote integrated watershed management practices through education, planting projects, policy development and research. TreePeople’s mission is to inspire the people of Los Angeles to take personal responsibility for the urban forest—educating, training and supporting them as they plant and care for trees and improve the neighborhoods in which they live, learn, work and play.
Go to Fairmont and TreePeople.
