SUSTAINABLE TOURISM GREEN CERTIFICATION WORKSHOPS ANNOUNCED

(NASHVILLE, TENN.)

As part of Tennessee's ongoing Sustainable Tourism initiative, five green certification workshops will be held in 2010 across the state. Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the workshops will facilitate discussions and solicit partner input regarding the development of a state green certification program for the tour and travel industry. In addition, the events will provide continued sustainable tourism resources, case studies, best practices and access to leading experts.

"From the beginning, partner input has been essential in shaping Tennessee's Sustainable Tourism program," said Commissioner Susan Whitaker, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. "The five 2010 workshops exists as public forums to receive input from industry partners and create a green certification program that continues to position Tennessee as a leader in the nation's Sustainable Tourism movement."

TDTD and TDEC jointly applied for and received a United States Environmental Protection Agency Pollution Prevention Source Reduction Grant which will fund the green certification workshops. The purpose of the grant is to research and develop a sustainable state-level green certification program for Tennessee's tour and travel industry. 

"We look forward to hearing and learning from our partners in the hospitality community," said Commissioner Jim Fyke of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. "I am pleased so many industry leaders are interested in design models and operational standards that attract visitors and protect the natural surroundings that draw people to our beautiful state."

Tennessee has a nationally recognized, award-winning green certification program to utilize as a model through Chattanooga Green Lodging created by The Chattanooga Hospitality Association and adopted by the Tennessee Hospitality Association. The departments will work with industry partners, THA and Chattanooga Green to provide the latest green certification information to the industry as well as facilitating the interactive open discussion.

"The Chattanooga Hospitality Association along with the Tennessee Hospitality Association are honored to work with Commissioner Whitaker and Commissioner Fyke and the departments of tourism and TDEC as joint partners," said Bill Mish, president of the Tennessee Hospitality Association and general manager of Doubletree Hotel Chattanooga. "We are looking forward to being a strategic partner for a more environmentally sustainable industry."

This initiative will encourage the state's tour and travel industry to become standard-bearers in the implementation of energy, water and waste conservation, pollution prevention and sustainable business practices. The overall goal of the program is to establish a regional model for certification by working with EPA and the green hospitality guidelines they have established. 

The first workshop will be held July 21 at Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg. The dates and proposed locations for the other workshops are Aug. 19 at The Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Sept. 14 at Casey Jones Village in Jackson, Sept. 15 at a location that is still to be determined in Memphis and Oct. 13 at Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville.

To attend a workshop and be part of this important discussion on green certification for Tennessee's tour and travel industry, RSVP today to Patricia Gray at patricia.gray@tn.gov or (615) 741-9004. Visit tnsustainabletourism.com for additional information.

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