Venue News

Chaminade Resort & Spa awarded IACC Gold Tier for sustainability

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — International Association of Conference Centres has recognized Chaminade Resort & Spa as a Gold Tier Conference Center for its 2009-2010 leadership in Environmental Responsibility. It is one of only three conference centers in California, one of 22 in the US and one of 35 in the world to receive the prestigious designation.
 
To qualify for the Gold Tier, conference centers must adhere to at least 85 percent of the IACC's Code of Sustainability.

The code includes 59 guidelines in nine areas: education, awareness and public declaration; waste management; recycling; reuse; water conservation; purchasing; energy management; air quality and food and beverage.
 
Chaminade Resort & Spa uses electric vehicles on the property and has shuttle bus services that reduce the number of cars on the road. The property has reduced energy consumption by utilizing compact florescent lighting, as well as a co-generation unit which generates 40 percdent of electrical demand and produces 100 percent of the property's heating demand. Most heating and air conditioning are on an energy management system and the hotel uses energy star appliances whenever possible.

In food preparation, Chaminade buys produce from local growers and serves seafood from sustainable sources and all natural beef and poultry. Organic menus can also be developed for groups. To-go containers and utensils are biodegradable or compostable and made of corn and potato starches. To dispose of cooking oils, the resort participates in the Fryer to Fuels program, which turns the oil into biofuel.
 
Chaminade also practices water conservation and offers green and organic treatments in its Spa. At the end of the day, Chaminade diverts 75 percent of all its waste from the property into recycling and compost.
 
In addition to the IACC Gold Tier ranking, Chaminade is also the first hospitality establishment in Santa Cruz County to hold a Green Business Certification.

Chaminade, a Full Service Conference Resort, www.chaminade.com, offers world-class hospitality on the California Coast. Built high on a bluff, the mission-style luxury resort commands a panoramic view of the Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Chaminade's superior location offers a sense of peaceful seclusion only minutes from world-renowned golf, beaches and downtown Santa Cruz. The remarkable setting, combined with the renowned quality and personalized service of Benchmark Hospitality International, keeps guests coming back time and time again. At Chaminade, our goal is to exceed the expectations of guests during their stay at one of the finest conference resorts in the Bay Area. Benchmark Hospitality International operates Chaminade.