Organizations Make Announcement in Honor of World Oceans Day, June 8
Santa Cruz, California (June 6, 2019) — This World Oceans Day, non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy FishWise and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas announce a new partnership to monitor seafood sustainability at the iconic resort and convention center.
The new program will develop a comprehensive sustainable seafood strategy for the resort’s food service operations, which include in-suite and team member dining, as well as catering and events in the resort’s Congress Center and adjacent Sands Expo. In these areas, The Venetian Resort serves nearly 5 million meals every year.
The partnership will build upon the broader sustainability vision of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. and the four pillars of the Sands ECO360 Global Sustainability Strategy, including: green buildings, green meetings and events, stakeholder engagement, and environmentally responsible operations.
“We are excited to gain a deeper understanding of our seafood product offerings through this partnership,” said Pranav Jampani, executive director of sustainability for The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. “We look forward to celebrating the positive sustainability stories we already have in our operations, but also to working with our valued suppliers to implement changes where they are effective.”
In line with the fourth pillar of environmentally responsible operations, The Venetian is working with FishWise to collect data and conduct baseline environmental, traceability, and social risk assessments of its seafood purchases,” continued Jampani. “Using the results, FishWise will help The Venetian prioritize areas of enhancement and develop a responsible seafood policy and procurement strategy.”
Phase two of the partnership will build on this groundwork by moving to implementation of the policies and procurement strategy, as well as deepening engagement in traceability, staff training, strategic communications, and outreach on partnerships for action items. This plan taps into another key pillar of the ECO360 Strategy: stakeholder engagement.
“The Venetian Resort is committed to sustainability across every aspect of our operation, along the entire supply chain. In partnership with FishWise, we have the opportunity to make great strides toward ensuring all the seafood served from our kitchens comes from sustainable stock and is sourced responsibly,” said Olivier Dubreuil, vice president of culinary operations for The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. “We hope to elevate sustainability standards, raise awareness among our guests and inspire other industry players to follow suit.”
In the convention center, Chef Olivier considers sustainability in every decision. In 2017, he and his team introduced Honest Food, a new program that essentially revolutionized the culinary experience at the convention center’s banquet operations. The program addressed the following areas: flexible and diverse menu options; local sourcing in a 450 miles radius; fresh sustainable ingredients, including partnerships with small producers; and waste reduction.
“Our guests are increasingly interested in where their food comes from and what it contains,” said Chef Olivier. “The FishWise audit is assisting us with our Honest Food goal of serving fresh and sustainable ingredients to our convention guests.”
Las Vegas receives more than 42 million visitors a year, including more than 7 million convention delegates, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The Venetian Resort alone hosts nearly 25 of the world’s 200 largest conventions in its meeting and exhibition spaces. As one of the most prolific resorts in Las Vegas, The Venetian holds a unique platform from which to demonstrate leadership on responsible business and leisure tourism.
“Seafood sustainability efforts have been evolving in other sectors, but there is still much work to be done in the hospitality industry,” said Tobias Aguirre, Chief Executive Officer at FishWise. “It’s exciting to see The Venetian, as a major player in their field, take up a leadership role.”
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About FishWise
FishWise is a non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy based in Santa Cruz, CA. Uniquely positioned between the seafood industry and marine conservation organizations, FishWise offers a range of services that empower businesses and a diverse community of collaborators to lead the transition to a sustainable, ethically responsible seafood industry. For more information, please visit www.fishwise.org, and follow FishWise’s work on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
About The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas
The iconic Venetian Resort Las Vegas was designed for the discerning traveler craving a bespoke Las Vegas getaway. The destination-defining resort is comprised of three all-suite towers, boasting standard accommodations nearly double the size of the average on the Las Vegas Strip. Born of the same Italian spirit yet each offering a luxurious escape with its own distinct personality, The Venetian is revelatory and dynamic, The Palazzo is refined yet electrifying and Venezia is a relaxing respite.
The resort experience is marked by a commitment to sophisticated play with world-class restaurants from celebrated chefs; a collective of intimate and elevated cocktail havens curated by the industry’s top talents; Canyon Ranch Spa + Fitness; a five-acre pool and garden deck; TAO Nightclub; a country club-meets-Vegas poolside experience at The Aquatic Club; an ever-evolving series of large-scale art installations; two casinos and poker room, and enviable retail options at Grand Canal Shoppes, anchored by a three-story flagship Barneys New York.
A premier events and conference center, the resort is also home to more than 2.3 million square feet of meeting and convention space, including The Venetian and The Palazzo Congress Center and famed Sands Expo Convention Center. The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is a property of the world’s pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).
MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Venetian Resort: Keith Salwoski, keith.salwoski@sands.com, 702-607-4636
FishWise: Lara Kilpatrick, l.kilpatrick@fishwise.org, 831-427-1707 x135