Dover Downs to host Mid-Atlantic Green Hospitality Conference Sept. 15-16

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino and its Dover Conference Working Group will host the Mid-Atlantic Green Hospitality Conference, a first-of-its-kind opportunity to unite food service and lodging facilities, tourism agencies, eco-friendly product suppliers and consultants around the common cause of maintaining and promoting environmentally friendly lodging and food services practices.

The DCWG is an employee collaboration chaired by George Fiorile, general manager of hotel operations at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. The company’s DCWG is composed of Jerry Lawrence, director of purchasing; Doree Kuhn, director of hotel operations; Gordon Basht, director of sales; and John Doerfler, hotel sales manager. Doerfler is also the in-house conference coordinator.

The DCWG has contracted for conference planning and development HospitalityGreen LLC, outside consultants who were responsible for co-chairing and co-coordinating the highly successful 2014 Green Tourism Conference in April in Callicoon, N.Y.

The region’s proximity to multiple major metropolitan areas positions it as an up-and-coming destination for tourists, meeting planners and conference coordinators seeking environmentally responsible lodging and food service providers. The main goal of the conference is to educate end users on planning for climate resilience and the economic benefits of maintaining a more efficient and eco-marketable property to generate more revenue, and demonstrating true cost savings.

The Delaware Senate 147th Assembly in Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 52 proclaimed Sept. 13-20 as Sea Level Rise Awareness Week. The conference will open Monday, Sept. 15, at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover.

At the conference, registrants will be hosted with a reception and a farm-to-fork dinner showcasing and honoring regionally produced foods and beverages. Tuesday, Sept. 16 will be packed with information on developing and improving the marketability of eco-friendly properties, tips and advice from regional green initiatives, expert advice on new green financing opportunities, innovations in new construction and highlights of resiliency and emergency planning for lodging facilities and tourist venues throughout the region.

There will be various green training programs, networking opportunities in the vendor exhibition area and a luncheon sourced from local ingredients during which a to-be-announced keynoter will provide the background for regional collaboration and for eco-revenue generation for all attending businesses.

Attendees may choose from multiple educational forums designed for the lodging industry, food service operations and emergency preparedness. HospitalityGreen’s Green Lodger’s Training, which provides the necessary staff training for TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Certification, will be offered, as well as Greening Food Services Annual Certificate training. Delaware Technical Community College will provide special certificate trainings for emergency preparedness.

Conference details, schedules, presenters and new conference information will be made available weekly. Conferees may register and receive a special discounted hotel rate by registering on the conference website at www.2014greentourismconference.com.

For more details, contact John Doerfler at jodoerfler@doverdowns.com or 302-857-2102.