RICHMOND, Va. — As Virginia increasingly sees how important it is to be environmentally friendly, an annual award ceremony honors those who commit to going green in their businesses.
The Virginia Green Travel Star & Leader Awards are given to tourism operators and partners who are committed to going green and staying that way.
“Conserving natural resources, engaging customers, and working to increase sustainable tourism business in Virginia -- the Virginia Green Travel Certification program works to support and promote those businesses that are committed to reducing the environmental impacts of their operation,” said Tom Griffin, the Executive Director of the Virginia Green Travel Alliance.
“The Virginia Green Travel Star Awards recognizes the ‘greenest’ businesses and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding commitments to the environment in the past year. We are proud to recognize these businesses as they are true partners in our efforts to promote sustainable tourism in Virginia!”
So far, this program has more than 1,200 participating businesses across the Commonwealth.
The following is a list of award winners in Hampton Roads:
- Green Hotel of the Year: Fairfield Kingsgate Wyndham in Williamsburg
- Green Attraction of the Year: Green Leaf & Pebble Tea Spa & Café in Virginia Beach
- Green Event of the Year: The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach
- Most Innovative Green Projects: Virginia Clean Cities – Mid-Atlantic Electrification Project in Chesapeake and Virginia Living Museum - Floating Wetland in Newport News
- 2022 Virginia Green Travel Leader Award recipients: Elation Brewing Company in Norfolk and Shored UP LLC in Hampton
- 2022 Green Team All-Star Award recipients: Hannah Proteau of Green Leaf Green Leaf and Pebble Tea Spa & Café and Megan Hale of Chesapeake Parks, Recreation & Tourism
- Virginia Green Stellar Supporter Award: Ron Kuhlman of Virginia Beach CVB
- Industry Game Changer Award: Mark Swingle of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Congratulations to the winners!