It requires buy-in from not just the hotel but meeting planners and attendees, but a new program at a West Coast property is geared toward the latter to start with.

Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California, is now offering meeting and event planners the opportunity to create sustainable and eco-friendly meetings with the addition of new Reduced Waste Conferences. Located on the scenic Monterey Peninsula Portola Hotel & Spa lays claim to being Monterey’s first U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Certified Hotel.

“Reduced waste conferences are a great way to communicate to meeting attendees the importance to conserve natural resources,” says Janine Chicourrat, GM at Portola Hotel. “We partner with the meeting planners to implement a variety of green practices, and we are able to communicate to attendees how they can contribute. A great example of this is offering reusable aluminum can water bottles instead of plastic bottles. We host groups of over 1,000 attendees, so the reduction of plastic water bottles over a three-day event can be in excess of 4,000 bottles.”

Chicourrat says the property's dedication to hosting successful and effective Reduced Waste Conferences requires a commitment from the hotel, the meeting planners, and attendees of the conference. The Reduced Waste Conference Commitments are as follows:

Portola Hotel & Spa Reduced Waste Conference Commitment

• Create awareness about the Reduced Waste Conference to attendees through Passkey/Group Reservation System and key packets at check-in
• Environmentally friendly vendor and exhibit company suggestions
• Source organic and sustainable ingredients from local farmers and vendors throughout Monterey County and keep compost on the farm (reduces carbon footprint)
• Utilization of china, glassware, and silverware replacing the use of to-go cups
• Track daily waste diverted by the Kitchen, Housekeeping, and Banquet departments
• Composting of pre and post-consumer waste
• Additional assistance provided by Banquets to separate recyclable and compostable materials from going to the landfill
• Post-meeting recap including waste diverted from landfill, list of local farmers and purveyors where food was sourced, and carbon footprint analysis to be provided via email by the Catering & Conference Services Manager

Meeting Planner Reduced Waste Conference Commitment

• Confirm menu selections with your Catering & Conference Services Manager 14 days prior to conference start date to allow for proper selection and purchase of products
• Use of biodegradable badges and conference materials or reuse badges offering an opportunity to return conference badge for future use
• Use of audio-visual equipment for presentations opposed to printed handouts
• Educate and encourage attendees to participate in sustainability practices while at the conference (reusable water bottles)

Related: Portola Hotel & Spa Goes With a Deeper Shade of Soil for a Group Treat