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Sustainability from the Heart

Odyssey Resorts is focused on sustainability.
Through its Sustainability from the Heart initiative, Odyssey Resorts is building a legacy of sustainability for future generations.
Initiatives in 2023 include signing the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge starting as a company before gaining commitment from its portfolio of properties. Odyssey Resorts is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our businesses in five key areas of the pledge: Community Engagement, Energy Conservation, Water Conservation, Waste Reduction, Single Use Plastic Reduction.
We adopt best practices and identify challenges and trends to strengthen our sustainability program as we move forward in the years to come.
The three pillars form Sustainability from the Heart as Odyssey Resorts moves forward, creating a well-rounded approach to sustainable practices and making smart choices.

Sustainability from the Heart drives cooperative action, developing practical resources and systems to enable Odyssey Resorts along with its strategic partners to operate responsibly and grow sustainably.

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Three pillars of 

Sustainability from the Heart

Corporate Sustainability

Engage employees to be more environmentally conscientious
Work with communities hand in hand to provide solutions that produce positive environmental impacts
Consistently offer opportunities to volunteer and be agents of change

Property Sustainability

Conserve natural resources by ensuring the responsible use of energy, water, and minimizing waste
Partner with local businesses and suppliers to reduce carbon emissions
Replace single-use plastics with sustainable options.

Personal Stewardship

Champion green practices at work, and model a sustainable lifestyle at home
We adopt best practices and identify challenges and trends to strengthen our sustainability program as we move forward in the years to come.
The three pillars form Sustainability from the Heart as Odyssey Resorts moves forward, creating a well-rounded approach to sustainable practices and making smart choices.

Sustainability from the Heart drives cooperative action, developing practical resources and systems to enable Odyssey Resorts along with its strategic partners to operate responsibly and grow sustainably.
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Local Sustainability Legacies

Odyssey Resorts is committed to programming events and building partnerships that strengthen our communities by supporting local townships, businesses and the people who make it their home.
Through the creation of the flagship event 218 Days, led by Sara Zeleznikar, Director of Sales, Odyssey Resorts is celebrating northern Minnesota – encompassed by the 218 area code. 218 Days will be a collection of events and offers across northern Minnesota will be held to celebrate the wonder of the region, which will bring together a mixture of Minnesota’s natural beauty, its welcoming people, and its thriving business community.

Odyssey Resort's goal is to have a positive impact on the community and does this through partnerships and events. Odyssey’s Resort’s partnership with the Superior Hiking Trail Association allows team members to give back one of the North Shore’s greatest assets through the ability to be trail stewards. This includes adopting trail sections and volunteering opportunities to help sustain and improve the trail system while keeping it clean and operational.

Odyssey Resorts believes in furthering educational goals within communities, for example, participating as a sponsor to Cook County Higher Education, a valuable resource for quality education and support services.

Odyssey is exploring other opportunities to offset its environmental footprint with eco-offsetting programs, and recycling initiatives – such as reusing coffee grounds from its headquarters and lodging portfolio by partnering with Rockview Soap to create soaps and scrubs.
Odyssey Resorts is committed to participating in Earth Day neighborhood cleanups in and around the communities we operate in.
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Property Standards

In 2022, the Sustainability Development Team conducted a survey identifying 24 areas of action, if implemented, to lessen the environmental impact at the property level based on the UNESCO Pledge.

To create change the following attainable goals have been set for Odyssey Resorts Accommodations:
Energy Conservation: 100% LED lightbulbs compliance for interior lighting by 2024Odyssey Resorts are already at 80% compliance when implementing energy-saving LED Lighting. 
Reducing plastic waste: Water filling stations
75% of Odyssey Resorts Accommodations currently include a water cooler or dispenser for refilling water bottles and reducing plastic waste, and that will grow to 100% by 2024.
Reducing waste in restaurants: Using compostable and eco-friendly replacements for take-out packaging and straws.
In addition to these preliminary goals, we’re exploring opportunities to –
  • Reduce our carbon footprint by planting herb and produce gardens.
  • Offering guests and patrons options to limit water and chemical use.
  • Using environmentally friendly cleaning products such as laundry soap, dish soap, and other cleaning products.
  • Minimizing food waste and composting at our restaurants.
  • Minimizing printing.
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Personal Stewardship

To be sustainable, the Odyssey Team is empowered by the company’s values. The Odyssey Team is made up of environmentally conscious individuals who are encouraged to act when it comes to minimizing their negative impacts and contributing positively to the greater good of their community at home.
Team members are encouraged to participate in recycling, bring reusable bags when shopping, reduce single-use plastics, carpool whenever possible, plant bee and butterfly gardens to support pollinators, and make use of hybrid work options to prevent unnecessary travel.
Meet our

Odyssey Resorts' Sustainability Team

The Sustainability Team works closely with our stakeholders to identify and execute opportunities that keep our operations, community, and team-members on the path of sustainability.
Sara Zeleznikar
Director of Sales
Odyssey Resorts
Grant Madison
Front Desk Manager
Larsmont Cottages
Cathy Svoboda
Revenue Manager
Odyssey Resorts
Sara West
Payroll Specialist 
& Accounting Assistant
Odyssey Resorts
Brett Hartfield
Marketing Coordinator
Odyssey Resorts
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