WATERBURY – Hospitality businesses can learn more about greening their operations while reducing costs by attending one of three regional workshops. The Vermont Business Environmental Partnership (VBEP) with the support of Boston Green Tourism (BGT) is organizing the workshops, which will provide expertise on energy and water conservation, waste and toxins reduction, green purchasing, and green meetings/weddings. The workshops will be held from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm on April 27 at Norwich Inn in Norwich, on April 28 at the Doubletree Hotel in Burlington, and on April 29 at the Holiday Inn in Rutland.
"Many people come to Vermont for its natural beauty," says Dan Ruben, of BGT. "They want to treat the environment well when they're here. The workshop will help hospitality professionals meet this need and market their services to this group--while reducing their operating costs,"
"Businesses who have become Green Hotels or Green Restaurants in the Green Mountain State have reduced environmental impacts through simple, inexpensive, cost-saving steps," says Vicky Viens of VBEP. "More expensive investments often pay for themselves in less than three years". The two programs are part of VBEP green certification programs run by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VTSBDC). VBEP offers technical assistance and recognition for all businesses in Vermont that meet eight criteria for achieving and sustaining earth friendly practices (see www.vbep.org).
Peter Crawford of VTSBDC sends this invitation to all hospitality business professionals. "Join us for informative talks. Learn from experts and colleagues about how to further green your business, reduce your operating costs and boost your property's image."
Registration, which costs $20, can be completed on-line (www.vtsbdc.org/small-business-training-workshops/green-hospitality-seminars} or by calling Peter Crawford at 728-1423.
Other sponsors include Efficiency Vermont, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. The U.S. EPA funds these workshops.
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