At the Vail Valley Partnership’s Annual Gala and Vail Valley Success Awards on Friday, January 25th, three finalists were honored in a new category: Green Business of the Year. Traer Creek Plaza, home to the Vail Valley Partnership, is well known for leading the way in the Vail Valley with green design in new building, pursuing LEEDS certification. Lesser known, Traer Creek, LLC is planning to do the same in their development of the Village at Avon, they’ve supported the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability through providing land for Avon recycling drop-off and run a tree nursery known as Trees of Colorado. Traer Creek is a finalist in 2007 for leading the way on all such important initiatives, and most of all for encouraging all new development to ‘think green’. As only the second hotel property in Vail to achieve Green Star Certification, Antlers at Vail is a role model for all existing properties by showing you don’t have to be new to be green. It’s all the little pieces that make a difference cumulatively, from eco-friendly laundry equipment to using both sides of a sheet of paper, the Antlers, and all 40 employees, are trying making a difference one step at time. While Traer Creek and Antlers at Vail have both made commendable efforts in 2007 to green-up our community, it was the individually ‘driven’ business that our Selection Committee found made the biggest impact. Announced at the event, the winner of the 2007 Green Business of the Year award is Green Limousine. Seth Bounds, owner and operator of Green Limousine, truly lives the ‘green life’ through the initiatives of his company and his personal principles. Green Limousine was built on the philosophy that businesses can do good for the society and the environment. Every year Green Limousine passes along environmental education and enlightenment by speaking with customers about their green techniques and showing them (driving renewable fueled luxury vehicles and serving organic beers and wines ). Bounds hasn’t stopped with his own businesses, he’s also a part of groups that are making a significant impact on Colorado communities, including the High Country Conservation Center and a campaign for alternative fueling stations. Green Limousine is a true model of green business because their entire company premise is based on doing what’s possible to one day reach the sustainability that we all need to survive. The Vail Valley Partnership thanks and congratulates the finalists and winner of the 2007 Vail Valley Success Awards, Green Business of the Year! | 
