Earth Day 2013 is Monday, April 22. Just in time RCI has announced its Green Awards winners, and all three are timeshare resorts in Carlsbad, CA.
Grand Pacific Palisades Resort earned top honors as the Platinum RCI Green Award winner.
“We had many wonderful applicants for the second annual RCI Green Awards, which collectively demonstrates the key role the hospitality industry can play in protecting and having a positive impact on our environment,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI.
“These resort developers go above and beyond to incorporate sustainability efforts into their day-to-day operations, and we are proud to name them as RCI’s 2013 Green Award winners,” Gurnik said.
1. Grand Pacific Palisades Resort won the Platinum RCI Green Award for its substantial environmental efforts, a step up from last year when this resort won the Gold RCI Green Award.
From employee green trainings and weekly beach clean ups, to offering public transportation and using environmentally friendly green supplies, Grand Pacific Resorts exemplifies green practices.
The resort staff’s green achievements include the reduction of gas usage per occupied room from 11.07 therms to .83 therms from 2011 to 2012. The resort also recycled over 200 tons of materials last year alone.
2. The Gold RCI Green Award winner, Carlsbad Seapoint Resort, implemented a linen/towel exchange program, installed water-saving devices like low-flow showerheads and toilets in guest bathrooms, uses green cleaning supplies and promotes the use of public transportation for both employees and guests.
3. Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa won the Silver RCI Green Award for its sizeable recycling program and paper conservation initiatives, its installation of motion detectors and energy-efficient light bulbs and its use of plants native to the local area in landscaping.
This year, RCI worked with Green Key Global, a leader in eco-certification, to assess and rate all resort applicants. The results of the Green Key Eco-Rating program assessments determined the winners of this year’s RCI Green awards.
Green Key certification has several benefits for affiliated resorts, including personalized reports and recommendations on cost-saving measures; exclusive marketing collateral such as a branded plaque and the use of Green Key logos on resort collateral; and eco-recognition through other major brands.
A Grand Pacific Palisades Resort timeshare rental starts at $121/night.
A timeshare rental at Carlsbad Seapoint Resort is just $136/night.
Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa timeshare rentals start at $171/night.
About Green Key Global
Green Key Global is a leading environmental certification body offering a suite of programs and resources designed specifically for the lodging industry. For more than 15 years its flagship program, the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, has been evaluating and certifying properties in North America and beyond on the scope of their sustainable initiatives