Successful Meetings - September 2009 - (Page 80)

GREATER LOS ANGELES > GOING FOR THE GREEN ESSENTIAL Tool Box CONVENTION CENTERS & FACILITIES Los Angeles Convention Center (867,000 sf of meeting and exhibit space; newly LEED-EB certified); Long Beach Convention Center and Arena (more than 400,000 sf of meeting and exhibit space; 34 meeting rooms); Santa Monica Civic Center (27,000 sf, converts to a 3,000-seat arena) GOING FOR THE GREEN By Joy Anderson THIS WEST COAST HOTSPOT IS TACKLING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WITH GUSTO I n the two-plus years since Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced his bold agenda to transform Los Angeles into one of the greenest big cities in the country, many of his initiatives are moving forward. At the same time, LA INC, the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been doing its part. “We’ve been working in all regions of the city with our hotel partners to encourage them to help make our destination more green—it’s a selling advantage for all of us,” says Michael Krouse, senior vice president of sales at LA INC. And there is some synergy between LA’s ever-present entertainment crowd and the green movement. “Restaurants love to target the green-leaning Holly- wood market and that’s good for planners working with companies looking to ease their carbon footprint,” he says. At popular downtown dining spot Ciudad, chef/owners Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken (the Food Network’s “Too Hot Tamales”) serve sustainable seafood, naturally-raised meat, and organic grains, dairy products, and coffee. While they were pioneers, more and more restaurants are embracing sustainable practices. On the hotel front, some of LA’s newest and hippest properties are also trending green: Following a $30-million reinvention, the landmark 71room Hotel Shangri-La on Santa Monica’s Ocean Drive reopened in June as an alluring eco-chic boutique. Green features at the hotel include an inhouse water filtration and carbonization system and a parking discount for hybrid vehicles. The chef relies almost exclusively on products from the nearby Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. Hotel Palomar Los Angeles in Westwood opened in May 2008 with 268 rooms and 5,000 sf of meeting space. As with all Kimpton properties, the sensibility here is playful, but socially conscious. In line with the company’s EarthCare program, all rooms have recycling bins, natural toiletries, and mini-bars stocked with organic food and drinks. They also offer a Great Meetings, Great Causes program that allows groups to choose two eco-friendly perks such as a complimentary organic break or a $105 donation to an environmental organization. “Everyone on the event side of the house is trying to find out how to be environmentally and socially conscious,” says Ben Bloch, managing partner of Econation Green Transportation. Among the vehicles Econation uses are compressed natural gas-fueled Lincoln Town Cars, hybrid GMC Yukons, and low-sulfur and bio-diesel-capable shuttles and buses. “With us,” he says, “you can have your cake and eat it too.” SM Slowly but surely, Los Angeles is going green 80 I SM I September 2009 I SuccessfulMeetings.com http://www.SuccessfulMeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - September 2009

Successful Meeting - September 2009
Table of Contents
Incentive Travel Report
Convention Centers
Shiny & New
Social Agenda
Meetings Merchandise
Rocky Mountain Resorts
Greater LA
Phoenix/Scottsdale
Caribbean
Monaco
Hawaii: Incentive Planner's Handbook
Hawaii Table of Contents
Paradise Found
No Task Too Big
Golf, Hawaii-Style
Nevada
Nevada Table of Contents
Las Vegas: New and Now
Meet Me in Las Vegas
That's Entertainment
Suburban Sancuaries
Meet Me in Reno-Lake Tahoe

Successful Meetings - September 2009

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