While name changes are important in the lodging world, another key change in the management of the Rocky Mountain Park Inn near Rocky Mountain National Park is a partnership it has developed with the Rocky Mountain Nature Association.
Until Tuesday the lodging property was known as the Holiday Inn-Rocky Mountain National Park. However, on that day the Estes Park property officially was renamed the Rocky Mountain National Park Inn.
The lodge is managed by Forever Resorts, a family of companies based in Scottsdale, Ariz., with a portfolio encompassing 70 destinations in national parks, recreation areas, national forests and other destinations in North America, Europe and South Africa.
Along with changing the name, Forever Resorts is offering guests at the inn the opportunity to donate $1 per night to the Rocky Mountain Nature Association’s Next Generation Fund when reserving rooms for their stay. The nonprofit RMNA was founded in 1931 to develop informational brochures for the park. Today, through the publication and sale of educational materials, RMNA supports the research and educational programs as well as trail building and rehabilitation for Rocky Mountain National Park and its public lands partners.
Additionally, if guests book a special Rocky Mountain Explorer Package at the Rocky Mountain Park Inn, a portion of their purchase price will be donated to the RMNA’s Next Generation Fund. Through the Next Generation Fund, RMNA specifically raises funds for educational programs and products for youth and families within Rocky Mountain National Park.
As for the lodge, back in 2004 the inn was the first lodging property in Colorado to receive the Gold Level Leadership award from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. Forever EarthTM, the company's environmental management system, is certified to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2004 for environmental management systems. The certification means the program meets a world-recognized standard for environmental management systems to document the reduction of the environmental footprint of a business and to decrease the pollution and waste a business produces.
“This change for the Rocky Mountain Park Inn will allow us to be more forward-reaching in our commitment to environmentally sound and sustainable business practices than ever before,” says John Schoppmann, Forever Resorts' executive vice president. “We are pleased to offer our guests, whether visiting us for business or for leisure, the chance to partner with us to give back to the park through the Rocky Mountain Nature Association.”
Recent Forever EarthTM environmental programs at the Rocky Mountain Park Inn include reducing non-hazardous solid waste generation by 8 percent in a one-year period through enhanced recycling programs that includes newspaper, corrugated cardboard, commingled recycling and packing materials. Water usage declined 9 percent in a one-year period thanks to new water conversation fixtures in guestrooms and employee housing, as well as offering guests the option to have their linens changed less frequently.
Overall energy consumption declined by 9 percent due to the installation of energy-saving light timers and motion sensors. Forever Resorts’ retail buyers created a purchasing method to give preference to environmentally sensitive companies. Preference is given to vendors and companies who provide products made with recycled materials, high-efficiency or long-life products and/or “green” products. Buyers make an effort to purchase locally made products and, at TrendZ, staff educates customers through expounded signage and personalized sales describing where items are made and whether any recycled or sustainable materials have been incorporated into the creation of the gifts.
New environmental goals in 2011 will include improving green purchasing and screening for environmentally friendly cleaning products replacing harsher chemicals, as well as reducing energy use and water consumption by an additional 5 percent. Low-flow devices are being installed throughout Rocky Mountain Park Inn, and technology upgrades are being evaluated for implementation at its laundry facilities and in its pool and hot tub.
