Riverside Convention Center Receives Riverside Green Business Program Award
Picture Above, Left to Right: Andrew Markis, City of Riverside Sustainability Officer, Rusty Bailey, City of Riverside Mayor, Scott Megna, President of Raincross Hospitality Corporation and General Manager of the Riverside Convention Center, Anne Seymour, Executive Director of Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau, Oscar Ornelas, Director of Facilities, Riverside Convention Center
Riverside, Calif. – The Riverside Convention Center has been recognized by the City of Riverside as a Certified California Green Business, making the Convention Center only the third business in Riverside to be honored in such a way.
[ecko_quote source=”Mayor Rusty Bailey”]Sustainable and responsible environmental protection planning remains a top priority for Riverside as we focus on the next generation of strategies to drive green initiatives for our city.[/ecko_quote]
After a ground-up $43 million renovation, the Riverside Convention Center is a cutting-edge facility that contains sustainable design features such as high efficiency LED lighting, occupant sensors for energy management, recycled materials, and drought-tolerant landscaping, including a garden used for fresh vegetables in the kitchen.
“We want to thank the Riverside Convention Center and Raincross Hospitality Corporation for taking the initiative to pursue greener practices in their facilities and operations,” says Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey. “Sustainable and responsible environmental protection planning remains a top priority for Riverside as we focus on the next generation of strategies to drive green initiatives for our city.”
Currently, the City of Riverside offers this program to manufacturing, office/retail, auto shops, hotels and restaurants. Each business sector must complete an extensive checklist in order to become certified as a green business.
“They are the third business in the city to receive this designation,” says Girish Balachandran, Riverside Public Utilities General Manager. “We encourage more Riverside businesses to follow the Riverside Convention Center, OSI Group LLC and UTC Aerospace Systems in leading the effort to make Riverside greener and a more sustainable community.”
Certified businesses become part of a growing network of more than 3,600 companies that make up the California Green Business Network whose facilities are evaluated based on their efforts to improve resource efficiency through energy, pollution, waste, and employee safety.
Scott Megna, President of Raincross Hospitality Corporation and General Manager of the Riverside Convention Center, said he is not aware of any other convention center in the state that has received such a certification.
“The Riverside Convention Center prides itself in not only providing our guests with the best service in our warm boutique atmosphere but also in being a leader in environmental sustainability,” Megna said. “From recycling, to low-use water fixtures, to our own farm-to-table garden and citrus grove, sustainability is a part of the unique experience we offer our guests. This recognition is testament to our commitment to providing our guests the best hospitality in an environmentally friendly fashion.”
For more information about the program, visit GreenRiverside.com.