Mindful meetings in Monterey County

With sustainability a top consideration for meeting planners, Monterey County, California, showcases its green credentials with environmentally-conscious venues, lodging and dining options

The Monterey community has been dedicated to sustainable practices for many years, while the Convention and Visitors Bureau has also been raising awareness about sustainable meetings though its Sustainable Meetings Guide.

The destination has taken significant strides to help combat its harmful effects throughout the county and beyond.

“Preserving the natural beauty of Monterey County is a top priority,” said Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau vice president of business development, Teresa Savage.

“For us, promoting sustainable meetings means providing planners and attendees with the resources and information needed to make more sustainable choices.”

Green Hotels & Facilities

Monterey Conference Center, in downtown Monterey, is LEED Platinum Certified by the U.S. Green Council and was recognized as a 2021 Top 10 LEED venue for its water efficiency, energy optimization, sustainable innovation, indoor environment quality and more. It has adopted programs such as the Green Building Ordinance, the Commercial Food Scrap Collection Program and the Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy.

Portola Hotel & Spa, adjoined to the Monterey Conference Center, has implemented a number of green initiatives throughout the hotel, including LED lighting, Energy Star® appliances, low flow faucets and showerheads, biodegradable amenity products, green cleaning supplies and more. The hotel is LEED® Certified by the U.S. Green Council and the winner of the 2021 California Hotels & Lodging Association’s Good Earthkeeping Award.

Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove takes all aspects of sustainability into account through waste management, EV charging stations, water conservation, controlled energy use, responsibly sourced foods and more. The facility has won countless awards.

Pebble Beach Resorts, located less than 10 miles from the Monterey Conference Center, offers a number of programs dedicated to preserving its 5,300 acres of properties, golf courses and open coastline. The resort’s Energy Efficiency Program was established in 2008 and has resulted in a reduction of more than 1.9 million pounds of carbon emissions annually.

Clean Food & Drink

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program has been working to transform the seafood industry for more than 20 years and has grown to be a global leader in the sustainable seafood movement. Nearly 90% of fish populations are fished at, or above, their sustainable limit. Dozens of Monterey County’s restaurants are certified by the program including, Wild Fish, Montrio Bistro and Old Fisherman’s Grotto.

Monterey County is known for its wide variety of farmers’ markets that showcase the agricultural bounty of the destination. Meeting attendees can help support local growers, chefs and business-owners by visiting the markets or dining at restaurants that source ingredients from them. Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant in Pacific Grove is one example of a can’t-miss, woman-owned restaurant that regularly travels to markets.

Monterey County is home to several wineries and vineyards dedicated to sustainable winemaking. Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley prides itself on its sustainable practices. The ranch does not use any machinery for picking or pesticides for growing, everything is hand-picked and processed naturally. Scheid Vineyards, which is celebrating 50 years in 2022, in Salinas Valley received the California Green Medal Environment Award, as well as Global G.A.P., S.I.P. and C.C.S.W certifications.

Educational Group Activities

Recognized as one of the nation’s largest federally-protected marine sanctuaries – spanning 276 miles of shoreline the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is larger than Yellowstone National Park, deeper than the Grand Canyon and located steps away from the Monterey Conference Center. With 36 species of marine mammals and at least 525 species of fish, the sanctuary is a remarkable location for wildlife viewing and education.

Another educational activity for groups located just steps away from the Monterey Conference Center is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It houses over 200 exhibits and 80,000 plants and animals including the newly opened, first-of-its-kind Into the Deep exhibit that explores the mysterious deep sea.

Make an Impact

Monterey offers numerous volunteer opportunities and foundations to support. For example, Save Our Shores holds more than 200 beach cleanups along the Monterey Bay coast annually, keeping over 15 tons of trash out of the ocean each year. Another way for groups to give back is through the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. Attendees can participate in habitat restoration projects, trail maintenance or give monetarily to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation.

Meeting attendees can opt for alternative and sustainable transportation to get around town. The Monterey Peninsula is not only an extremely walkable locale, but it also offers bikes and e-bikes for rent from outfitters such as Adventures by the Sea. Attendees can explore the area by cruising along the 18-mile Coastal Recreation Trail or hopping on the MST all-electric trolly that loops from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, past the conference center.