Caesars inspires grown-ups to play. The company also works hard to be good stewards of the planet’s resources through its CodeGreen strategy. While many of the company’s efforts are behind the scenes, the Green Key Global Eco-Rating Program helps guests understand how its progress measures up across the hospitality industry.
Recently recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Green Key is a rigorous program that ranks, certifies and inspects hotels and resorts based on their commitment to sustainable operations. Green Key uses a rating system of 1 to 5 Keys, with 5 being the highest possible attainment.
Every other year, CodeGreen Leaders at Caesars properties lead their teams in completing Green Key’s comprehensive self-assessment to evaluate environmental practices across departments of their hotels, including food and beverage, housekeeping, meeting facilities, engineering and corporate environmental management. Within these five areas, CodeGreen teams examine policy and practices for energy and water conservation, solid and hazardous waste management, building infrastructure, community outreach and other sustainable practices. Green Key also conducts a random onsite verification audit of 20 percent of participating hotels each year, ensuring the accuracy of the scored self-assessment.
All Caesars-owned hotels have participated in Green Key since 2013. In 2016, it also surpassed its company goal of getting 90 percent of hotel properties to the 4 Key level.
This year, 97 percent of owned or managed North American hotel resort locations achieved a 4 Key rating or higher, and 100 percent of locations achieved Green Key certification. Caesars is especially proud of this achievement because it means the company has 30 Green Key Eco-Rated hotels – more than any casino-entertainment company in the world!
Four properties – Harrah’s Las Vegas, Harrah’s Council Bluffs, Horseshoe Southern Indiana and Flamingo Hotel and Casino Las Vegas – improved their Green Key Eco-Rating from 3 to 4 Keys this year to help the company achieve a 97 percent 4 Key Eco-Rating across Caesars’ 30 hotel-resort properties. What’s more, Green Key has granted Horseshoe Tunica 5 Keys, the highest rating possible, granted to just 3 percent of participating hotels. To achieve this, Horseshoe Tunica has made improvements such as installing high efficiency windows, using sensors to avoid overwatering landscaping and switching to more efficient lighting.
Interested in staying at a Green Key Eco-Rated hotel or learning more about traveling sustainably? Check out Green Key’s hotel map and green travel tips here.
As with all Caesars’ successes, it’s the company’s passionate team members who have made this achievement happen. Their work on CodeGreen initiatives and the Green Key self-assessment are what help the company meet its goal each year.
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Nov 10, 2016 11am EST / 8am PST / 4pm GMT / 5pm CET