Quintess has announced its ‘Making a Difference’ program, which it calls ‘a philanthropic endeavor established to support our Members’ various charitable efforts’. The club is starting with two opportunities for contribution.

The first is a partnership with Greenhouse Scholars, through which Quintess members can make a difference in the life of a deserving and under-resourced student. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit for high-performing students with few resources, and provides personal, intellectual and professional support in addition to financial subsidies. Greenhouse Scholars’ vision is to create ‘the next generation of leaders who will continually strive to enhance the global community’. The program consists of a personal mentor for each scholar, an internship requirement, becoming a peer support for younger scholars, attending a summer symposium, a professional liaison for each scholar, and financial support. The Quintess management team has donated $60,000 to initiate the Making a Difference program, sponsoring 10 students in the Greenhouse Scholars program. The club has set the goal of supporting 30 scholars in 2007.

Secondly, through its partnership with The Leading Hotels of the World, Quintess has become involved with the Leading Green Initiative - ‘an innovative program enabling their guests to make more conscious decisions toward greener travel’ - and Sustainable Travel International (STI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote responsible travel by providing programs that enable consumers, businesses and travel-related organizations to contribute to the environmental, socio-cultural and economic values of the places they visit. To make available carbon offsets, STI works with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), and MyClimate™, a Swiss not-for-profit organization.

From the Quintess press release:

Carbon offsets make it possible for individuals and businesses to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions they are responsible for, such as product manufacturing and transportation, by reducing or displacing the carbon dioxide in another place, such as reducing the use of fossil fuels used for power.

Offsetting the CO2 emissions associated with energy consumption is a way to take responsibility for the pollution that can’t be avoided. Carbon offsets can include renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, as well as energy efficiency and reforestation projects. Purchasing carbon offsets compensates for the carbon dioxide pollution we create, as the offset purchase stimulates demand for renewable energy, increases energy efficiency, and provides incentives for increases in the production of renewable energy production. Through the sale of carbon offsets, STI is making it possible for anyone, anywhere, to offset their emissions and contribute to the reduction of climate-altering activities.

Apparently STI calculated Quintess’ carbon footprint and the required carbon offsets will be purchased by the club with no financial impact on members.

More information on sustainable travel is available at www.sustainabletravelinternational.org.

BelleHavens‘ announced their green initiative recently, and pressure is increasing on the other destination clubs and private residence clubs to meet this standard. Here at Luxury Reporter, we think this is an excellent thing - we believe that businesses of these types (relatively high margins, large price tags for affluent consumers, and promoting international travel) have a real responsiblity to take action to minimize their environmental impact.

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• BelleHavens goes green
• Quintess member donations program
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