Las Vegas Sands Give $50,000 Challenge to Students at Sustainability Summit
September 10, 2013
Las Vegas Sands challenged college students to come up with the next breakthrough in sustainable hospitality at the UNLV/Sands Sustainable Hospitality Summit that took place Sept. 9 at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
The winning individual or team will receive a $50,000 Academic Achievement Award and will see their idea implemented at the Venetian/Palazzo resorts in Las Vegas.
The summit featured a keynote by Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine, as well as several panels on sustainable hospitality and urban development.
With green practices becoming a staple of the hospitality industry, the focus is shifting from straight energy and water conservation to social corporate responsibility, according to the panelists. Sustainability is becoming a standard practice.
“All main hotels on the Strip have very robust environmental programs in place,” said Katarina Tesarova, executive director of Sustainability, Las Vegas Sands.
While average travelers may not be aware of recycling, energy-efficient lighting, water reclamation and other sustainable practices that happen on site, meeting planners and trade show organizers expect them and see them as baseline for planning their events.
“They ask hard questions and help us form our meeting programs,” Tesarova said. Venetian and Palazzo recently received APEX Level 2 designation for green meetings.
Las Vegas Sands offers a Green Meeting Concierge service that helps put together custom programs depending on the planners needs. The company also can provide an Eco 360 Impact Statement that summarizes the event’s impact on the environment and on the community, detailing everything from water and energy used to volunteer hours donated.
Hugh Sinnock, vice president of Customer Experience, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, talked about trade shows taking extra steps to repurpose, recycle and give back.
In its effort to work towards zero waste, International CES, for example, produced more than 190,000 badge holders from vinyl banners from the 2012 show.
All of the interior show signs were produced from eco-friendly Falcon-board material. The Consumer Electronics Association, which owns the show, also donated $50,000 for a solar panel installation for the Salvation Army of Southern Nevada.
Shawn Seipler, executive director and co-Founder of Clean the World, challenged students to performing tasks such as changing a diaper or fishing without access to clean water and soap.
His organization partners with hotels around the world, and several on the Las Vegas Strip, to donate unused soap products to local shelters as well as to a network of organizations working in impoverished regions.
What’s next in hospitality sustainability? Tesarova is researching emerging technologies for converting biomass into energy and exploring efficient ways to power a fleet of Sands’ ferries in Macau with biodiesel from plastic bottles.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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