by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:32 PM ET, Wed April 24, 2019
Florida-based Legacy Vacation Resorts has become the first Certified B Corporation multi-state hospitality company in the country.
With the newly minted certification, which is no small feat, the company has just announced that it is relaunching with a focus on social and environmental impact.
"At the start of this journey, I simply began researching ways that I could utilize my resources and abilities to improve society. Through that process, I learned of others directing the prosperity of their businesses towards the greater good," said Jared Meyers, Co-Owner of Legacy Vacation Resorts. "The most credible businesses doing so were Certified B Corporations. …I am beyond excited to be part of the team that achieved this distinguished certification for Legacy Vacation Resorts."
Certified B Corporations are businesses that voluntarily meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. Achieving the status is a rigorous process that involves an extensive third-party review.
The certification for LVR, which has eight locations across Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, and Nevada, is the result of 12 months of efforts, working to align every aspect of the company with B Lab's requirements.
During that time, LVR introduced multiple programs aimed at achieving a more sustainable business model including carbon footprint offsetting, waste reduction and enhanced recycling efforts, sustainable lifestyle awareness campaigns, green-focused renovation projects and a living wage initiative for employees in its eight locations across four states.
Certified B Corporations have become an important growing trend. They are accelerating a global culture shift by working to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy through a redefinition of success in business. Such companies use profits and growth as a means to achieve a positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment.
LVR's notable announcement comes on the heels of President Obama's speech at the recent World Travel and Tourism Council's Global Summit in Spain during which he underscored the fact that the future of tourism is deeply rooted in sustainable travel.
Hoping to inspire other organizations to follow a similar path, Meyers has co-founded the Florida for Good movement, which funds free resources and events to facilitate the spread of business for good and Certified B Corps.
Since its inception, LVR has donated more than $50,000 to the group's charitable endeavors, with Meyers also dedicating a significant amount of his personal time and income to its growth.
As part of their missions, LVR and Florida for Good encourage companies to take the free impact assessment so they can learn how they measure up against other businesses and learn about the areas in which they can most improve.
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