When the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation wanted help launching a new and enhanced environmental business program, it turned to Delaware North and the company-operated Gideon Putnam hotel at Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
At a news conference Tuesday outside of The Gideon Putnam, Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Conservation Martin Brand introduced the New York Green Business program, an updated version of the New York Environmental Leaders program that Delaware North has participated in at four operating locations since 2014.
“In today’s world it’s more important than ever to protect the environment we all share,” Brand said. “We in New York are now on the front line of this national battle. Business, consumers and government can work together to enhance the bottom line and create jobs in an environmentally sustainable way.”
Brand cited Delaware North as a prime example of a company doing the right things in managing the impact of its operations. He noted The Gideon Putnam collects used cooking oil for biofuel, recycles old carpeting and has installed electric car charging stations.
Gideon Putnam General Manger Robert Berrey, who also spoke at the news conference, added that the hotel has recycled textiles, ceiling tiles and many other items as it has completed renovations, implements many day-to-day efforts through Delaware North’s award-winning GreenPath environmental stewardship program, composts food waste and other organic materials and hosts environmentally friendly “green meetings” for corporations and organizations.
“We just hosted The Nature Conservancy here for an entire week,” Berrey told the Saratogian in a story you can read here. “Groups concerned about this issue would rather stay someplace that does the kinds of things we’re doing.”
In addition to the news conference, Delaware North was also represented in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s news release announcing the new program with a quote from Deb Friedel, director of sustainability:
“Delaware North has been proud to be a member of this program through our environmentally friendly operations at The Gideon Putnam and Niagara Falls State Park for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, as well as at two of our gaming locations, Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and Hamburg Gaming. We look forward to continuing to enhance these operations as the Department of Environmental Conservation launches an exciting new version of the initiative with the New York Green Business program.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Brendan Woodruff, an environmental program specialist with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, kicks off the announcement of the New York Green Business program at The Gideon Putnam as hotel General Manager Robert Berrey looks on.