Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport is Biosphere Committed
The Four Points by Sheraton is a pet-friendly hotel located across the highway from Kelowna International Airport (YLW). The Four Points by Sheraton belongs to theMarriott International brand, and is committed to creating a positive and sustainable impact wherever they do business. Marriott's Climate Action Program focuses on responsible sourcing, water reduction, and waste reduction. This approach aims to reduce climate risks, promote sustainable growth, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainability Initiatives
The team at the Four Points by Sheraton have always been aware of the impact that accommodations, catering, and dining have on the consumption of resources; therefore, they believe that the responsible management of resources and materials must align with their sustainable goals to promote an enduring industry.
There are a number of initiatives that the hotel and the hotel restaurant, Gulfstream, have taken to ensure they are aligning with these sustainability goals. To reduce the use of plastics, the hotel has installed a water station in the lobby that allows guests to refill reusable water bottles. Additionally, public use areas and offices have motion-activated lighting to help conserve energy. Amenities for guests are purchased in bulk to reduce packaging required for shipping, and Gulfstream uses entirely recyclable packaging for to-go orders.
Through their work with TOTA as well as their own research, the team at the Four Points found that a number of the methods they already used in their day-to-day operations aligned with the SDGs. Since then, they have been able to find and add new sustainable measures to their operations.
When asked about their experience working towards becoming Biosphere Committed, Keira Niebuhr, Accommodation Controller, had this to say for other businesses considering Biosphere: “The Biosphere program really has a plethora of activities that tie back to the Sustainable Development Goals, but don’t be alarmed by that number. So many of the activities may already be items you currently do, while others, once established, provide a foundation for equal treatment of staff, diverse community networks, and efficiencies available to save materials and resources.”
Biosphere Commitment Program
The Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Commitment Program is a sustainability program offered by the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. The focus is to equip tourism businesses in the region with tools and resources to continuously measure, manage, and report sustainability management efforts. The program prepares businesses for a globally recognized certification, to show alignment of business operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Thompson Okanagan Biosphere Destination Certification.
Organizations can create customized sustainability plans through the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle platform and access dedicated support from industry experts.
Learn more about TOTA’s Biosphere Commitment Program
