practical steps for your green meetings

A 4 Green Key rating is awarded to a hotel that has "shown national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide ranging policies and practices. The Hotel has mature programs in place that involve management, employees, guests, and the public, and which have shown substantial and measurable results."

At The Westin Crown Center, Kansas City we want to partner with you in the success of your meetings, and we include reducing your environmental impact as a measure of a truly successful event. To help your organization reduce your environmental footprint we have built some practical options and resources to assist you. Please ask us for more information on bringing greener meetings to your next event.

GREEN THE CHECK-IN

• Guests are presented with the option of having their folio emailed at checkout to reduce paper
• Daily newspaper delivery is optional

OUR ROOMS

• The optional linen cleaning program allows guests to choose whether or not they want to reduce their linen washing
• Only non-toxic cleaners are used throughout our bedrooms
• Westin was the first hotel brand to introduce a smoke-free policy: Breathe Westin

GREENER MEETINGS

• Pads of paper, pens and mints are set as stations in meeting room instead of at each setting to reduce waste
• Heavy-duty meeting cloths which require less frequent cleaning

FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE

• We serve only Starbucks Café Serena Organic Coffee
• Access to local produce, sustainable seafood, fair trade and organic products
• Our chef observes responsible food planning and purchasing practices to reduce waste and spoilage
• Condiments in bulk containers to reduce wasteful packaging
• Go linenless: custom buffet tables and back bar units that require no linens
• All our dishes, cutlery and linens are reusable
• Option of using pitchers of water instead of water bottles and choice of using jugs of juice instead of individual bottles
• We use mugs instead of teacups and saucers to reduce dish washing

REDUCING ENERGY

• As a BC Hydro PowerSmart Partner we work closely with our Key Account Representative to ensure we are taking advantage of best practices in energy use from all industries.
• Compact fluorescent bulbs have been installed in every fixture that can accept them
• Our Building Control System allows individual control over the temperature of every meeting room, ensuring un-used rooms have their heating and cooling reduced as required
• We have changed out the refrigerant in both of our large chillers for a more ozone-friendly product
• We installed a four-pipe heating/cooling system to replace the old two-pipe system, which was very wasteful of energy
• We have a sophisticated control system for our cooling plant that senses a number of different variables before deciding which chillers to start and stop, which in turn saves electricity.

OUR RECYCLING PROGRAM

• We recycle all possible materials: bottles, pop cans, paper, cardboard, plastics, batteries, pallets, oils and fats
• All organic waste matter is composted off site

HELPFUL HINTS FOR MEETING PLANNERS

YOUR MATERIALS

• Reusable delegate packages (i.e. canvas tote bags)
• Recycle lanyards or plastic name tag holders (use business cards as inserts rather than labels!)
• Green supplier for gifts, promotions and conference collateral
• Think local: reduce shipping by using local suppliers for printing, gifting...

REDUCE YOUR PAPER

• Electronic informational signage (LCD's) in conference areas
• Conference materials online or stored on flash drives to reduce printing
• Use signage that can be reused in future years and/or throughout the conference by not being date or location specific
• Online registration to reduce your mailing
• Responsible printing: use high post-consumer paper, low-bleaching, bio-safe vegetable based inks or simply print double sided materials (i.e. name tags, binders, agendas, courseware)
• Dry-erase white board instead of flip-charts in meetings
• Print one or two menus per table at plated events instead of for each place setting

A DARKER SHADE OF GREEN

• Reusable centerpieces: potted plants which can be replanted or instead donate your cut florals to a local charity (i.e. seniors' home, hospital)
• Organic and fair trade florists
• Reuse your linens as much as possible throughout the conference
• Stick to cotton linens: refrain from using vinyl or other synthetic products
• Low emission transportation: biodiesel busses, etc
• Green activities or community projects (i.e. shoreline cleanup)
• Host a green speaker to inspire your delegates
• Carbon offset programs for your meeting or corporate travel
• Transit passes for delegates
• Keep your organization and delegates informed of the environmentally sensitive decisions you're making for your meeting