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Representatives from the five newly-accredited hotels received their certificates on behalf of their businesses Saturday. Audubon International Chief Operating Officer Fred Realbuto presented the certifications.
Five of Amelia Island’s hotels earned their certification for the Audubon International Green Lodging Program this weekend.
After the annual Keep Nassau Beautiful Downtown to Dunes Cleanup, Audubon International Chief Operating Officer Fred Realbuto presented the awards to Comfort Inn, Amelia Hotel at the Beach, Ocean Coast Hotel at the Beach, Sea Cottages of Amelia and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The venue for the ceremony, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, was awarded its certification last year in the first such award ceremony on Amelia Island.
“This takes quite a bit of effort,” Realbuto said. “And when you get your certification, you’ve earned it.”
Audubon International works hand-in-hand with the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring this program to the island’s hospitality industry.
“I would like to please have a round of applause for the community, the folks who live in Amelia Island?” Realbuto said at the ceremony. “You guys are really amazing. Amelia Island gets it … The CVB has been tremendously supportive. They enrolled in the Sustainable Communities Program in the last couple years to do major projects, and they’ve also been the sponsors of the Green Lodging Program … We are thrilled and honored to be a part of this.”
Audubon International was founded as an effort to reignite and further achieve the work of the Audubon Society of New York State. Since its founding in 1996, the organization says it has enrolled more than 4,000 properties in its various certification programs. These businesses range from hotels, golf courses (the United States Golf Association has provided more than $2 million to the program), small businesses, restaurants and other hospitality and recreational businesses.
“The Green Lodging Program provides third-party verification that lodging facilities meet environmental best practice standards and demonstrate a strong commitment to water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation and energy efficiency,” the program’s website reads. “Through a comprehensive and credible method for assessing the extent of the environmental measures undertaken, participating facilities can reduce environment-related costs and gain a marketing advantage.”
To become certified, hotels must complete an initial self-evaluation when applying. Afterwards, Audubon International staff conduct an onsite visit to verify the measures being taken.
