Las Vegas Sands’ ECO360 Strategy in Action: Advancing Environmentally Responsible Operations, Sustainable Seafood Commitments at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Parisian Macao
Las Vegas Sands continues to make strides in advancing our ECO360 global sustainability strategy at our properties internationally. On the United Nations’ World Environment Day on June 5, we announced that The Venetian Resort Las Vegas built on its support for the development of renewable energy and sustainable seafood through new strategic partnerships.
Additionally, we proudly announced that The Parisian Macao received a prestigious LEED Silver certification for the entirety of its operation - making it the first integrated resort in Macao to do so.
Venetian Resort Las Vegas Establishes New Renewable Energy Commitment, Sustainable Seafood Partnership
Advancing Renewable Energy Progress
Las Vegas Sands has entered into a partnership with NV Energy to offset 100% of annual electricity consumption at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Sands Expo & Convention Center, through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The partnership builds on our energy efficiency progress thus far (24.7% reduction in electricity consumption since 2010) - and our mission to explore options to increase the utilization of renewable energy across our portfolio.
“The Venetian Resort is committed to sustainability across every aspect of our operations and along the entire supply chain,” said George Markantonis, president and chief operating officer at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Sands Expo & Convention Center. “As we continue to seek out new technologies to reduce our consumption, we are conscious of the electricity demand needed to run our operations in a way that delivers the experience our guests are expecting. The use of renewable electricity reaffirms our commitment to preserving the environment by avoiding the emission of greenhouse gases associated with electricity use, which is one of our most material environmental issues. We are partnering with local, credible industry players to help us identify and develop options to utilize renewable energy in our portfolio. Supporting the development of green power in the State of Nevada is a step in the right direction for the whole community.”
Collaborating on Seafood Sustainability
In addition, we announced a new partnership with non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy FishWise, to tackle seafood sustainability at the Las Vegas resort. The partnership will focus on the development of a comprehensive sustainable seafood program for the Venetian Resort food service operations, including team member and in-suite dining as well as banquet catering.
“We are excited to gain a deeper understanding of our seafood products and associated supply chain through this partnership,” said Olivier Dubreuil, vice president of culinary operations for The Venetian Resort. “Offering the highest quality culinary experience comes naturally with responsibility for preserving the environment that provides the essential ingredients.”
“Seafood sustainability efforts have been evolving in other sectors, but there is still much work to be done in the hospitality industry,” said Tobias Aguirre, Chief Executive Officer at FishWise. “It’s exciting to see The Venetian, as a major player in their field, take up a leadership role.”
As one of the most prolific resorts in Las Vegas, The Venetian Resort holds a unique platform from which to demonstrate leadership on responsible business and leisure tourism. “Through those partnerships, we hope to elevate sustainability standards, raise awareness among our guests and inspire other industry players to follow suit,” added George Markantonis.
The Parisian Macao is the First New-construction Integrated Resort in Macao to Earn LEED Silver for the Entirety of its Operation
We’re also proud to highlight that The Parisian Macao has received a prestigious LEED Silver certification for the entirety of its operation, in the building design and construction (BD+C) category for new construction projects. Several of The Parisian Macao's comprehensive sustainability initiatives represent new features previously not seen in Macao or in an integrated resort of its scale in the region.
LEED is an industry-leading environmental sustainability rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Its stringent standards of quality and integrity address sustainability categories ranging from energy and water efficiency to waste management, purchasing, and indoor air quality.
"Our objective from the very beginning was for The Parisian Macao to set a high sustainability standard for our industry right from the start of construction," said Mark McWhinnie, senior vice president of resort operations and development. "And to do this we had to design, build and ultimately operate in a way that is efficient and environmentally conscious, without sacrificing the luxury and service quality that Sands China's integrated resorts are known for. This LEED certification, coupled with the enormous success of The Parisian Macao, are proof that we have achieved that goal."
The Parisian Macao met these standards by conserving water and utilizing ultra-efficient low-flow water fixtures to reduce water usage by over 40 percent, installing high-performance, eco-conscious window glazing to reduce the amount of solar heat transferred through windows, and using guest shuttle busses that run on low-emission compressed natural gas technology.
Taken together, these and a significant number of other Sands ECO360 sustainability measures help The Parisian Macao operate at about 25 percent better than industry baseline standards for overall energy performance. That creates a savings of US$3.9 million a year, or approximately 26 million kWh -- enough to power more than 62,000 average Macao households for an entire month. These initiatives are also saving 12 million gallons of water a year, an amount that could fill nearly 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Like The Parisian, all Sands China properties apply the Sands ECO360 global sustainability strategy of Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
