2022 Sustainability Report
Guest Services’ sustainability program, “ourPlanet,” is designed to encourage employees to think about their actions as affecting their whole environment, both at work, and outside of work.
The “ourPlanet” program focuses on the three Rs of environmental sustainability:
• Reducing consumption when possible
• Reusing items if possible
• Recycling or composting items that cannot be reused or saved through reducing use.
Most at-work initiatives focus on how employees’ actions affect their customers, or their company. The “ourPlanet” program goes further by increasing employee awareness that their actions at work, whether in conserving energy, reducing food waste and other resource use, or recycling, can affect every aspect of their lives, and their families’ lives.
We invite you to read below about the 2022 “ourPlanet” program successes at our more than 135 locations.
2022 Initiatives
REDUCE—OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Bulk Amenities
We enhanced our sustainability program by rolling out a program to replace single-use lodging amenities with bulk amenities. We have continued to add properties and by the end of 2022 all lodging properties were participating in this program.
Ionized Water
We are currently utilizing a new system for cleaning using ionized water. This system cuts cleaning chemical use by over 25% in the average lodging facility. It is non-toxic and only uses a small amount of electricity, while releasing no chemicals into the environment. This system is currently used at four Guest Services hotels and lodges, and by the end of 2022 should be installed at all Guest Services managed lodging facilities.
Single-Use Plastic
Guest Services committed to ending the use of single-use plastic at all properties. The initiative stopped distribution of single-use plastic bags and drink stirrers at 100% of the units in which Guest Services operates. In addition, we continued our “Skip the Straw” initiative to reduce the use of single-use straws across the portfolio.
Charging Stations
We have invested in charging stations at many of our managed properties including Bear Mountain Inn, The Marbella Pelican Bay and DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Naples, Florida. In addition, there are plans to add charging stations at headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia along with many other of our condo properties in Naples, Florida.
Compressed Gas Vehicles
Since 2015, Guest Services’ operations at Mount Rainier National Park have operated five propane-gas powered vehicles. These are used to shuttle employees and supplies from the Company’s warehouse outside the Park to Paradise Lodge, the National Park Inn, and Sunrise Lodge, all of which are operated by Guest Services inside the Park.
Propane-powered vehicles cut carbon monoxide emissions by more than 90 percent compared with conventionallypowered trucks. Nitrogen oxide emissions and hydrocarbon emissions are reduced by more than 50 percent; these vehicles produce fewer carcinogenic pollutants, and almost no particulate matter.
LED Lighting
Guest Services has been replacing conventional bulbs with LED bulbs, wherever possible, saving 70% of electricity compared to conventional bulbs.
Non-Carbon Dioxide Electricity Sources
Guest Services seeks to purchase electricity for its heavy electricity-consuming units from non-carbon dioxide buying sources. Guest Services buys over 40 percent of its electricity from non-carbon energy sources, substantially reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere compared with conventional electricity-generating sources.
Solar Power
At Guest Services, we have instituted various opportunities at our units for use of alternative electricity sources. For example, at Everglades National Park we currently use solar power for hot water and have installed solar lights in our eco-tents that are on property.
Electronic Records – Paper Saving Systems
Guest Services’ initiatives have lowered paper consumption by more than 910,000 sheets a year. We continue to commit to eliminating paper waste whenever possible.
Our Human Resources Department has migrated to 100% electronic job applications and hiring paperwork saving more than 256,000 sheets a year.
Our lodging facilities continue to utilize a paperless check-out system. This saved an additional 18,200 sheets a year.
Corporate and regional accounting have committed to migrating more vendors to ACH and P-Card payments to decrease the amount of paper checks being cut.
Use of Recycled Paper
Guest Services uses 30 percent recycled content paper whenever possible. In 2022, more than 47 million sheets of this recycled paper were used, reducing the demand for the resources used in producing virgin paper. Thirty percent recycled paper saves 7 trees per ton of paper compared to virgin paper; recycled paper also consumes 10 percent less energy and 10 percent less water to produce than virgin paper.
