The hotel has not only taken award-winning environmental strides with its sustainability initiatives, its rewarded itself with significantly lower operating costs and the peace-of-mind and increased market share that results from becoming an eco-efficient hotel.

The Vancouver hotel received a commendable Green Leaf™ rating from Audubon International, a reputable non-profit environmental education organization. The Green Leaf™ designation, a joint effort between Audubon and TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, Inc., rates hotels and lodging facilities with one to five Green Leaves, one being the lowest, as an assessment of the facility's environmental best practice standards. Member hotels conduct a self-evaluation of their environmental performance that covers four key areas: energy efficiency, resource conservation, pollution prevention, and environmental management.

"Our Green Leaf™ rating of three leaves confirms that the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside has undertaken significant environmental initiatives," said Stan VanWoerkens, director of sales and marketing at the property. "While the hotel strives to continually improve its overall environmental program, the Audubon report confirms we have proactively gone beyond legal compliance and are a leader among competitors in operating a sustainable business."

The Vancouver hotel's environmental initiatives began in 1998 with a group of concerned employees who formed the Renaissance Environmental Committee. They originally aimed to implement a more effective recycling program but ended up redefining their goals to include all aspects of operating a sustainable business. Currently, the hotel has environmental programs for: waste reduction and recycling; energy reduction and efficiency; water conservation; sustainable purchasing; and air quality.

According to VanWoerkens, the implementation of the recycling program has reduced the amount of solid waste disposed to landfills by 50 percent.

TerraChoice's assessment concluded that the Vancouver waterfront hotel should be applauded for taking steps toward realizing the cost savings and market potential behind adopting the accommodation industry's Best Environmental Practices. Additionally, the property has moved beyond a basic awareness of environmental issues, and is now formally committed to environmental improvement and reducing the environmental impacts of its operations.

VanWoerkens and his associates have earned peace-of-mind, lower energy costs and a measurable number of guests visiting the property as a reward for implementing environmental initiatives. The hotel received a "Green Idea Award" in 2000 from the British Columbia & Yukon Hotel Association for its recycling program. Also, the property was featured in BC Business Magazine in the article, "Winning the War on Waste," and was nominated for the prestigious Ethics in Action Award in 2004.

About the Renaissance Vancouver
The Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside is a waterfront business hotel located in the heart of the city. Enjoy the scenic attractions of downtown while resting in your Vancouver hotel suite with sweeping views of Coal Harbour and the beautiful North Shore mountains. The hotel is within walking distance of the Cruise Ship Terminal, the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, as well as shopping, historic Gastown, and the 1,000-acre Stanley Park. The downtown Vancouver business hotel also boasts 18,000-sq.ft of meeting and event space, a fully equipped fitness center with indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and exercise area, and the spectacular Vistas Revolving Restaurant and Bar. For more information or reservations, please visit our Web site at http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/yvrrd.