Go Zero Program - The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Go Zero Program

Join The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in offsetting the environmental impact of meetings.

Captiva Island from above

To help address habitat loss and climate change, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is making donations to The Conservation Fund's Go Zero^SM program to offset the carbon footprint of meetings in the destination. The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) is the first organization of its kind to offer such a partnership with the Fund – one that is designed to serve as a model for the nation.

Specifically, the destination has agreed to donate 100 percent of the cost of offsetting the CO₂ emissions that result from any event in the destination, including attendee travel, facility energy use and off-site functions. The VCB already offsets its own events with the Fund and is encouraging meetings properties and meeting planners to do the same.

Simple and Free

Participation in Go Zero^SM is simple and free for planners. Those who are interested can click here to download a worksheet that the Fund uses to estimate CO₂ emissions associated with a meeting and complete the required fields. Then return the form to the VCB, which in turn makes a donation to the Fund to offset the emissions associated with each meeting. It's that easy.

Or, planners can secure a copy of the worksheet from the host property for their event, complete the required information and return it to the property. The property then provides the completed worksheet to the VCB for processing.

Good Business Sense

Green meetings make good business sense. They save money by conserving resources, creating and enhancing an organization's competitive advantage and reputation, presenting positive opportunities for marketing, and demonstrating a commitment to corporate responsibility. Plus, green meetings help preserve the host destination for future generations to enjoy.

Perhaps that's why The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is so committed to going green in all aspects of its operations, including its meetings industry. The destination has built its well-known reputation as a leisure destination based upon the pristine beauty of its 50 miles of coastline and more than 100 barrier islands. Because its natural setting is the number one reason visitors and many planners chose the destination, the VCB's founding mission has always been to build tourism responsibly by preserving the very environment that sustains visitation.

For more information on the new Go Zero program and how to participate, contact Pam Brown at the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau at 239-338-3500 or 1-800-237-6444.