Guest Services continues to increase its use of 100 percent recycled disposable napkins and bathroom paper towels. These purchases save more than 50 percent of the energy used in producing virgin paper products. Packaging is also reduced, saving the equivalent of 543 trees, and 4.8 tons of plastic in a year.
Sustainability Progress Report
The DoubleTree Suites hotel tracks energy and water consumption to test the efficiency of its sustainability programs. This program at the DoubleTree has reduced water consumption by almost 64 percent over the past five years.
Responsible Purchasing
Purchasing environmentally-friendly products reduces demands on the environment. For each category of purchasing (for example: uniforms, cleaning supplies, equipment or food products), Guest Services has a Managed Order Guide (MOG), which functions as a catalog for the operating units.
By company policy, units are encouraged to purchase those items that are identified in the MOGs as environmentally friendly. The MOGs are continually updated to maximize the number of environmentally friendly items available, and those items are highlighted for easy reference. Eighty percent of Guest Services’ units currently participate in this environmentally friendly purchasing program.
Among the MOG enhancing sustainable practices is the EcoSmart™ program. The EcoSmart™ program has reduced total waste, carbon dioxide production, and fossil fuel emissions by 54 percent below the amounts generated by using conventional paper and disposable products. Another example is the MOG for cleaning supplies, which promotes the use of Ecolab’s “Apex” cleaning system and products in all units. The Apex products use non-caustic chemicals, and 90 percent less packaging material than conventional dishwashing products. Guest Services’ use of the Apex system and products produced the following reductions in 2022 (versus use of conventional cleaning products):
• 3,527 pounds less plastic waste in cleaning product packaging;
• 1,087,759 fewer gallons of water consumed;
• 12,139 fewer therms of natural gas consumed;
• 64 metric tons less carbon dioxide emitted.
This is in addition to the reduction of chemical products from the use of ionized water, as noted previously.
CULINARY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Under the direction of our Purchasing Department, Guest Services is reducing the environmental impact of the company’s food service operations. In 2022, we: Continued implementing our Sustainable Seafood program. We use the Marine Stewardship Council’s guidelines to offer our guests quality sustainable seafood. Through agreements with our seafood purveyors, we not only have access to sustainable seafood, but are able to support their Local Abundance education efforts, as well as their GreenFish Projects that help with the Carbon FishPrint System. In 2022, we served more than 12.7 tons of sustainable seafood to our guests.
• Implemented our Dolphin Safe canned-tuna program where we utilize only Albacore and Tongol tuna that are harvested in a dolphin-safe manner. More than 2.55 tons of eco-friendly packaged sustainable tuna were served by the company in 2022.
• Purchased and prepared more than 202.4 tons of locally-raised poultry for our customers.
• Used only trans-fat free cooking oil, over 14 tons in 2022, of which over 50 percent is recycled after use.
• Expanded our Go Local program with emphasis on seasonal, local produce. Through our produce purveyors, we now have seasonal access to farms throughout Virginia, New Jersey, New York, California, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida.
• Purchased more than 185.22 tons of growth-hormone-free dairy products.
• Continued to expand our local pork program, with 21 tons of pork products purchased locally.
• Served coffee from the Rainforest Alliance, which assures that coffee is grown and harvested in a manner that is friendly to the ecosystem.
• Served cage-free eggs, where available, totaling over 81,000 pounds of liquid, over 22,000 dozen shells and over 12,000 dozen hard cooked eggs in 2022.
• Continued to train our cooks and kitchen staff to turn on ranges, ovens, and other equipment on an “as needed” basis to reduce energy usage.
Bottled Water
As part of its commitment to reducing waste, Guest Services began installing hydration stations at various properties in 2019. Our corporate office has multiple stations throughout the building that employees can utilize.
In addition, there are currently three hydration stations at Mount Rainier National Park for staff and visitors alike. These stations promote the use of personal water bottles and in turn discourage the use and discard of plastic bottles and cups. In 2022, guests filled 300,170 bottles using the station at Paradise Inn.
