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Meetings Go Green in Buffalo Niagara Region

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The hospitality community in the Buffalo Niagara region in Western New York is serious about green initiatives.

A few years ago, Visit Buffalo Niagara created the Buffalo Green Hospitality Initiative to establish environmentally responsible practices and promote a green experience that would make Buffalo Niagara a more environmentally responsible meeting destination.  Also strengthening its commitment to sustainability, Visit Buffalo Niagara joined the ASAE Convene Green Alliance, a community of event professionals dedicated to advancing green initiatives in the meetings and events industry.

The “Green & Mean (It)” program led by Visit Buffalo Niagara earned support from area businesses. The program requires that hotels and businesses follow the guidelines of a 15-page green self-certification workbook.

Each area addressed in the workbook is assigned points. A total of 360 points can be earned. In order to become certified, lodging establishments must earn 70 percent, or 252 of the 360 points.

Annual Renewal Process

Establishments that become certified must submit quarterly progress reports and reapply annually. This ensures that the “green” measures are practiced on a daily basis, not just for the certification period. Areas addressed include energy conservation, waste management, transportation, education, housekeeping, purchasing, pool and spa, kitchen and others. Some of the specific practices of certified hotels include:

•    Reduced electric and gas consumption through sensible purchasing of efficient products;
•    Reduce unnecessary use of lighting and heat;
•    Waste management;
•    Water conservation;
•    Use of indigenous plant life;
•    Use of non-toxic or low-toxin cleaning supplies;
•    Purchasing locally grown, organic food when available;
•    Leftover food donation to a local food bank;
•    Composting;
•    Offering reusable dishware and cutlery;
•    Use of linen napkins;
•    Offering reusable centerpieces to planners;
•    Offering condiments in bulk containers; and
•    Back office paper and ink usage reduction.

Travel to the Buffalo Niagara region is made easy, and green, by a first-class airport that is just minutes from area hotels and the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Many low-cost airlines, including Jet Blue and Southwest, service the area, helping to keep travel costs down.

Currently, 10 hotels and the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center (BNCC) are certified. Another exciting development in Buffalo includes the opening of the Burchfield Penney Arts Center. Designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects, the museum is certified to the “Silver” LEED level by the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the first green art museum in New York State.

In Fall 2010, more than 1,000 environmental educators from as far away as China and Brazil visited Buffalo for the 39th Annual Conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.

Promoting Excellence in Environmental Education

Members of NAAEE promote excellence in environmental education in K-12 classrooms, universities, government agencies, corporations and other settings throughout North America and many other countries. The conference featured workshops, speakers, an exhibit fair and a series of educational excursions throughout Western New York. Conference attendees shared how they are encouraging people from various backgrounds to become more active environmental stewards, starting in their own backyards.

Green & Mean (It) operated a toiletry donation program throughout the conference. Guests at Buffalo’s Hyatt Regency, Adam’s Mark, Embassy Suites and the Comfort Suites Downtown were asked to deposit new or gently used toiletry products into marked bins, provided by Metro Waste, in the hotel lobbies. These items were collected and delivered to local community service organizations.

Through the Buffalo Green Hospitality Initiative, Green and Mean (It), and the hard work and dedication of the staff of participating hotels and meeting facilities, the Buffalo Niagara region has become an environmentally responsible place for conventions and meetings. Their efforts ensure that meeting planners and attendees leave Buffalo Niagara with the smallest carbon footprint possible and take with them memories of a great (and environmentally friendly) conference.

Lori White is national sales manager, Visit Buffalo Niagara.

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