BROOMFIELD, COLO.—RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality are tapping into a new program, “Water on the Rocks,” to eliminate nearly all plastic water bottles in guest operations. RockResorts properties from Vail to St. Lucia and Vail Resorts Hospitality properties in all four Colorado mountain resorts—Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Beaver Creek—are expecting to save an estimated 640,000 plastic water bottles from the waste stream thanks to the “Water on the Rocks” program. It eliminates plastic water bottles from guestrooms and offers hotel guests reusable water bottles with refilling stations.
Started at The Pines Lodge, A RockResort luxury property located in Beaver Creek, Colo., the “Water on the Rocks” program is being expanded to RockResorts’ seven other properties and will be phased in at The Osprey in Beaver Creek, Colo.; The Arrabelle at Vail Square in Colorado; The Lodge at Vail; Snake River Lodge & Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colo.; La Posada de Santa Fe in Santa Fe, N.M.; and The Landings in St. Lucia with plans to introduce this program at the new RockResorts properties in Miami, the Dominican Republic and Breckenridge when they debut later this year.
As part of “Water on the Rocks,” two pre-filled glass bottles are placed in each guestroom daily and refreshed as needed during daily housekeeping or by request. These bottles are sanitized and replaced each night with filtered water as needed. Guests on the go will also have the option to purchase stylish, reusable RockResorts logoed water bottles (BPA-free plastic or stainless steel) for $4 at hotel front desks or spas that can be refilled at water refilling locations around each property. In many resort locations, guests will be treated to filtered flavored water (such as cucumber or lemon).
Program Designed by ‘Tap Force’
The program was designed by the RockResorts “Tap Force” to eliminate 99 percent of plastic water bottles in both guestrooms and food and beverage operations. “Water on the Rocks” is part of RockResorts Echo, which is the company’s corporate stewardship program and also includes employee volunteerism, charitable giving and other environmental initiatives. Some examples include:
• A companywide sustainable cuisine program called Appetite for Life;
• A green guestrooms program;
• A voluntary guest donation program that benefits local conservation efforts;
• The introduction of green weddings and meetings; and
• Other initiatives like energy conservation and one of the country’s largest forest health restoration projects.
According to Julie Klein, director of environmental affairs for Vail Resorts Hospitality, national recycling rates indicate that less than 20 percent of plastic bottles are recycled each year across the country. “Although RockResorts supports guestroom and resort-wide recycling programs, we felt as if we needed to do more,” she said. “We are proud to take a leadership position in launching our ‘Water on the Rocks’ program at all of our hotel properties over a period of time with the goal of eliminating nearly all disposable plastic water bottles.”
“Our guests visit RockResort properties to enjoy the iconic natural settings from the beaches of St. Lucia to the legendary Back Bowls of Vail,” said Paul Toner, senior vice president & COO of RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality. “Ensuring that our guests feel good while visiting our resorts includes staying properly hydrated. Quality and convenience for our guests is paramount and this program balances our commitment to providing excellent guest service with conserving natural resources and reducing our environmental footprint. We hope that as a company, our efforts will set an example within the industry and become a win-win for all.”
According to Klein, by eliminating 640,000 plastic bottles from resort operations, the program will save nearly 4,000 barrels of oil that would be required to manufacture and ship the plastic bottles.
Click here for more information.
