Vail, CO, May 12, 2017: American Plumbing Heating and Solar, Inc. has won the prestigious 2016 Success Award. The 14th Annual Success Award recognizes businesses that have excelled over the past year and acknowledges their hard work and dedication as the best in the Vail Valley. APHS is nominated in the Actively Green category that is awarded to a local business for promoting a community culture of sustainability. APHS may be the first and only plumbing business certified Actively Green in the world. The winner was announced at a community luncheon on May 12^th in Bachelor Gulch, Colorado.

A Commitment to Sustainability. “Growing up in Turkey, learning my trade in Europe, and then moving to the United States, has been a rewarding experience. I love my adopted country, thus the name of my business – American! I have grown as a person as my business has grown. One direction that I have brought forth from my home is the introduction of water and energy saving products for the customers I service. I believe we owe it to our children and our planet to be as efficient as possible, and a plumber has a responsibility to help.” says owner Mustafa Aydin.

APHS was quick to accomplish. The business received certification in a few short weeks’ time. This is mostly due to a pre-existing commitment to running a green business; they had many key items in place, such as recycling. The company has recorded 739.75 lbs. that was recycled. The ratio of waste to landfill vs. recycle is greater than 3 to one – for every pound sent to landfill, we recycle 3.5 lbs. And the local recycle center pays the company for a lot of the standard plumbing waste. APHS has earned over $500 since recording the waste. A new LED lighting system was the number one action item for them. The lighting project in the office and shop is done and will pay for itself in less than three years. “It feels great!” says the employee green team member.

An honor among peers. Success Awards are presented by the Vail Valley Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce for the Vail, Eagle County mountain resort community. For the past fourteen years, the Vail Valley Partnership has had the honor of recognizing businesses, non-profits and individuals who have helped make the Vail Valley and Eagle County a dynamic and diverse business community. The Success Awards are given for business achievement, business growth and community involvement. APHS was one among seventeen nominees in their category, and then won among the three finalists.

“I never imagined my company, my little plumbing business, would achieve such an honor. Wow! It’s a mind blower. And it’s especially rewarding knowing that other local businesses recognize our achievement. This really makes me want to do more to set a good example for our community.” says Mr. Aydin.

That Green Thing:

American Plumbing Heating and Solar, Inc. earned the Actively Green 2017 eco-award certification from Sustainable Travel International and local organization, Walking Mountains Science Center. This certification demonstrates the APHS commitment to the environment and to sharing that commitment with clients and the Eagle Valley community.

Contact American Plumbing, Heating and Solar to schedule a consult about your home or business energy savings or general plumbing needs – 970-748-8667. Online: http://www.aphsolar.com/contact-us. View our company message and video about solar heating systems on our You Tube channel.

About American Plumbing Heating and Solar, Inc.:

American Plumbing Heating and Solar is a leading residential and commercial plumbing contractor in Vail, Eagle County, Colorado. We offer full-service plumbing, hvac and solar hot water (solar thermal) solutions. As part of our mission, we operate in an energy efficient, sustainability manner. In fact, as a Lodging Quality Assurance (LQA) certified vendor, we offer our clients attractive and energy, water saving fixtures when we replace or remodel their plumbing system. For more information, contact APHS at P.O. Box 9134, Avon, CO 81632. Tel: 970-748-8667, Fax: 970-692-8381. Visit our website and blog at www.aphsolar.com.

About the Vail Valley Partnership and the Success Awards:

Vail Valley Partnership, a 501c(6) nonprofit organization, has been engaged in the community from the early days of Vail, starting in 1964 as the Vail Resort Association. Vail Valley Partnership is the regional community development organization, dedicated to the economic vitality of the Vail Valley. We support local businesses. We unite key stakeholders. We lead collaborative efforts throughout the community.

With a membership of 800+ organizations that spans the Vail Valley and beyond and which represents 80% of the local workforce, Vail Valley Partnership is dedicated to ensuring local business success and fostering regional economic vitality by offering local business tools & resources, promoting the Vail Valley to destination guests, and initiating economic development efforts.

What are the Success Awards? The Partnership has had the honor of recognizing businesses, non-profits and individuals who have helped make the Vail, Eagle Valley a dynamic and diverse business community. The Success Awards are given for business achievement, business growth and community involvement. Each year, the business community nominates organizations and individuals for recognition via the success awards. Our nominating committee poured over the applications and selected three finalists in each category. Learn more about the Success Awards and the Vail Valley Partnership at this link: https://www.vailvalleypartnership.com/events/annual-success-awards/

About Actively Green – Local and International:

The Actively Green Sustainable Business Certification Program is part of a larger movement to create a culture of sustainability throughout the Eagle Valley. Over 140 businesses have participated in the trainings with 51 businesses, including American Plumbing Heating and Solar, currently certified and many more actively working toward certification.

The Actively Green Sustainable Business Training and Certification Program was launched as an innovative legacy initiative of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek. Through a partnership with the global non-profit Sustainable Travel International the Eagle Valley has its own credible certification program and sustainability management system. Founding program sponsors are Sustainable Travel International, The Town of Vail, Walking Mountains Science Center, Vail Valley Foundation. APHS encourages others to take advantage of the training and incentives through the Vail Valley Partnership and Eagle County.

