Caesars Entertainment Recognized for Sustainability by EPA, Travel and Tourism Organizations

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world's largest casino entertainment company, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, formerly known as Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., is leading the way in environmental stewardship and energy efficiency – receiving 13 environmental awards, 13 sustainable tourism certifications and many unsolicited recognitions from top environmental groups world-wide in 2010.

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CodeGreen, the environmental sustainability initiative at the company, is the key driver to Caesars forward progression in meeting its sustainability goals. It focuses on critical issues of energy, waste, water, and carbon emissions at all of its properties and seeks to engage its employees to reduce natural resource use, conserve energy, and promote reuse and recycling.

Caesars has worked closely with U.S. Government entities Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to develop "industry first" environmental goals like its EPA-approved commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by 2013. Caesars' efforts have been honored with the "EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement New Partner Award," "EPA Regional Environmental Quality Award" and the USGBC Nevada Chapter's "Organizational Excellence Award," among others. Most recently, Caesars Entertainment's Octavius Convention Center expansion project was awarded LEED® Silver certification by the USGBC and Green Building Certification Institute for its green design.

"Caesars Entertainment has been the environmental leader in the gaming industry for years," said Jan Jones, senior vice president of communications and government relations for Caesars Entertainment. "We take pride in our sustainability efforts and the significant effort that has gone into becoming environmentally conscience at every level of our business."

Prominent travel organizations Travelocity, Travelife and Virgin Holidays have taken note of Caesars' practices and its CodeGreen programs, awarding the company their premier environment certifications and awards. On Travelocity, Caesars seven green resorts are marked on its Travel Directory with an "eco-friendly hotel" leaf allowing travelers to see the resorts that provide an eco-friendly advantage. The company was also awarded seven "Travelife Gold Awards for Sustainability in Tourism," making them the only gaming entertainment company to do so. To recognize Caesars extraordinary efforts to minimize the impact of its operations on the environment and for its community support, Virgin Holidays selected Caesars as one of three companies worldwide to be recognized with its "Partner in Sustainability Award."

"We are very honored to be recognized by so many prestigious environmental and tourism organizations for our work under the CodeGreen initiative," said Gwen Migita, corporate director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility for Caesars Entertainment. "Caesars and its employees are looking forward to continued progress in 2011 as we bring many of our programs to the 'front of house,' inviting our millions of guests to take part in conservation at our properties and in their homes."

During the year, local organizations and environmental groups honored Caesars and its resorts for their CodeGreen programs and proactive approach to operational sustainability. These honors include but are not limited to Caesars in Atlantic City named "New Jersey Business of the Year;" Harrah's Ak Chin Casino Resort in Maricopa County, Arizona named "Most Admired Company" and "Green Business of the Year;" and Harrah's Laughlin named as "Green Business of the Year." Caesars Entertainment was also named as "Corporate Environmental Steward" by the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club in Nevada and Eastern California.

About Caesars Entertainment Corporation Sustainability

From coast-to-coast, Caesars Entertainment Corporation resorts are committed to environmental sustainability. Caesars is the first company in the casino entertainment industry to join the EPA Climate Leaders Program and to make an EPA-approved commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by 2013. The company has been awarded the "EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement New Partner Award," "EPA Regional Environmental Quality Award" and is the only company to win seven "Travelife Gold Awards for Sustainability in Tourism."

In the past seven years, more than 110 conservation projects at Caesars U.S. casino resorts and $60 million of conservation investments have dramatically reduced the company's energy usage. The implemented programs annually reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 243 million pounds, the equivalent 247,000 barrels of oil. A few highlights include:

• A newly redesigned laundry facility in Las Vegas saves 72 million gallons of water annually while increasing capacity 40 percent.
• Throughout all properties, millions of light bulbs have been replaced with energy efficient lighting, saving more than 50 million kilowatt hours (kWh) each year.
• Restaurants throughout Caesars Entertainment's Las Vegas resorts have installed on site water filtration and bottling systems reduce purchase and transportation of plastic water bottles.
• A steam turbine in Atlantic City Showboat generates electricity as a by-product of the normal steam production at the resort. Use of the steam turbine produced an annual savings of 2,283,041 kWh and avoided emissions of more than 1,077,685 pounds of carbon dioxide and other gases.
• Several properties, including the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, Harrah's Lake Tahoe and Showboat Atlantic City; have co-generation facilities that generate electricity, reducing demand on the nation's power grid.
• Across 35 domestic resorts, Caesars Entertainment recycles more than 640,000 gallons of waste vegetable oil annually.

About Caesars Entertainment Corporation

Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest casino entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 70 years ago, Caesars has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions, and now operates casinos on four continents. The company's resorts operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars also owns the World Series of Poker® and the London Clubs International family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment.  For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.

SOURCE Caesars Entertainment Corporation