3rd Annual RCI Green Awards

Today, RCI announced the winners of the third annual RCI Green Awards.

The Green Awards recognize environmentally conscious timeshare resorts. As the largest timeshare exchange company in the world, RCI sets the bar for many standards in the timeshare industry, including green practices.

To grant the awards, RCI partnered with Green Key Global, a third-party sustainability firm. This year’s recipients include Grand Pacific Palisades Resort, Peacock Suites, and Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa.

RCI President, Gordon Gurnik shared,

“Sustainable business practices are extremely important to all of us at RCI, our members and our affiliates, and we want to recognize our affiliates that make this a priority in their day-to-day hospitality practices. Many of our affiliates have implemented substantial green initiatives that are having a positive impact on our earth, and we applaud their efforts. These awards recognize the top three RCI affiliated properties amongst a competitive group of applicants.”

For the second year, Grand Pacific Palisades has received the Platinum RCI Green Award. Day-to-day activities at the Grand Pacific Palisades are filled with practices for conservation and sustainability. For example, employees are provided with bike storage and easy access to public transportation, while guests are encouraged to conserve linen use.

The resort has also implemented a variety of green alternatives during recent renovations. Around the resort, over 75% of lighting and windows are now energy efficient. More than 75% of the resort’s roof area uses high-albedo materials, which also moderate energy consumption.

Peacock Suites in California took home the Gold RCI Green Award. Their commitment to the environment also starts with their employees. Team members regularly participate in park clean-ups and celebrate earth-day activities. Daily, employees are encouraged to use public transportation to reduce auto-emissions.

Last but not least, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa has received the honor of Platinum RCI Green Award. This year, the resort implemented a “Green Team” to organize their environmental sustainability practices. Together the green team installed energy efficient lighting in over 90% of the resort, created a recycling program, and implemented annual energy audits.

Gurnik continued, “These three resorts clearly understand the positive effect that the hospitality industry can make when it comes to sustainability. With millions of vacation ownership travelers in the U.S. alone, even small acts can add up to a major impact on our environment. And, with consumers increasingly looking for green travel services, it also makes good business sense to take these actions.”

Green Key Global used their Eco-Rating program to grade each resort applicant. In addition to the Green Awards, these resorts were also rated on Green Key Global’s “key” rating scale. Each resort received one to five keys based on energy conservation, sustainable practices, land use, and indoor air quality.

To learn more about the RCI Green Awards, visit RCIaffiliates.com.