The Airlie Center: A Pioneer of Environmental Sustainability

Submitted by christy on Tue, 12/11/2012 - 16:20

Today, the “Green Movement” is gaining momentum across the country, but The Airlie Center has been a pioneer of sustainability since opening their doors more than 50 years ago.  Airlie’ s leadership in environmental initiatives extends far beyond their efforts to reduce energy consumption, minimize waste and utilization of eco-friendly products.  The Center also stewards a series of workshops, conferences, and programs dedicated to environmental education and policy.  Airlie’s recognition of their environmental commitment has earned the Center the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s E3 (Exemplary Environmental Enterprise) designation and Green Seal ‘Silver’ status.  The recently renovated LEED Gold-certified Pavilion meeting space is now available year round and affords guests panoramic views of the natural beauty of the Airlie campus.

Located only an hour from downtown Washington, D.C., the Airlie campus is located on a 1,200-acre wildlife-filled property that gives the impression that the city is hundreds of miles away.  In 1961, the Airlie Center opened and to this day remains committed to the founding ideas of providing a distraction-free environment for organizations to meet in and candidly exchange ideas.   The Airlie Center has over 17,000 square feet of meeting space throughout 17 different conference rooms.  Each room offers views of the beautiful campus and is also uniquely decorated; boring conference rooms do not exist at Airlie!  Every meeting space is built to IACC standards, provides top-quality technology, comfortable ergonomic chairs, built-in conference support, and windows to provide natural light.  Every event is assigned a professional conference planner to assure full technical support, specialized services and flexibility.



Creative, seasonal, and sustainable cuisine is a hallmark of the dining experience at Airlie.  The Airlie Center places an emphasis on local and organic foods, by serving vegetables year round from the onsite 4-acre organic gardens and by working with a network of over 30 local farms.  The garden staff and center chefs work together to integrate these flavorful, nutritious, fresh-picked produce into delicious meals.  Established in 1998, the Local Food Project at Airlie grows 4,500 pounds of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers each year for the Airlie Center kitchen.  The Local Food Project also engages the regional community by hosting workshops, seminars, and conferences for food growers of all levels.

Airlie’s conference planners can also help clients design exciting teambuilding programs such as culinary competitions, ropes courses or arrange for hiking in the nearby Shenandoah National Park.  The Airlie Center offers guests recreational activities that they simply cannot find elsewhere, like skeet shooting, fishing or bike riding around one of three onsite lakes.

The Airlie Center staff provides their clients with an individualized relationship, striving to exceed every need and expectation that they have before, during, and after their stay.  Airlie’s natural beauty, proximity to Washington, DC, and dedication to exemplary service keep clients returning to Airlie year after year.  To learn more about the Airlie Center, please check out their newly redesigned website at www.airlie.com or connect with Airlie on Facebook and Twitter for more information!

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