Environmental stewardship for Vail Resorts means more than responsibility, it means interdependence. Our resorts operate in some of the world’s greatest natural environments, and we in return are compelled to care for and preserve them.
Not surprisingly, environmental stewardship ranks first among the three facets of Echo. Echo environmental stewardship takes place most prominently in Our Forests, Our Company and Our Resorts, reflecting programs from resort-based operations to company-wide initiatives.
In 2008 Vail Resorts initiated a company-wide energy use reduction program called Target 10%. As of November 2010, companywide energy reduction of electricity, gasoline, diesel, propane and natural gas stood at 7.2%, the equivalent to the annual energy use of over 1,000 U.S. homes. The Target 10% program has helped put in place a diverse range of practices to help drive us toward meeting our energy reduction goals:
Gut-wrenching photographs of the Colorado Hayman fire in 2002 show the devastation of nearly 138,000 acres burned along with the destruction of homes and wildlife habitat.
Vail Resorts has joined with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation on the Hayman Restoration Partnership Project.
Though none of the land destroyed impacts Vail Resorts operations, we are part of the massive effort to rebuild and relocate 18 miles of recreational trails, reforest 1,700 acres of evergreen and help protect and restore the water supply that serves over 75% of Colorado residents.
Read more about the Hayman Restoration Project.
In 2005 Beaver Creek initiated the IdleWise program, a company-wide effort to reduce vehicle fuel consumption. Innovative ideas from simple tasks to technologically advanced, including prohibiting any company vehicle from idling more than five minutes to using cleaner burning, more efficient snowmobile engines, help reduce fuel consumption. Biodiesel use started in 2003 with fleet vehicles at Grand Teton Lodge Company and has expanded to a diverse range of applications across several Vail Resorts installations. IdleWise has reduced gasoline and diesel consumption by 132,693 gallons since year one of the program.
Click here to learn more about "IdleWise."
Each of the Vail Resorts' seven golf courses is certified within the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program administered by Audubon International, an award-winning education and certification program that recognizes golf courses that protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. Vail Resorts helps enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations as part of our commitment through this program.
Check out Vail Resorts' seven golf courses
Recycling and composting have become second nature at Vail Resorts. Each year through robust programs in every division of the company, Vail Resorts recycles 6,000 tons of material. That's the equivalent of over 26 Statues of Liberty, 1,200 adult hippos, 50 Great Blue Whales, 3,179 Subaru Outbacks, or 136,077,700 pennies. Our Keystone and Breckenridge ski resorts also have substantial food waste composting programs. At Keystone Resort alone, 93.93 tons of food waste was composted in 2010.
Check out what else is going on at Keystone and Breckenridge.
Our Appetite for Life program operates on the belief that good food is fuel for a life well lived. Appetite for Life offers guests the finest in wholesome, high-quality dining options that include natural, hormone-free proteins and organic dairy products in our on-mountain resort restaurants. Adding to the enjoyment are organic Starbucks coffees, gluten-free choices, organic wines, seasonal products, local and regional organic produce and sustainably sourced seafood selections.
Click here to learn more about Appetite for Life
Throughout our hospitality division, including our flagship RockResorts properties, we feature a variety of ways couples can incorporate green features into their wedding plans, from requesting organic and local cuisine, to creating beautiful and sustainable decorative arrangements. Moreover, sustainability practices such as recycling, waste reduction and energy/water conservation are automatically part of all resort events. We believe couples can say "I do," without saying "I don't" to Mother Nature.
Check out what Vail Resorts can do for you on your special day
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. Our resort properties from Vail to St. Lucia are expecting to save an estimated 640,000 plastic water bottles from the waste stream thanks to the "Water on the Rocks" program. The first of its kind in luxury hospitality, the program will eliminate plastic water bottles from guest rooms and offers hotel guests reusable water bottles with refilling stations.
Learn more about Water on the Rocks
