Vail Resorts was recently named by Conde Naste Traveler as winner of the magazine’s 2008 World Savers Award in the category of environmental protection.

The World Saver award is bestowed by the magazine each year on companies that excel in social responsibility in categories including: poverty, preservation, wildlife and health. The winner in each category was selected from more than 140 companies.

In conjunction with this award, Vail Resorts announced a milestone in its energy layoff policy. “Across the company, we identified a 5 percent reduction in our energy use for Fiscal year 2009,” said Amy Kemp, corporate communications manager, Vail Resorts. “We will deliver an additional 5 percent reduction in energy by the end of fiscal year 2010.”

The magazine highlighted the resorts’ commitment in 2006 to offset 100 percent of its electricity usage with renewable energy credits that support the development of wind farms around the country. It was the second-largest corporate commitment to this renewable energy program in the United States

As part of its energy conservation program, Vail Resorts implemented a company--wide energy layoff in 2007, with the goal of reducing energy consumption by 10 percent over two years.

The company also forged a partnership with the National Forest Foundation, a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, to create one of the largest donation--based forest conservation programs of its kind. It allowed numerous miles of trails to be built and maintained, wildlife habitat to be protected, and improved of the overall health of the forest.

Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts, said this is just the first step of the company’s conservation and stewardship efforts.

“We’re not resting on these laurels,” Katz said. “We are continuously looking for ways to improve the experience we provide our guests in a responsible and sustainable way.”