Innovation Leader: Jennifer Holderied, Owner, Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

Nominated by: Sharon Burstein (Individual Category)

Project Description

Jennifer Holderied deserves to receive the Innovation Leadership in Sustainable Tourism Award for an individual for the leadership role she has taken for helping others learn and understand how easy it is to be green and develop responsible sustainable green practices. An owner of an independently owned resort, she has created and executed innovative green programs now being replicated throughout the country, all at her own expense.

An owner of the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, New York, Jennifer Holderied has established herself as a recognized global leader for her visionary environmental GREEN programs and initiatives on a state, national and global level. She has pursued green travel innovations, helped protect the Adirondack Mountains: one of the earths only Carbon Sinks, is a recognized leader for her environmental leadership, champion of the environment for her educational leadership to guests and everyone worldwide who visits Lake Placid, New York.

The tourism industry is in a unique position to influence and educate a large number of people about the importance of living gently on the Earth. In 2009 Jennifer Holderied and the Golden Arrow received the Good Earthkeeping Award from the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association.

It was Jenn’s vision to work to create, initiate and form a Green Hospitality and Tourism Council for New York State, whose purpose would be to function as a State backed resource for tourism businesses looking to become more sustainable. Jenn diligently worked with state officials, including DEC, EPA, NYSERDA, I LOVE NY & the Governor’s office in conjunction with NYSHTA towards the creation of the Green Hospitality and Tourism Council.

Prior to its formation, there wasn’t a centralized resource for businesses in the tourism industry to turn to when looking for help on how to “green” their business. One of the goals of the council as it has developed has been to achieve that and to make it easy for businesses to operate more sustainable. This has now become a reality. The pilot program for the New York State Green Hospitality and Tourism Council launched in fall 2009, is now completing its pilot phase, and has become a Governor’s mandate.

In late 2009, Jenn’s green innovations, and programs were rewarded by Audubon International and the Audubon Greenleaf Eco Rating Program receiving their highest award, a 5-Green Leaf Rating, the only property in the United States to have earned this coveted rating and one of only two in the world. Based on the criteria for the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program, a 5-Green Leaf rated hotel is a world leader and innovator of eco-efficiency and clearly demonstrates leadership in the industry on green and sustainable practices. The Audubon International rating program identifies and rewards lodging facilities that are environmental leaders throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Jennifer is a sought out speaker on the environment and Green Hospitality and Tourism for her vision, innovation and leadership. She has worked to make the Golden Arrow an Earth friendly resort, creating green programs for the front and back of the house that lessen the impact of traveling on the Earth’s resources.

Lake Placid is located in the heart of the Adirondack Park, a crowned jewel encompassing approximately 6 million acres. It is the largest protected area in the contiguous United States. Tourism is one of the largest businesses in New York State. Given the location of the business in 2005 she decided it was time to step up and take a leadership role that would help the resort, help educate children and guests and help other tourism businesses take steps to operate in a more sustainable manner.

As Jenn says, “If even a small percentage of the guests who stay at the Golden Arrow each year return home and make one change in their daily lives, such as recycling or using reusable bags when shopping, it makes a large impact and influences others around them. Now imagine if every hotel in New York State had a green program and a percentage of their guests went home and made a small change in their lives. The effects could be tremendous. Lake Placid is one of most beautiful and unspoiled areas in the world. We feel grateful to live in this incredible environment and feel obligated to do what we can to protect it.”

The creation of a living Green Roof was a first for a hotel when installed in 2008. The Green Roof has helped educate guests and the community about sustainability and has become a visual landmark in Lake Placid. Creating an in-house Green Team allowed every employee at the resort to be empowered to not only help with ideas but to implement and execute them to successful programs.

The In-Room Recycling Program and the Eco-Fair are just two shining examples. The tourism industry is in a unique position to influence and educate a large number of people about the importance of living gently on the Earth and Jennifer Holderied has been leading the way helping children and adults alike every day and in every way. She is an inspiration to all who come in contact with her for her leadership and motivation. Her energy is contagious.

As she is always quick to point out, it is the thousands of little things that you can do every day that can have a huge impact. Jennifer Holderied encompasses all of the practices and values that are to be admired and is a shining example of what a difference we can make in the world by bringing together mindful ideas and putting forth the effort to put them into practice. She leads her life everyday as a shining “GREEN “ example of how we can all work to live a more sustainable life.

Being kind to the earth, developing sound environmental practices is not always the easiest or quickest path, but it is the responsible choice and does make a difference.

New York State Environmental Excellence Award

Golden Arrow Lake Side Resort - Green Roof

Earthday with Kids

Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort Environmental Mission Statement

We are fortunate to live and play in the Adirondack Park. We are dedicated to taking any steps necessary to protect this rare and precious resource, not only for ourselves and our children, but for the thousands of visitors who pass through this wilderness each day. We are committed to running a business that is devoted to both our guest’s satisfaction and the environment. New advances are being made each day to help businesses achieve that balance between profitability and sustainability. We are committed to being vigilant in our quest to provide a fun, comfortable destination for our guests to experience this great Park that we call home and maybe help them learn a little something about preserving our world in the process.

We encourage our guests to travel, but to travel lightly on the earth. To reward this kind of behavior, we will give a “Thank you for Being Kind to the Earth” gift bag to anyone arriving at the Golden Arrow by foot, by bicycle, or by hybrid vehicle. Just show us your mode of transportation when you arrive and we will get your “Thank You Bag” ready for you.

Testimonials

“We commend Jenn for being so passionate to make the hospitality industry green. What Jenn Holderied has been able to put into action what most have not been able to articulate, The New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSH&TA) is thrilled that one of its members, The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, Lake Placid, has been awarded the first Five-Leaf Rating in the New York State by Audubon International. This recognition for the Golden Arrow is well deserved and it serves as a great model for all other properties here in our great state that are serious about being eco-friendly. Jenn Holderied should be commended for her hard work and dedication to the green movement.” – Dan Murphy, President of NYSH&TA.

“Jen Holderieds commitment to green eco tourism provides the kind of leadership and inspiration needed to help motivate her peers in improving both the environmental quality of New York State and their bottom line. She is a leader and is visionary in her eco tourism ideas, goals and practices.” – Jeff Sama, Director of Environmental Permits and Pollution Prevention from NYS Department Environment Conservation

“Jenn does my heart green with envy with her ideas and execution in eco tourism. She is a true leader in the development, execution and education of helping people to develop sustainable green practices in their daily lives.” – Kevin Gallagher, President, Green Leaf Environmental (Ontario, Canada)