As part of the Scottsdale bureau’s green programming, the Green by Design Awards recognize companies that exhibit outstanding green practices. Companies can nominate their business or another local company for the efforts they have made to become more environmentally friendly.

Awards will be presented in three categories:

1. Green: For the creation of green projects, programs or campaigns
2. Greener: For the improvement of pre-existing green projects, programs or campaigns
3. Greenest: For businesses that have both green business practices and offer green products or services

In all categories, entrants must demonstrate their effort to help preserve the environment or reduce their carbon footprint. This may include, but is not limited to: waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, green meetings, or a green product or service for consumers.

“The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is challenging local companies to do their part and utilize sustainable practices,” said Rachel Sacco, president and CEO at the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We want to recognize those who are dedicated to maintaining the vibrancy of our destination, which is critical to our future.”

Visit www.ScottsdaleGreenbyDesign.com to download a nomination form (on the Green Community Resources page). Applications are due Sept. 1 and awards will be presented during a Scottsdale bureau event in the fall.

Winners of the Scottsdale Green by Design Awards will receive special public recognition by the Scottsdale bureau commemorating their efforts, as well as recognition on the Scottsdale Green by Design Web site, in a Scottsdale bureau quarterly e-mail blast to 100,000 leisure visitors, and in the bureau’s monthly “Spotlight on Scottsdale” tourism section in The Arizona Republic.

Last year’s awards were given to Hotel Valley Ho in the Green category, Fairmont Scottsdale in the Greener category and Edwards Design Group in the Greenest category.

Along with its Green by Design Awards, the Scottsdale bureau’s green efforts include working to promote the city’s sustainable offerings at the Green Build International Conference and Expo in November. To correlate with the conference, the bureau, along with the City of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Downtown Group, is working on a special Green Street Scottsdale event to showcase sustainable ventures and provide conference attendees an opportunity to experience downtown Scottsdale. The event will include the weekly Scottsdale ArtWalk, live music, artist demonstrations and exhibitions.

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Several Scottsdale-area restaurants were recognized by The James Beard Foundation as semifinalists across several categories:

• Outstanding Restaurateur: Sam Fox, Fox Restaurant Concepts
• Best New Restaurant: NoCA
• Outstanding Wine Service: Kazimierz World Wine Bar
• Best Chef in the Southwest: Beau MacMillan, elements at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa

Golfweek magazine’s list of best public-access courses honored several local golf clubs:

• Troon North Golf Club’s Monument (No. 2) and Pinnacle (No. 8 )
• We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Saguaro (No.1) and Cholla (No.3)
• Talking Stick Golf Club’s North Course (No. 4) and South Course (No. 14)
• TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium (No. 6) and Champions (No. 20)
• Boulders Golf Club’s North Course (No. 9) and South Course (No. 15)
• Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor (No. 13) and Talon (No. 23)
• SunRidge Canyon Golf Club (No. 12)
• Longbow Golf Club (No. 16)

TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice Award recognized Royal Palms Resort and Spa as No. 78 on its “Best Luxury Resorts in the World” list and as No. 7 on its “Top 10 Luxury Resorts in the United States” list.

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch received Elite Certified Status by Elite Meetings International and also was honored with Meetings & Conventions’ 2009 Gold Tee Award and Successful Meetings’ Pinnacle Award.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was named No.1 on Health Magazine’s “America’s Healthiest Airports” list and No. 7 on Travel + Leisure’s “Best Airports of 2008” list.

Encore Creative was recognized by Event Solutions magazine as the “2009 Event Supplier of the Year.”

InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa was honored on Travel + Leisure’s “Top 45 New Hotels of the Year” list.

Chaparral Suites Resort Scottsdale was awarded Meeting & Conventions’  Gold Key award.

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Hotel Valley Ho’s Executive Chef Charles Wiley was named “Outstanding Manager of the Year for 2008” by the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association.

GolfWorld Magazine recognized several Scottsdale golf courses on its lists of “Top 50 Public Courses” and “Top 50 Resort Courses” in the country:

• Public Courses: Grayhawk Golf Club (No. 21), SunRidge Canyon Golf Course (No. 26) and Eagle Mountain Golf Club (No. 43)
• Resort Courses: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (No. 31), Boulders Golf Club (No. 40) and Ocotillo Golf Resort (No. 49)

Golfweek magazine honored local golf courses on its best resort and casino courses list:

• Resort Courses: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Saguaro Course (No. 16) and Cholla (No. 38), Boulders Golf Club’s North Course (No. 54) and South Course (No. 80) and Longbow Golf Club (No. 89)
• Casino Course: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Saguaro (No. 3) and Cholla (No. 8)

The 2009 Mobil Five-Star Awards were recently announced and several Scottsdale businesses were recognized:

• The Phoenician and Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North both received four-star ratings for the resorts category.
• Talavera at the Four Seasons was honored with the four-star designation in the restaurants category.
• In the spas category, Fairmont Scottsdale, Four Seasons, The Phoenician, Royal Palms Resort and Spa, and Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain all were honored with four-star ratings.

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch was honored by Smart Meetings magazine with the “2008 Platinum Choice Award”, and with MeetingNews’ “2008 Planners’ Choice Award.” The resort also was named one of the best resorts for family trips in the Southwest region by Travel + Leisure Golf.

Hotel Valley Ho was honored with Spa Week’s Luxe Award for “Best $50 Treatment” for its hot shells massage treatment.

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