SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is offering a Scottsdale Green by Design Tool Kit to encourage members of Scottsdale’s tourism industry and business community to implement measures that will reduce their impact on the environment. From simple steps that can be taken immediately to ideas for larger-scale programs, the tool kit has everything needed to start greening a business today.
Going green is a key factor in staying competitive and vying for lucrative tourism dollars. In 2007, a survey conducted by Orbitz to gauge U.S. travelers’ opinions revealed that 67 percent of Americans say the eco-friendliness of a destination is important to them, and 63 percent said they would pay more for green products and services.
“The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is working with the community to help further our destination’s sustainability efforts,” said Rachel Sacco, president and CEO at the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Maintaining the vibrancy of our destination is critical to our future as both a healthy community to live and to visit.”
The tool kits are $15, and 100 percent of the purchase price for each kit will be donated to the Desert Discovery Center Fund to help create a public access center within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The center will be a key recreational and educational experience, providing visitors and residents with opportunities to explore Scottsdale’s unique Sonoran Desert environment.
The Scottsdale Green by Design Tool Kit includes a comprehensive guide book, a desktop daily reminder and online resources such as directory listings of green resources and industry best practices. With this kit, you’ll learn:
• How greening your business can boost your bottom line;
• How to determine which programs are the best fit for your company;
• The best ways to start a green program and get your employees on board;
• Why and how to promote your green efforts to your customers;
• The steps some local businesses have taken to help the environment; and
• Important terms for understanding eco-friendly lingo.
To purchase a Scottsdale Green by Design Tool Kit and begin greening your business, contact the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 805-0471 or visit www.ScottsdaleGreenByDesign.com.
The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau began addressing sustainability issues in early 2007 and through various efforts has created great momentum in helping its approximately 650 members become more sustainable. The bureau formed a Sustainability Advisory Committee to guide its sustainability initiatives, and has developed a strategy to ensure sustainable, green and eco-tourism information is effectively communicated to the local tourism industry. In addition to the tool kit, the bureau also provides green educational seminars, as well as a website to educate visitors and meeting planners on the green offerings within the destination.
