Today, Breckenridge announced their certification as a sustainable mountain resort destination using the Mountain IDEAL standard. Breckenridge was certified by Green Destinations and is only the third destination in the United States to become certified through a program that is accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The certification is the result of a multi-year partnership between the Town of Breckenridge, Breckenridge Tourism Office, High Country Conservation Center, Vail Resorts, Summit County Government, Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, Walking Mountains Science Center, U.S. Forest Service, and others. It marks the culmination of two years of leadership by the Breckenridge community in progressive environmental conservation policies and programs.
Robert (Bobby) Chappell, Green Destination’s North American Representative says, “Breckenridge has a long history of sustainability good practice and were able to leverage that experience to design an effective destination management framework. Certification is recognition for that journey.” Like many mountain resort destinations, Breckenridge’s economy is highly dependent on tourism. While the town is home to nearly 5,000 local residents, it welcomes over one million guests annually. Breckenridge has seen tremendous growth since its incorporation as a mining town in 1959 and as a ski resort in 1961.
Recognizing the community-wide impacts of rapid growth, the Town embarked on a series of studies, discussions, and public meetings to further identify and define what sustainability meant to the community. The SustainableBreck Plan was the culmination of those endeavors in 2011 addressing the need to balance resource conservation, economic development, and socio-cultural issues with a growing tourism sector. This plan built on notable past achievements including preservation of 4,425 acres of open space, creation of a workforce housing program and fund, establishment of a child care tuition assistance program, and improvement of a robust land use and development code protecting historical assets of the town. Now in its 10th year, the SustainableBreck program and partnerships have evolved to address 100% renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions goals, a ban on single use plastic bags, and the transition of the Town’s transportation fleet to electric powered. The most recent accomplishment is the recognition by Green Destinations as a Mountain IDEAL sustainable destination.
“Breckenridge has long been a leader in environmental stewardship and cultural preservation,” said Jessie Burley, Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Breckenridge. “The goal now is to seek an appropriate balance between our locals and our visitors. We have an important platform as a destination to amplify our voice in this space, and we hope to engage our visitors and pass on our values as a community so we might have a broader impact.”
“We are very proud of this Mountain Ideal Certification,” said Lucy Kay, CEO, Breckenridge Tourism Office. “ Local lifestyles revolve around our incredible natural environment and residents are very passionate about how well we care for it. In addition, environmental sustainability is increasingly cited by travelers as being important in their destination decisions. This recognition means so much on so many levels.” Breckenridge began its pursuit of the Mountain IDEAL standard in 2019 following the development of the community’s Destination Management Plan. This plan’s 10 year roadmap seeks to accomplish a shared vision for a more balanced future. One of four strategic goals outlined in the plan is to establish Breckenridge at the leading edge in mountain environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. In order to achieve this, a multi-year partnership was established to shepherd through the Mountain IDEAL certification, a rigorous process that provides 3rd party verification and review of sustainability efforts as a community at the destination level. The Mountain IDEAL Stewardship Council, comprised of representatives from various town departments, organizations, and businesses, provides accountability and ensures continued improvement toward recertification.
As part of the certification, the destination must provide a sustainability training and certification program for local businesses. The ResourceWise program, developed and administered by the High Country Conservation Center, is a free program that coaches businesses through improvements to their operational efficiency, employee engagement, and resource conservation. To date, the ResourceWise program has certified over 113 businesses in Breckenridge. In addition to existing employee training programs at Vail Resorts and Breckenridge Grand Vacations, the Breckenridge Tourism Office has begun to incorporate sustainability and responsible tourism trainings in their guest services and visitor engagement programs.
In the fall of 2020, Green Destinations, an internationally accredited certification body, conducted an onsite assessment of Breckenridge. Through a rigorous process, Green Destinations auditors reviewed documentation, interviewed key stakeholders, and completed a thorough evaluation of Breckenridge’s overall approach to sustainable destination management. Following a months-long certification process, Breckenridge was officially certified to the Mountain IDEAL standard in March 2021 making it only the second such destination in the world.
“This Mountain IDEAL Certification is critical for the Council’s goal of Breckenridge being a leader in environmental stewardship,” said Eric Mamula, Mayor. “We are honored to be a certified destination and are grateful for all the hard work that went into pursuing this certification. We hope this sends a message to the rest of the country and the world that tourism, community, and sustainability can go hand in hand and that this balance is the future of protecting our natural resources.”