NEBRASKA CITY, NEB.—Four years ago Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO) was in search of a new in-room coffee for one of its properties. The Arbor Day Foundation was suggested because of its Rain Forest Rescue Project. WVO partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to buy that coffee and today WVO purchases from 300,000 to 350,000 pounds of coffee annually through the Nebraska City, Neb. based nonprofit organization. To date, according to Sam Buckingham, Vice President, Resort Renovation & Design for WVO, 700,000 square feet of rainforest has been preserved because of that partnership. In April 2011, Wyndham Worldwide received the Arbor Day Foundation’s “Promise to the Earth Award” for its participation in the Rain Forest Rescue Project.
The coffee initiative is just one way WVO supports the efforts of the Arbor Day Foundation. Two years ago, WVO announced the launch of the Wyndham Million Trees Project, an initiative to plant one million trees throughout U.S. national forests in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. Owners, guests and associates at Club Wyndham and WorldMark by Wyndham resorts and 10 corporate offices were encouraged to contribute to the cause.
A year ago, WVO’s Buckingham was attending a conference at the Arbor Day Foundation’s Lied Lodge & Conference Center in Nebraska City and learned that the facility had not been renovated in 11 years. It was then that he hatched the idea of helping the Arbor Day Foundation renovate its facilities that include a 144-room lodge, conference center, and farm.
“We began planning the renovation in March of this year,” Buckingham says. “We had weekly meetings. Through the planning process we decided to have a Partners Summit.”
Summit Held Earlier This Month
At the Partners Summit at the Lied Lodge & Conference Center earlier this month, WVO brought in many of its suppliers and met with them individually—the idea being that the suppliers would either donate or deeply discount items for the renovation.
“[The Summit] was hugely successful,” Buckingham says, adding that there were 80 people in attendance.
Suppliers committed to assist with the replacement of exterior siding, some windows, asphalt work, carpet, paint, toilets, faucets, beds, bedding, showerheads, and other items. New toilets and showerheads will be low-flow. Attention will be paid to making sure upgrades enhance the energy and water efficiency of the property. Many of the items removed from the property will be recycled—tile, carpet, and mattresses, for example. Furniture will be repurposed or donated. One company committed to conducting an energy audit. Lied Lodge’s unique bio-mass system that uses wood chips made from pallets to heat and cool the hotel will be reconditioned.
To cap off the Partners Summit, a symbolic tree was planted on the grounds of the Lied Lodge & Conference Center.
The renovation will take place in phases beginning in January 2015 and run through March 2015. An event to celebrate the renovations will take place on Arbor Day, April 24, 2015.
Go to Wyndham Vacation Ownership and the Lied Lodge & Conference Center.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
