Portola Hotel & Spa is Monterey's premier environmentally conscious hotel and is proud to be a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Certified property. The first truly "green" hotel in central California, Portola Hotel & Spa strives to support the green efforts within the community and establish sustainable initiatives throughout the hotel.
Voted the #6 Best Eco-Friendly Hotel by USA Today 10Best Award Readers, Portola Hotel & Spa continues to recognize the importance of implementing sustainable practices throughout the numerous meetings and events held at the hotel with plans to re-establish a Reduced Waste Conference Program in late 2024.
The goal of the Reduced Waste Conference Program is to minimize waste and promote sustainable solutions in both the planning and execution of events. Reduced waste conferences are a collaborative effort between the hotel and conference attendees to minimize landfill waste, reduce carbon emissions, and utilize reusable resources.
“Sustainability, much like our clients, is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The sales process gives us the opportunity to learn more about the goals and budget of each event. This allows us to creatively customize our sustainability approach in collaboration with each planner; whether it’s taking simple, no-cost steps to minimize food waste or incorporating activities that positively impact our community.”
– Stephanie Vidovich, Sales Manager, Portola Hotel & Spa.
Tips for Reducing Waste
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Digital Materials: Opt for digital materials instead of printed ones, including agendas, event information and resources.
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China & Utensils: Use reusable or compostable utensils and plates to eliminate or reduce landfill waste.
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Educate Attendees: Encourage meeting attendees to commit to sustainable actions before, during and after the conference.
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Reusable Water Bottle: Encourage participants to bring their own water bottles or gift attendees a branded water bottle they can use throughout the conference.
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Mindful Menu Selections: Choose local ingredients to reduce carbon emissions associated with ordering products.
"Sustainable conferences reshape catering by prioritizing local and seasonal ingredients, minimizing food waste, using reusable or compostable materials, and reducing the overall environmental footprint of meal services," said Megan Strandburg, Senior Catering & Events Manager, Portola Hotel & Spa.