|
BUFFALO, N.Y., April 18, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Delaware
North Companies, a global leader in hospitality and food service, is
extending GreenPath(R), its award-winning sustainability and
environmental system, to its worldwide operations. In a related
announcement, Delaware North said it is naming John Huey to a newly
created post of director of sustainability and environmental
affairs.
Huey was instrumental in the development and implementation of
GreenPath, the company's proprietary and award-winning environmental
stewardship program, which began with Delaware North's operation in
Yosemite National Park, and is firmly in place at all parks and
resorts, as well as Delaware North's global headquarters.
"Our unique approach at Yosemite National Park in the early 1990s
put Delaware North at the forefront of hospitality companies with a
sense of environmental awareness," said Dennis Szefel, chief
administrative officer and the framer of GreenPath.
"But being environmentally aware is about more than implementing a
conservation program. It's a mindset that considers what's good for
the planet. This Earth Day is special for us because of the
commitment we are making not only to be a more conscientious
company, but also to make the world a better place," he said.
"Among the companies that bid on the Yosemite contract, only
Delaware North stepped up to the plate to accept the challenge and
financial burden of mitigating 30 deteriorating underground storage
tanks put in place by former concessionaire's," Szefel added. That
commitment to environmental preservation quickly gave rise to the
development of GreenPath. Soon after, Delaware North became the
first U.S. hospitality company to have its environmental management
system registered to the standards put forth by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO 14001).
The announcement of the expansion of GreenPath comes as the company
has important environmental initiatives underway at locations such
as TD Banknorth Garden in Boston and the Daytona Beach Kennel Club
in Daytona, Fla. Efforts are centering on energy efficiency,
recycling and other sustainable practices.
Delaware North operates at more than 200 locations throughout the
world, serving half of a billion customers each year at its parks,
resorts, historic destinations, sporting and entertainment venues,
airports and gaming facilities.
The expansion and the creation of the new post underscore the
recognition the company places on the importance of stewardship at
all of its venues-from national parks to ballparks.
"It's a significant undertaking given the scope of our operations
and our many clients and site partners, but it's the right thing to
do. There are also sound business reasons -- including energy
efficiency -- underlying the initiatives," Szefel said.
Examples of Delaware North's environmental efforts are:
-- TD Banknorth Garden, home of the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics
and
one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world, is
unveiling a comprehensive recycling program this year. It also is in
the midst of a feasibility study for energy conservation. TD
Banknorth
Garden recently signed a contract with ConEdison Solutions to reduce
electricity usage by 15 to 20 percent. In addition, Delaware North
was
responsible for revamping part of the North Station mass transit
terminal that underlies the arena in order to provide more energy
efficient heating and air conditioning.
-- In June, Daytona Beach Kennel Club will open a $30 million poker
and
racing complex to replace a 60-year-old facility. Delaware North,
which
owns and operates the complex, is seeking silver Leadership in
Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green
Building Council. The new location is designed to cut down on the
use
of water and energy by 40 percent and 25 percent, respectively. This
project follows a similar venture that took place in 2006 when
Delaware
North achieved silver LEED certification for a $40 million expansion
of
Southland Park Gaming & Racing in West Memphis, Ark.
-- Delaware North Companies Sportservice, the company's flagship
operating
company that handles food, beverage and retail services at more than
50
North American sports venues, is working with its clients -- team
owners and arena managers -- on various recycling initiatives for
collection and reuse of the thousands of plastic bottles and metal
cans
fans discard. At Progressive Field in Cleveland, Sportservice has
partnered with the Cleveland Indians this season to use cornstarch
cups
for cold beverages purchased at concession stands. The cups
decompose
in a landfill in 30 days. Furthermore, it announced last week a new
relationship with the Minnesota Twins that will lead to an
environmentally friendly ballpark in Minneapolis in 2010.
-- The company has developed a "Green Order Guide" to help all of
its
divisions and locations select environmentally sustainable products
such as paper and cleaning products whenever possible.
-- A number of Delaware North's restaurant and retail airport
locations --
including those in Nashville, Denver and Buffalo -- participate in
recycling programs.
-- At The Ahwahnee and the other hotels and lodges in Yosemite
National
Park, Delaware North uses as many organic and sustainable food
products
as possible, including grains, legumes, flour and sugar. Chefs also
use
free-range beef, antibiotic- and hormone-free pork and organic
turkey.
All fish is approved by the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch program. The
company partners with local organic farmers to supply many of the
food
products.
-- The California Hotel & Lodging Association recently awarded
Delaware
North a Star of the Industry Award in Good Earthkeeping for the
environmental efforts at The Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National
Park.
Among the lodge's accomplishments are: an extensive organic beer,
wine
and food menu at the dining facilities, picnic benches made from
recycled plastic and recycling of more than 100 tons of solid waste.
-- At the Delaware North-operated Asilomar State Beach & Conference
Grounds in Pacific Grove, Calif., kitchen waste is recycled by a
local
company into liquid fertilizer. Also at Asilomar, Delaware North has
invested in ovens that heat up so quickly they can be turned off
when
not in use.
-- GreenPath has garnered more than 40 "green" awards for
sustainability,
recycling and other programs, including 15 consecutive California
Waste
Reduction Award Program (WRAP) honors for the company's Yosemite
operations.
-- Delaware North is donating $1 million to Nichols School, located
in
Buffalo, N.Y., where the company is headquartered, towards the
sustainability efforts of an environmentally friendly math, science
and
technology building.
About John Huey
As director of sustainability and environmental affairs for Delaware
North Companies, Huey will be responsible for overseeing Delaware
North's environmental management and sustainable efforts for the
company's global operations. As director of environmental affairs
for Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, his last position,
Huey dedicated his work to GreenPath, the company's innovative and
comprehensive environmental management program. Through GreenPath,
Huey has worked to protect and conserve natural resources.
He came to Yosemite in 1992 as the director of risk management. At
Yosemite, he held the titles of director of human resources and
regional risk/safety manager. Huey became the director of
environmental affairs for approximately 15 parks and hotels in 2000.
In 2003, Huey and other GreenPath members accepted a Department of
the Interior Environmental Achievement Award for their environmental
stewardship programs. Under his leadership the company also received
an Odyssey Award for environmental programs from the Travel Industry
Association of America.
Other honors include a silver IMEX Green Meetings Award for efforts
in environmental responsibility and stewardship and the Industry
designation from the American Hospitality Lodging Association and
second-place billing in 2005's Keep America Beautiful National
Awards that recognize businesses and their employees' efforts to
deliver a more beautiful, cleaner and improved environment
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world's leading hospitality
and food service providers. Its family of companies includes
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies
Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality
Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North
Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner
of TD Banknorth Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the
largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues
exceeding $2 billion annually and 40,000 associates serving half a
billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom,
Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit
www.DelawareNorth.com.
Source: Delaware North Companies
CONTACT: Glen White, Delaware North Companies Media Relations,
+1-716-858-5753,
gawhite@dncinc.com
Web site:
http://www.delawarenorth.com/
|
