RCI, the world’s leading vacation exchange provider, has announced the winners of the tenth annual RCI Green Awards program today in honor of Earth Month.
The RCI Green Awards honor three RCI vacation destinations that actively promote environmentally friendly measures throughout their resort operations. GreenCircle Certified, LLC, a third-party eco-certification authority, chooses the winners each year based on advancements in energy and water conservation, waste management, community involvement, and environmental management.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the ten-year milestone of the RCI Green Awards, a program that highlights our commitment to protecting the environment and challenges our affiliates to do the same,” said Richard Ruff, senior vice president and managing director of RCI North America.
“By committing to responsible operation, our affiliates are caring for the planet and the communities in which they operate. Further, investing in sustainable best practices, like those exemplified by our award winners, sets affiliates up for potential opportunities to reduce energy consumption and increase savings for years to come.”
Laurel Crest, a Bluegreen Vacations Club Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, received the Platinum Award, the highest achievement in the RCI Green Awards program. The resort employs ingenuity and best practices in environmental stewardship, such as using a rain-catching device to prevent stormwater runoff and assist with outdoor irrigation. In addition, the resort uses solar-powered lights to illuminate sidewalks, electric vehicle charging, and reserved parking spaces for green vehicles.
The Gold RCI Green Award went to Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Glade in Crossville, Tennessee, which creates electricity savings through motion sensors and water savings by not using an irrigation system. The resort also performed a voluntary, detailed third-party audit of energy and water use, using the results to make future conservation improvements.
Finally, Worldmark Rancho Vistoso in Oro Valley, Arizona, received the Silver RCI Green Award. With solar panels installed on roofs and solar carports to provide the site with renewable energy, the resort relies on the area’s native landscape, which does not require extra irrigation systems. On-site, the resort also has a butterfly garden, a herb garden, and a bird habitat, all of which contribute to the local ecosystem.
All RCI affiliates in North America are eligible to participate in the RCI Green Award program, free of charge. RCI also has a Green Resource Center on its affiliate website for developers wishing to improve their sustainability efforts. The application process for the RCI Green Awards program for the following year will commence in October.
The IHS team would like to know your experience with SMS and messaging systems within the hospitality sector. Send us your thoughts, experiences and articles, and we will publish them here on the IHS website. Just complete the contact form and get in touch.