CHLA January February 2019

12 CALIFORNIA LODGING NEWS www.calodging.com   continued IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU AND THE REST OF THE STAFF PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS? We have a Green Team made up of about 27 sustainability ambassadors that represent different departments on property. These sustainability ambassadors meet once per month to discuss new ideas and solutions for the resort’s 20/20/20 goal. Terranea aims to reduce energy and water consumption by 20% and send 20% of total waste to the landfill. All associates are welcome to join in the monthly Kelp Forest Cleanup kayak tours. Associates are able to enjoy a free kayak tour while they assist by picking up any trash that gets caught in the kelp forest. All associates are welcome to join in the monthly IMPACT DAYs. Associates pick up trash along the native plant trail for one hour per month. So far this year we have picked up 229.9 lbs. of litter during these IMPACT DAYs. Our culinary, stewarding, and purchasing teams are instrumental in our Chefs to End Hunger program. So far this year, we have donated 7,737.4 lbs. of food, which is 3.87 tons diverted from the landfill into hungry mouths! Our sustainability ambassadors facilitate our annual celebrations, including: Earth Day, World Oceans Day, and Coastal Cleanup Day. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY DIFFICULTIES OR OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME WHILE INCORPORATING THESE PRACTICES, OPERATIONALLY OR OTHERWISE? Absolutely. It is estimated that it takes 21 days to break a habit. During those first 21 days of an initiative it is important to physically check in with your team and consistently encourage them. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN RELATION TO THESE PROGRAMS? The most rewarding experience for me happened when I was volunteering at the Midnight Mission with our Women In Lodging group. We were all waiting in the lobby when I saw someone walk up to the front desk and receive a couple of our shampoo bottles. I was able to see the full circle of our donations actually going into the hands of someone in need. This program of donating partially consumed toilet paper and toiletries all happened because of the revamping of the Terranea Green Team. One of our sustainability ambassadors spoke up at a Green Team meeting saying that Kelp forest clean up by kayak Associates are able to enjoy a free kayak tour while they assist by picking up any trash that gets caught in the kelp forest.