Contact : Debbie Marquez, Marketing

American Plumbing Heating and Solar, Inc.

5 Murray Rd., #C-3, Edwards, CO 81632

Phone: 970-748-8667 Fax: 970-692-8381

Email: [email protected]

The 6-8 September event is in observance of  International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (9 May, 2017) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the region’s tourism development agency, is partnering with the ministry of tourism in St. Kitts to host a sustainable tourism forum, with a focus on climate change.

Themed, Good for Us, Better for All, the 6-8 September Climate Smart Sustainable Tourism Forum is being held in observance of International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and will bring together local, regional, and international representatives from public and private sector tourism entities, as well as development agencies that offer programming in sustainable tourism, for three days of interactive engagements.

Major elements will include best practice sharing and strategic consultations for a CTO climate adaptation project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, in order to strengthen holistic destination management approaches in the Caribbean.

“The CTO is honoured to partner with St. Kitts and Nevis to host this forum, which will explore various facets of sustainable tourism, in view of the threats and opportunities for regional tourism development, as a result of climate variability and climate change,” said Amanda Charles, the CTO’s sustainable tourism specialist.

The winner of the 2004 CTO/Travel Mole Sustainable Tourism Award in Destination Stewardship, St Kitts is one of the first destinations in the world to be accepted as an early adopter of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s criteria for destinations. It also is a founding member of the Sustainable Destination Alliance of the Americas, an initiative by the CTO, the Organization of American States, Sustainable Travel International and Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited to promote sustainable destination management in the Caribbean and Central America.

Its many initiatives include the establishment of the Heart of St. Kitts Foundation and Sustainability Charter, which helps businesses understand how their operations contribute to destination-wide sustainability, and to support community projects that make St. Kitts a more sustainable place to live and experience.

“There is an inexorable link between tourism activity and climate change. Tourism therefore must play an integral role in the global response to climate change; a charge St. Kitts takes very seriously. Through the investment of considerable resources into sustainable tourism, St. Kitts is changing the way tourism is perceived and practiced globally, regionally, and at home,” minister of tourism Lindsay Grant said.

The Climate Smart Sustainable Tourism Forum will also feature experiential field visits, a meeting of CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Technical Committee, and winning presentations from CTO’s Primary School Tourism Writing Competition. The event culminates with the presentation ceremony for CTO’s 2017 Sustainable Tourism Awards which recognise regional sustainability champions.

Organising partners include the CTO, the St. Kitts Ministry of Tourism, the St. Kitts Sustainable Destination Council, and Sustainable Travel International. For sponsorship opportunities, and to signal your interest in attending please contact Amanda Charles at [email protected] or  Kennedy Pemberton at [email protected].

About St. Kitts

St. Kitts is currently ranked by US News & World Report, with sister island Nevis, at #1 on a list of Best Caribbean Honeymoons, #2 on a list of the Best Beach Honeymoon Destinations in the World, #5 on a list of Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean, #7 on a list of the Best Islands in the World and #7 on a list of theBest Places to Visit in the Caribbean.  The destination is also ranked at #8 on a list of the Top 10 Best Islands for a Holiday by Places To See In Your Lifetime and one of the Top 12 Best Caribbean Vacations on FlipKey.com, the vacation rental company of leading travel website, TripAdvisor^®.

Most recently, The Wall Street Journal ranked St. Kitts as #9 on a list of 10 places across the world for Where to Vacation in 2017, Coastal Living ranked St. Kitts as #16 of The World’s 21 Top Luxury Beach Destinations in 2017, and Caribbean Journal ranked St. Kitts as #11 of 25 Caribbean Destinations to Visit in 2017. St. Kitts has also been named #8 of the Top 10 Sexiest Places on the Planet by Reader’s Digest (Canada), one of the Best Caribbean Cruise Destinations by Thrillistand one of 6 Caribbean Islands You Need to Visit Now by Travelocity.

Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and sandy beaches combine to make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Located in the northern Leeward Islands, it offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history.  The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, and touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the more traditional vacation pastimes available are watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino or simply relaxing on the beach.  For more information about St. Kitts, visit www.stkittstourism.kn.

About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization working to improve the lives of people around the world and the environments they rely upon. By leveraging the power of travel and tourism and providing business and government leaders with the guidance, policies and solutions they need, we aim to ensure that the communities they’re engaged in thrive and their environments are healthy for future generations. For more information, visit www.sustainabletravel.org.

About the Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of the region’s finest countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean. Among the benefits to its members the organization provides specialized support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology. In addition the CTO, in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, jointly and equally owns the Caribbean Tourism Development Company, a marketing and business development entity dedicated to promoting the Caribbean brand worldwide.

The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail:[email protected]

The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad St., Suite 3302, New York, NY 10004, USA; Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail:[email protected];

The CTO’s London office is located at The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England;  Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail:[email protected]; For Canada contact Nancy Drolet at [email protected]; Tel:  905-857-1986.

For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization please visit www.OneCaribbean.org. Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization. Follow CTO on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ctotourism/

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Johnson JohnRose – CTO

Tel: (246) 427-5242

Email: [email protected]