The same year, the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in Naples, Florida, which is owned and operated by Guest Services, began a program of using refillable glass bottles for both still and sparkling water for meetings held at the hotel, instead of providing disposable plastic bottles.
REUSE—TO AVOID GENERATING WASTE
Lodging – the “Clean the World” Program
Much of the illness in poorer areas of the world results from lack of basic sanitation articles, like soap for handwashing. Clean the World is a national organization that accepts donations of used guestroom amenities (primarily soap and shampoo), and after sanitizing the products, sends them to people around the world who are unable to afford these basic personal hygiene items.
Guest Services’ lodging facilities joined this program in June 2010.
Linens and Blankets
In the past, Guest Services’ lodging operations have donated over 5,000 gently used linens to local homeless shelters, including Tacoma Rescue Mission in Washington State. When sanitation guidelines allow our properties to do so again, we fully anticipate the re-instatement of this program.
RECYCLING – TO PRESERVE RESOURCES
Composting
Guest Services’ food service operations at Mount Rainier began separating food waste for composting in 2010. The food waste is taken off-site and turned into soil-enhancing material that is sold to area farms. Other Guest Services units have begun their own composting efforts, both on- and off-site.
Conventional Recycling
Many of Guest Services’ operations have long-standing programs of recycling paper, glass, cardboard, plastic and aluminum. In 2022, total conventional recycling companywide equaled over 95.5 tons.
Cooking Oil
Guest Services recycled over 15.2 tons of cooking oil in 2022. The recycled cooking oil is processed and converted to either biodiesel or animal feed, depending on market demand at the time of processing.
Electronic Equipment
Guest Services operating units contain various types of electronic equipment, all of which is gradually replaced. Our Environmental Policy #302 requires that all such waste be recycled at the end of its useful life. We utilize an organization called WiseTek for this effort. In previous years we have recycled over 3,700 pounds of electronic equipment through this program.
Hazardous Waste Recycling
In late 2011, Guest Services began utilizing Waste Management’s Lamptracker system for tracking the recycling of fluorescent lights, batteries, and disposable items containing potentially hazardous waste.
In 2022, Guest Services’ recycled 3,703 pounds of batteries, light bulbs, and fluorescent light ballasts.
Ink Cartridge Recycling
Guest Services has also developed a companywide program to recycle printer ink cartridges. Guest Services recycled 200 pounds of printer cartridges in 2022.
Other Environmental Initiatives
Clean-a-Park
Since 2009, Guest Services employees have volunteered on Earth Day to clean trash from various national parks in Washington, D.C.
In 2022, Guest Services had 28 employees and their families in and around the DC area come together for our annual cleanup. The group picked up 17 bags totalling 86 pounds of trash at Haines Point in Alexandria.
The program has quickly spread to other Guest Services divisions. In 2022, at Willow Beach Marina, 13 employees hauled away over 300 pounds of trash of which almost 50% was then able to be recycled..
Our team at Weeki Wachi Springs State Park hosts a monthly river cleanup every third Wednesday of the month. It is a wonderful community engagement project that gets our guests involved in a cleanup then a kayak ride after they participate.
St. Andrews State Park completed four cleanups throughout 2022. Volunteers gathered in total over 500 pounds of trash from beaches and surrounding areas.
Other properties including The Lodge at Wakulla Springs State Park, National Ballpark Boathouse, Cottonwood Cove Marina and Callville Bay Marina all hosted cleanups in 2022.
From paddleboarding to kayaking to rowing to sailing, Guest Services is deeply familiar with all facets of water sports. We take our stewardship of bodies of water seriously, implementing measures that ensure they remain clean and habitats enabled to nurture the wildlife they support. Below are some examples of environmental initiatives at our recreation units.
