PARSIPPANY, N.J.—RCI, a global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, recognized the winners of its 2013 RCI Green Awards at a recent ceremony in Carlsbad, Calif., home of Grand Pacific Resorts, the developer of all three winning properties. RCI senior leadership presented the awards to the general managers of Grand Pacific Palisades Resort, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort and Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa.
“Going Green is not only the right thing to do, it’s fiscally responsible, and our guests expect us to be good stewards of the environment,” said David Brown, co-president, Grand Pacific Resorts. “Our terrific in-house Going Green Squad is comprised of representatives from each of our 18 resorts. They are continually coming up with great ideas and action plans as we do our part to think and act green. These efforts improve our resorts’ bottom line, reduce our environmental impact, and satisfy our owners’ and guests’ expectations for environmentally conscious hospitality practices.”
Jumping from the title of Gold RCI Green Award winner in 2012 to take the top honor of Platinum RCI Green Award for 2013, Grand Pacific Palisades Resort represents the epitome of what it means to be a green resort. From employee green trainings and weekly beach cleanups, to offering public transportation and using environmentally-friendly green supplies, Grand Pacific Palisades Resorts is continuously increasing its environmental efforts.
The Gold RCI Green Award winner, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, took measures to decrease their carbon footprint by implementing a linen/towel exchange program and installing water-saving devices like low-flow showerheads and toilets in guest bathrooms.
Recycling Efforts Recognized
Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa won the Silver RCI Green Award for its sizeable recycling program and paper conservation initiatives, its installation of motion detectors and energy-efficient light bulbs, and its use of plants native to the local area in landscaping.
“It is with a great sense of pride that I meet with the winners of the 2013 RCI Green Awards, who have all made considerable efforts to incorporate sustainability into their daily operations,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “These resorts exemplify how the hospitality industry can play a pivotal role in protecting our environment and their efforts should be commended.”
RCI worked with Green Key Global, a leader in eco-certification, to determine the winners of this year’s RCI Green awards.
The celebration was attended by a company-wide audience with winning resorts receiving a recognition plaque made of bamboo and green recycled glass, and a letter from RCI president Gordon Gurnik recognizing the resorts’ outstanding environmental stewardship.
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