Diamond Resorts dedicated to sustainability at European resorts
Sustainability is a core value for team members at Diamond Resorts International®, and as a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, the company is committed to reducing its carbon footprint for a better future. As the United Nations 70th General Assembly has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, Diamond Resorts shares some of the waste-reducing initiatives its European destinations are practicing, and the ways its members, owners and guests are helping raise awareness of sustainable travel.
Every Diamond Resorts managed European resort has received an ISO 14001 certification, meaning the resort has met environmental responsibility standards set by an independent, international standardization committee. Each resort also has a dedicated sustainability ambassador, who helps carry out environmental initiatives at each destination, and a sustainable garden with varying herbs, vegetables and fruits, which are open to members, owners and guests.
All new electrical appliances are energy efficient, air conditioning units have motion sensors or energy save modes, light bulbs are replaced with LED lights and more than half the European resorts have light sensors in the common areas.
Throughout the year, the resorts also hold various sustainability campaigns to get members, owners and guests involved in the efforts and to raise awareness of ways they can help preserve the environment, even after they return home. During environmental week in June, guests were invited to join team members at local clean-up events, plant seeds in the onsite gardens and test their recycling skills with fun quizzes. Families also had an opportunity last October to test different water saving techniques during a three-day challenge to demonstrate how much water they can save during a short stay. Several thousand members, owners, guests and team members participated in the various campaigns during 2016.
This year, the European resorts have even more sustainability challenges planned and are offering special activities, including garden tours and local produce tastings, to enhance vacation experiences, while getting more guests involved. Although Diamond Resorts has a large global footprint in the industry, it is committed to leaving a small one on the environment and is actively taking steps to be a sustainable global organization to continue delivering exceptional vacation experiences for years to come.