Guest Services’ Boat House Accomplishments
• Earth Day Event that featured a reduced rate two-hour paddle rental for a river clean up
• The revenue driven from the event was donated back to riverkeeper groups
• Monthly clean-ups were hosted in Anacostia during the first hour of the third Friday of each month
• We minimized paper usage by switching to an electronic waiver saving over 100,000 pieces of paper a year (approximately 5 to 10 trees a year saved)
• Switched staff water from bottled water to 5-gallon jug bubblers saving over 10,000 plastic water bottles a year
The Lodge at Breckenridge Renovations
We recently completed a full-scale guest room renovation at The Lodge at Breckenridge, Colorado. The following sustainable initiatives were put into place during this renovation with a keen focus on helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
• Implemented boiler updates to decrease usage during temperature reset and nighttime setback
• Eliminated single-use bath products by implementing bulk amenities
• Replaced all lighting with LED lighting
• Implemented energy-saving HVAC units for new rooms
• Added solar shades in guest rooms and ballrooms
All lighting throughout the property has been replaced with LED lighting which will ensure energy efficiency and a longer lifespan.
Lake Mead, America’s largest reservoir, was created by the construction of the Hoover Dam. With more than 750 miles of shoreline, you can enjoy a day at the beach, take a boat out and disappear for hours or nestle into a cove to try to catch a big one.
Our team continues to commit itself to to various environmental initiatives at this beloved property.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
• Underwent ISO 14001 Audit Across All Guest Services Locations
• Executed property clean-ups with employees and the community
• Installed Mobility Access Mats (Boat Ramps) (Callville and Temple Bar)
• Installed Tankless water heaters (Temple)
• Replaced outdated appliances with Energy Star appliances
• Switched to LED lamps
• Campground showerheads were replaced with a more water-efficient showerhead
• Willow, Temple, Callville, and Cottonwood properties are at 95% 4-stroke boat motors, which greatly reduces oil use and reduces the amount of oil stored at the properties
• Callville and Temple removed debris - couches, deck chairs, dock boxes, old tanks - from the lake, which have been exposed due to low lake levels
• Switched to paper straws instead of plastic
• Callville and Temple sold old motors to be recycled/resold, reducing the amount of trash going into landfills
2022 Awards and Certifications
ISO Certifications
ISO certifications recognize recipients for adhering to practices and record-keeping to continually improve the operations.
Mount Rainier National Park
• Maintained the International Standard’s Organization (ISO) 14001(Environmental) certification and the 45001 (safety) certification in 2022.
National Capital Region
• Met international standards for sustainable operations. Around the National Mall, 12 Guest Services’ units maintained the ISO 14001 and 50001 (Energy Reduction) certifications in 2022.
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Naples Hotel
• The DoubleTree Suites maintained a Three-Palm rating with the Florida Green Lodging Program. This Guest Services hotel is also ISO 14001certified.
Lake Mead Mohave Adventures
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area Achieved International Standard’s Organization (ISO) 14001(Environmental) certification in 2022.
LEED® Certifications
Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina on Lake Mohave’s operations office obtained a LEED® Gold rating. It is the first floating building project in the world to be registered for LEED® certification.
Clean Marinas
Four marinas, that Guest Services operates, are certified as Clean Marinas for following the best environmental practices in vessel maintenance and storage of chemicals.
Looking Ahead
Sustainability Checklist for New Units
Members of the Sustainability Council are currently working on a sustainability checklist for new units. This tool would help new units identify opportunities to make their system more efficient and identify any hazardous operations.
Composting
We are currently exploring a partnership with Compost Cab for the National Mall Kiosks as well as other units throughout the country.
Ocean Friendly Restaurant Program
Units will be working in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation to meet the mandatory requirements to qualify for their ocean friendly restaurant certification. Ongoing sustainability efforts will help to create more opportunities to include units as well as maintain the status.
During this past year, Guest Services maintained commitment to the environment through multiple proprietary programs.
The company reduced consumption of materials and energy in numerous ways throughout multiple units and continued to find creative ways to maximize efforts.
We expect continued progress toward the goal of sustainable operations in 2023, coupled with a re-invigoration of the “ourPlanet” program and the implementation of new ideas to reduce, reuse and recycle!