Inn at Laurel Point has launched a carbon-neutral events program in partnership with non-profit Synergy Enterprises.

Located in the heart of downtown Victoria, the 200-room waterfront property is British Columbia’s first carbon-neutral hotel and already offers a roster of eco-friendly initiatives. The new program for events is another step in its 10-year vision to continue leading the charge towards a sustainable future.

Inn at Laurel Point already offsets the carbon footprint for guests staying at the hotel, but this new package includes a toolkit that will enable it to help event planners calculate their carbon footprint and offset travel and food-related emissions. Event planners will then be provided with a certificate of authenticity to recognize their commitment to carbon neutrality.

The new events program includes low-carbon menu options featuring plant-rich items, Vancouver Island-sourced products and plated meals rather than buffet-style options to avoid food waste. It will also recommend other like-minded businesses in the capital city like Eagle Wing Whale Watching and Harbour Air, both of which have already established their bona fides as carbon-neutral businesses.

Offsets will be directed toward providers that Inn at Laurel Point currently supports, such as The Great Bear Forest Carbon Project on Vancouver Island and The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Darkwoods Conservation Area in the West Kootenays.

“We’ve had a long history of aiming to empower staff, guests and community stakeholders to take a more eco-friendly approach. This new program is part of a strategy to go beyond sustainability and do our part to restore balance to our environment, society and economy,” said Brooke Harris, director of sales and marketing, Inn at Laurel Point. “This is just another step that our team is taking to lessen the impact we all have on the environment, and we are excited to show meeting planners how they can take the first step by opting for carbon-neutral events.”

“By leveraging all that they have learned from a decade of making sustainability a priority, the team at Inn at Laurel Point continues to lead the charge to empower people to invest in carbon-reduction initiatives,” said Kayli Anderson, COO, Synergy Enterprises. “The carbon neutral events and low-carbon menus are two programs that will directly contribute to a more sustainable future and hopefully inspire change across travel, events and the hotel industry.”