The Meadowmere Resort: Ogunquit's First Environmental Leader in Hospitality

The Meadowmere Resort is Ogunquit’s first certified Maine Environmental Leader hotel! An independent, family-owned and operated hotel, the Meadowmere began welcoming guests in 1983 and operates with the belief that ecological and economic sustainability can go hand in hand. To ensure environmental responsibility in their business, the hotel owner established the Meadowmere Resort Environmental Team which meets monthly to continuously improve environmental programs and operations. Estimates for yearly reductions in electricity and water use are currently 40,608 kWh (a $4,000 savings too) from more efficient lighting, and 78,192 gallons from more efficient shower heads and towel/linen reuse program. Meadowmere is also going beyond their own business efforts and volunteering with other businesses and the community of Ogunquit to make it “Maine’s first green town.”

Meadowmere’s Director of Sales & Marketing, Allyson Cavaretta, says "For the Meadowmere Resort, becoming Ogunquit's First Environmental Leader hotel was about charting a course - taking the beginning steps to a new business approach. Now each project is looked at from an environmental angle and with each success, we get excited about making the next change. First, it was CFL bulbs and energy efficiency, then eco-friendly cleaning chemicals and chlorine-free pools - now we are challenging ourselves to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint, through possibilities like solar and co-generation,and increase our guest and community efforts, through events like World Ocean Day weekend and the Greening of Ogunquit campaign. Environmental Leadership is an evolution and we are honored to be part of keeping Maine the way it should be – Beautiful.”

Meadowmere’s leadership highlights include:

Launching Maine's First Learn to Surf Vacation Package, benefiting the Maine Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and helping to preserve clean beaches, cleanoceansand public water access;

Working with Ogunquit's Conservation Committee to encourage donations to the Clean Beaches Campaign, which monitors Ogunquit's most popular tourist attraction - 3 and 1/2 miles of pristine sandy beach;

Volunteering with the Greening of Ogunquit efforts to make Ogunquit Maine's First Green Town and helping to advise other businesses on how to become an Environmental Leader;

Removing harmful chemicals from their guest’s experiences by converting their Ogunquit hotel's four pool and hot tub areas from chlorineto salt water and ozone filtration systems and changing their cleaning chemicals to be more eco-friendly;

Installing CFL bulbs, vending miser motion sensors and solstice outside lighting timers to increase their energy efficiency;

Thinking globally and acting locally through their amenity line which is made from recycled materials, can be recycled and proceeds help protect the Rainforests;

Continuing to support environmental education through meadowmere.com website, ogunquitbeachmaine.comblog and onsite efforts such as their Eco-Education binder, World Ocean Day Eventand in-room environmental materials;

Implementing a resort wide recycling program in all common areas, guest rooms, renovationsand with their waste management company, including offsite composting. Their efforts resulted in receiving the 2007 Ogunquit Recycling Award, an honor they hope helps encourage more businesses to add recycling to their environmental efforts.

Maine’s lodging businesses are encouraged to contact the Office of Innovation to pursue their interest in becoming an Environmental Leader in Maine’s hospitality sector. Contact Peter Cooke at phone number 791-8101 or www.maine.gov/dep/innovation.