President & COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Harris Rosen has taken an active role in conservation of the business' neighborhood's natural resources.
In March 2007, Rosen, in partnership with the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, launched a first-of-its-kind wilderness trip entitled: Expedition Headwaters, An Everglades Journey to Remember.
Embarking from Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, two teams of kayakers and hikers traversed 140 miles of the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee over 12 days. In keeping with the purpose of the expedition -- to increase awareness of the hydrological and ecological connection of the Orlando metropolitan area with the Everglades ecosystem -- team members observed the state's extensive restoration efforts, viewed restored portions of the Kissimmee River and recorded their observations through online journal entries and photography. In addition, the team, along with DEP's Environmental Education Office, conducted field labs with students from elementary and middle schools in the region, teaching them about watersheds, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.
Rosen Shingle Creek, which opened in Sept. 2006, was designed with the environment in mind. "We made it a point in the design phase of Rosen Shingle Creek to conserve water and energy and to reduce waste as much as possible; as a result, we save valuable resources," said Rosen. "Guests may never notice the small changes we've made to help our planet, but those who do take notice applaud our efforts, because they too, are socially responsible citizens concerned about the effects man has on the environment."
Green business practices are as much about operations as they are about marketing messages. When a hotel reduces water and energy use, and chages the behavior of staff and guests, they can save a tremendous amount of water and greenhouse gas emissions.
Techniques such as electronic transmission of meetings to minimize travel to key members who find it essential to attend and network is one of those difficult choices of convention clients. Hotels can help by making affordable electronic options available to meeting planners.
Together, the three Rosen convention hotels offer the largest number of guestrooms, largest combined square feet of meeting/event space and closest proximity to the Orange County Convention Center of any Orlando convention hotels. Combined, they offer more than 3,600 rooms and more than 611,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and one of the nation's largest column-free ballrooms.
New techniques are also being implemented by forward-thinking property managers such as replacement of toxic fertilizers and herbicides with organic landcaping strategies and green chemistry. Grounds management can reduce water impact by using recycled water and smart irrigation systems. It's important to ask venues about these kinds of green and conservation practices, and encouraging them to offset their impact with creative business strategies.
An 18-hole golf course and golf academy, world-class spas, nearly two dozen dining, entertainment and lounging options, state-of-the-art fitness centers, a variety of tennis and sport courts, provide meetings attendees and leisure guests unparalleled convenience and amenities.... all with green strategies, I assume.
Operations policies change with time, and it is important for meeting planners to ask -- every time they consider a venue about key green strategies.
For more information about Rosen Hotels & Resorts, visit www.rosenhotels.com. For more information about Rosen Hotels & Resorts' Green Meetings program, visit www.rosengreenmeetings.com.
Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.
In March 2007, Rosen, in partnership with the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, launched a first-of-its-kind wilderness trip entitled: Expedition Headwaters, An Everglades Journey to Remember.
Embarking from Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, two teams of kayakers and hikers traversed 140 miles of the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee over 12 days. In keeping with the purpose of the expedition -- to increase awareness of the hydrological and ecological connection of the Orlando metropolitan area with the Everglades ecosystem -- team members observed the state's extensive restoration efforts, viewed restored portions of the Kissimmee River and recorded their observations through online journal entries and photography. In addition, the team, along with DEP's Environmental Education Office, conducted field labs with students from elementary and middle schools in the region, teaching them about watersheds, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.
Rosen Shingle Creek, which opened in Sept. 2006, was designed with the environment in mind. "We made it a point in the design phase of Rosen Shingle Creek to conserve water and energy and to reduce waste as much as possible; as a result, we save valuable resources," said Rosen. "Guests may never notice the small changes we've made to help our planet, but those who do take notice applaud our efforts, because they too, are socially responsible citizens concerned about the effects man has on the environment."
Green business practices are as much about operations as they are about marketing messages. When a hotel reduces water and energy use, and chages the behavior of staff and guests, they can save a tremendous amount of water and greenhouse gas emissions.
Techniques such as electronic transmission of meetings to minimize travel to key members who find it essential to attend and network is one of those difficult choices of convention clients. Hotels can help by making affordable electronic options available to meeting planners.
Together, the three Rosen convention hotels offer the largest number of guestrooms, largest combined square feet of meeting/event space and closest proximity to the Orange County Convention Center of any Orlando convention hotels. Combined, they offer more than 3,600 rooms and more than 611,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and one of the nation's largest column-free ballrooms.
New techniques are also being implemented by forward-thinking property managers such as replacement of toxic fertilizers and herbicides with organic landcaping strategies and green chemistry. Grounds management can reduce water impact by using recycled water and smart irrigation systems. It's important to ask venues about these kinds of green and conservation practices, and encouraging them to offset their impact with creative business strategies.
An 18-hole golf course and golf academy, world-class spas, nearly two dozen dining, entertainment and lounging options, state-of-the-art fitness centers, a variety of tennis and sport courts, provide meetings attendees and leisure guests unparalleled convenience and amenities.... all with green strategies, I assume.
Operations policies change with time, and it is important for meeting planners to ask -- every time they consider a venue about key green strategies.
For more information about Rosen Hotels & Resorts, visit www.rosenhotels.com. For more information about Rosen Hotels & Resorts' Green Meetings program, visit www.rosengreenmeetings.com.
Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.
Leave a comment