PARSIPPANY, NJ — (Marketwired) — 08/08/13 — , the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), recognized the winners of its 2013 RCI Green Awards at a recent ceremony in Carlsbad, Calif., home of Grand Pacific Resorts, the developer of all three winning properties. RCI senior leadership presented the awards to the general managers of Grand Pacific Palisades Resort, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort and Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa.
“Going Green is not only the right thing to do, it–s fiscally responsible, and our guests expect us to be good stewards of the environment,” said David Brown, co-president, Grand Pacific Resorts. “Our terrific in-house Going Green Squad is comprised of representatives from each of our 18 resorts. They are continually coming up with great ideas and action plans as we do our part to think and act green. These efforts improve our resorts– bottom line, reduce our environmental impact, and satisfy our owners– and guests– expectations for environmentally conscious hospitality practices.”
Jumping from the title of Gold RCI Green Award winner in 2012 to take the top honor of Platinum RCI Green Award for 2013, Grand Pacific Palisades Resort represents the epitome of what it means to be a green resort. From employee green trainings and weekly beach clean ups, to offering public transportation and using environmentally-friendly green supplies, Grand Pacific Palisades Resorts is continuously increasing its environmental efforts.
The Gold RCI Green Award winner, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, took measures to decrease their carbon footprint by implementing a linen/towel exchange program and installing water-saving devices like low-flow showerheads and toilets in guest bathrooms.
Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa won the Silver RCI Green Award for its sizeable recycling program and paper conservation initiatives, its installation of motion detectors and energy-efficient light bulbs, and its use of plants native to the local area in landscaping.
“It is with a great sense of pride that I meet with the winners of the 2013 RCI Green Awards, who have all made considerable efforts to incorporate sustainability into their daily operations,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “These resorts exemplify how the hospitality industry can play a pivotal role in protecting our environment and their efforts should be commended.”
RCI worked with Green Key Global, a leader in eco-certification, to determine the winners of this year–s RCI Green awards.
The celebration was attended by a company-wide audience with winning resorts receiving a recognition plaque made of bamboo and green recycled glass, and a letter from RCI President Gordon Gurnik recognizing the resorts outstanding environmental stewardship.
For more information and details on the RCI Green Awards, visit .
RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with more than 4,000 affiliated resorts in approximately 100 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership experience. Today, through RCI® Weeks, the traditional week-for-week exchange system, and RCI Points®, the industry–s first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides flexible vacation options to its approximately 3.7 million RCI subscribing members each year. RCI–s luxury exchange program, The Registry Collection®, is the world–s largest program of its kind with more than 200 affiliated properties either accessible for exchange or under development on six continents. RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals and the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN). For additional information visit our , rciaffiliates.com or . RCI also can be found on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Green Key Global is a leading environmental certification body offering a suite of programs and resources designed specifically for the lodging industry. For more than 15 years its flagship program, the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, has been evaluating and certifying properties in North America and beyond on the scope of their sustainable initiatives. In support of this, Green Key simultaneously educates members on the value these initiatives have on an environmental, social and economic level. The Green Key Eco-Rating Program allows participants to benefit on several fronts — cost savings, increased bookings from environmentally conscious consumers and meeting planners and responsible corporate citizenry. In the United States Green Key is a joint partnership between the Hotel Association of Canada and LRA Worldwide, Inc.
Steve Alessandrini
(973) 753-8278
Catherine Reynolds
(973) 753-4662