North America: Sustainable Las Vegas—Betting on Green

HOTELSustainable Las Vegas—Betting on GreenBy Lydia GregoryKnown for extravagance, glitz and glam, Las Vegas has, in fact, a bright green side to it that will definitely appeal to clients who are looking for a vacation with all of the above and none—or less—of the darker side of development, but had no idea they could find just that in the City of Entertainment. “Our resort partners are committed to making Las Vegas more sustainable for our visitors and our residents. They have made great strides in reducing their carbon footprint through innovative conservation initiatives and community partnerships,” says Brian Yost, chief operating officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Most of these resort partners are engaging in sustainable practices such as low-flow fixtures and showers, donating unused and unserved food from conventions to local community partners, and donating discarded soap to the Clean the World foundation for communities in need, among others.POOL With thousands of rooms and massive square footage, notable green initiatives to help offset the environmental impact include the city’s “Green Building Program,” which encourages the construction of sustainable buildings. Wynn Las Vegas, for example, has earned four Green Globes under this program for the environmental features of its buildings, and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has earned several top certifications including a LEED Gold Certification for The Venetian Expo and Convention Center and a Silver Certification for The Palazzo Resort. And all of that beautiful lighting? Powered 100 percent by renewable energy sources. MGM QUOTE The latter is also a huge part of the sustainability programs at MGM Resorts International. “At MGM Resorts, we believe a greener business is a better business, so environmental sustainability is at the heart of our commitment to being focused on what matters,” says Michael Gulich, v.p. of sustainability & ESG reporting for MGM Resorts International. He goes on to explain that, as the largest operator of resorts in Las Vegas, “making our operations as sustainable as possible is extremely important to minimizing our environmental footprint. A big example is the MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array, which provides up to 100 percent of our Las Vegas daytime power needs, drastically reducing our emissions and putting us on track to sourcing 100 percent renewable electricity for the U.S. by 2030.” Water being one of Las Vegas’ most precious resources, Gulich adds that their water conservation efforts have avoided the use of more than six billion gallons of water since 2007. And among the 30 materials they recycle—that include, of course, the traditional glass, plastic and paper—he shares they also have innovative initiatives in place such as recycling oyster shells to help replenish oyster populations and safely donating unserved food to be distributed into their community.ROOM At Caesars Entertainment, Jeff Ruskowitz, the company’s director of sustainable operations, says the company set internal green program goals as far back as 2007. “Right now our [carbon neutral] goal is 2050, but we’re moving that up to align with new science and hope to be carbon neutral by 2040, 2045.… We’re investing millions of dollars in our properties.” A huge part of that investment is in solar, including at Caesars Forum and an off-site solar facility in the desert. Other initiatives—among the many at work already—include diverting waste from landfills, reducing water consumption and ensuring every new build or expansion achieves LEED certification.CEASARS QUOTE And while most of the city’s eco-friendly practices take place behind the scenes, there’s one that your clients can appreciate up close and personal: sustainable dining. From the Dr. Andrew Weil-approved chef-driven fare at True Food Kitchen in The Forum Shops at Caesars to Truth & Tonic’s plant-based dishes at Canyon Ranch Spa + Fitness in The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and beyond, organic farm-to-table concepts have caught on, meaning carbon footprints are reduced, local farmers and producers are supported, and your lucky clients reap the tasty rewards. Contact InformationCaesars Entertainment: caesars.comLas Vegas Convention and Visitors: lvcva.comMGM Resorts International: mgmresorts.com

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