Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Eco-Friendly Lodging at Lake of the Ozarks

From family-owned to full-service resorts, campgrounds to bed-and-breakfasts, several lodging properties at the Lake of the Ozarks are “going green” by implementing a variety of environmentally sustainable practices. This is good news to the growing number of “green consumers” who seek eco-friendly accommodations and attractions when they travel.

The results of a national survey called “Survival of the Greenest,” released earlier in the year by PGAV Destination Consulting in collaboration with the Missouri Botanical Garden, show that green consumerism is not a passing fad. In fact, report indicates that nearly 75 percent of 18-34 year olds say they are more likely to visit an attraction that is pursuing environmentally friendly practices; and 69 percent of attraction visitors are more likely to visit (and 59% to more frequently visit) attractions that pursue green practices rather than patronize those that continue doing business as usual.


Family-Owned Resorts Go Green

Such figures are not lost on Lake-area lodging proprietors such as Michael Spriggs, who, with his wife, Paulette, owns Point Randall Resort in Lake Ozark. “We have been focusing on green practices for about two years,” Spriggs says. “We’re motivated by doing our part to save the earth, and also we know that travelers do look for lodging that has green practices.” The resort has reached several of its environmental goals, Spriggs says. For example, Spriggs’ father, who previously owned the resort, put in a filter treatment plant that uses no chemicals, just bacteria filters and UV light.

He adds, “One of the biggest things you can do is check your property for leaks. My dad replaced almost every entry door with metal which insulates better than wood. And we have weather-stripped all the entry doors and windows, and replaced all the window treatments with wood shades and blackout drapes which are good insulators. These are real energy-efficient upgrades.”

Spriggs says he tries to “recycle everything” at Point Randall. He’s also in the process of replacing the siding on all buildings with recyclable fiber cement board, all incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs and all shower heads with low-flow models that save water and energy. The resorts’ laundry facilities use low-water consuming washing machines. In the future he may install tankless hot water heaters, among other green improvements. “My energy bills really have gone down, but that’s not the point,” Spriggs says. “The point is we are doing our part to be environmentally friendly.”

At another small family-owned resort, Lakeview Resort in Sunrise Beach, third-generation co-owner Jake Drake takes part in AmerenUE’s organized shoreline cleanups and also continually removes debris from at least a mile of shoreline, including his resort’s. “We remove anything we see floating in the Lake and store the larger items until we can turn them in,” he says.

Drake notes now more than ever, guests ask him if the resort recycles. “So we do offer on-site recycling for guests to drop off paper, aluminum and plastic,” he says. “Also in housekeeping we recycle all plastic and cardboard.“ Local recycling centers require no caps, crushed bottles and flattened boxes, Drake says. “It takes an effort to recycle here. You have to want to do it. But I want to, to keep the earth as clean as possible for my kids and other children,” he says.

Green Full-Service Resorts

The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark soon will be recognized as “Certified Green Lodging” by the Missouri Hotel Lodging Association. Director of Sales Gayla Welsh says The Lodge’s environmental policy is “to promote pollution prevention and continual environmental improvement by encouraging associates and guests to develop and implement environmental management systems.” The result, Welsh says, will be “the potential for a higher quality environment“ that will help “improve cost control and community relations.”

The Lodge has instituted measures in every department to achieve MHLA Green Certification, Welsh says. For example, in Housekeeping, the resort uses biodegradable, phosphate-free laundry detergents, purchases supplies in bulk, uses ozone washing machines that don’t require hot water, and offers guests the option to not have linens changed daily. Outdoors, The Lodge has instituted a vegetation management program, uses natural grass and soil as buffers to protect water bodies and mulches instead of bagging grass clippings.

In addition, The Lodge uses timers for all interior lights, recycles all cardboard, computer disks and printer cartridges and has minimized paper use in the Administrative Offices. Comparing 2008 to 2007, the resort used fewer cubic yards of waste, recycled more material per occupied room, used fewer cubic feet of water and used fewer kilowatt hours of electricity.

Tan-Tar-A Resort, Golf Club, Marina & Indoor Waterpark in Osage Beach has instituted a comprehensive energy conservation and recycling program, says Ann Walters, sales manager. “Our energy conservation program includes, among other steps, replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient CFLs, installing motion sensors on storage-room lights, using timers on lights in public spaces and hallways, turning off lights and computers in offices at the end of the day, setting water heaters to 120 degrees and reprogramming meeting-room thermostats when those rooms are not in use.”

Tan-Tar-A saves water by offering guests the option to re-use linens and towels. The resort also has installed water-saving shower heads, sinks and toilets in guest rooms.

At Tan-Tar-A, aluminum cans are collected from the golf courses and public trashcans and recycled. Aluminum cans collected from other areas also are recycled; proceeds are donated to a local Girl Scout troop that makes Red Cross hygiene bags for natural disasters. Resort staff also recycle as much paper as possible and are encouraged to reduce paper waste by emailing and filing to the computer whenever possible. Also, restaurants and the catering department use non-disposable plates, tableware and glasses and cloth napkins.

Lance Utley, sales manager at The Resort at Port Arrowhead and the Country Club Hotel in Lake Ozark, says going green in a number of ways has helped the properties save money, “and also gives us an advantage over the competition.” For example, he notes, an increasing number of groups search for green facilities in which to hold their meetings. “Little things can make a big difference in attracting conferences and meeting groups,” he says. “For example, they’ll tell me they do not want to use Styrofoam and plastic for meals or break-out sessions, so our properties have gone back to using full china service. We have found it’s not only more green, it’s more cost-effective, too.”

Also, at both properties, guests have the option to reuse bedding and towels. “That really helps cut down on water usage and extends the life of the bedding,” Utley notes.

In addition, at the Country Club Hotel, “we are very conscious of setting the air-conditioning system to be cooler at night, when people actually are in their rooms,” he says. “All employees are trained to turn off the lights. We installed motion sensors on the public bathroom lights and that’s been a huge savings.” The properties also cut their electricity bills by almost $15,000 by reducing the period of time the swimming pools were kept lit and heated. “We had been keeping them open beyond the actual swimming season strictly for cosmetic purposes,” Utley says.

Green Campgrounds and B&Bs

Trailer Life Directory, the official directory of the Good Sam Club—the world’s largest RV owners community—recently gave Osage Beach RV Park its new green designation. Pat Jones, who owns the park with her husband Larry, explains: “Good Sam Parks that implement at least three green strategies will receive a green leaf next to their listing in the 2010 directory, which will come out in January.” Some of the green strategies the Joneses employ include using biodegradable cleaning chemicals, not heating their swimming pool, changing to CFL light bulbs and encouraging guests to use bicycles instead of golf carts. At the RV park, which ranks in the top 300 of Good Sam Parks’ nearly 12,000 members, Jones says, “We’re just doing what we have always done for 20 years,” in terms of encouraging good environmental practices.
Bed-and-breakfasts at the Lake of the Ozarks also are doing their share to improve the environment. For example, at the Inn at Harbour Ridge in Osage Beach, owner Sue Westenhaver says, “I recycle everything I can think of. I think it’s the right thing to do.” She brings aluminum cans to her church, which donates the recycling proceeds to charity. Table scraps are recycled in the Inn’s worm farm; the worms help the herb garden flourish. Coffee grounds help the hostas thrive. And Westenhaver conserves water by offering guests the option to not have bedding and towels changed daily.

Other Lake-area lodging properties also are pitching in to help save our planet. For more information about eco-friendly lodging and attractions, as well as shopping, dining, festivals and events, please contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at (800) FUN-LAKE or visit www.funlake.com.