Environmental Sustainability and
Community Engagement Report
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Table of Contents
• CEO Letter
• Fast Environmental Facts
• Fast Community Facts
• Our Code of Commitment
• About Our Company
• About This Report
• Corporate Governance
• Managing Sustainability
• Reducing Energy Use and Carbon Emissions
• Case Studies: Conservation and Renewables
• Reducing Waste
• Using Less Water
• Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out (HERO)
• HEROs in the Community
• Giving Back to Our Communities
• Responsible Gaming
• GRI Index
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Dear Stakeholders,
Harrah’s Entertainment’s Code of Commitment is a public pledge to our guests,
employees and the communities in which we operate that we will honor the trust
they have placed in us. The Code influences every aspect of our business, including
our vision for corporate citizenship and our approach to sustainability, and it is the
foundation for this Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
– a first for Harrah’s and the gaming industry.
I am proud to announce that this report contains another first for Harrah’s and the
industry: An EPA-approved commitment to achieve a 10 percent absolute reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions for our U.S. properties by 2013.
Over the last seven years, we have invested more than $60 million in energy efficiency
projects, reducing our annual energy use by approximately 163 million kilowatthours and our carbon emissions by more than 100,000 metric tons. A majority of
the lighting at our resorts, inside and out, has been replaced with energy efficient
bulbs. Thermostats and controls have been upgraded and optimized; energy efficient
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technologies have been deployed; and
advanced strategies have been used to improve system operations and reduce energy
and water consumption.
We have cut annual water consumption by 200 million gallons since 2005 and recycle
more than 640,000 gallons of used cooking oil each year.
As we retrofit facilities we make them more efficient. The recently opened 263,000
square-foot Octavius convention expansion at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas is Harrah’s
first completed LEED project.
Behind these achievements lie the hard work, passion and creativity of our 70,000
employees, particularly those who serve on our CodeGreen environmental action
teams at every resort. The teams develop and implement environmental sustainability
initiatives that range from helping build Habitat for Humanity’s first green-certified
home to finding an innovative filtration system to convert waste vegetable oil from our
kitchens into bio-fuel.
Our HERO (Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out) teams volunteered 114,000 hours
in 2009 in the communities where they live and work. Projects included sponsoring
Back to School Shopping and Coat drives for lower income children, advocating for
veterans, and serving as domestic response advocates. Harrah’s HERO and CodeGreen
teams often work together on projects, such as retrofitting the only pediatric hospice
in Southern Nevada to make it more attractive and environmentally efficient, planting
edible gardens at local schools, and passing out 50,000 energy efficient light bulbs in
local communities on Earth Day 2010.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
We also make a financial commitment to our communities through charitable giving.
In 2009, combined donations by Harrah’s Entertainment and our operations, along
with our affiliated Harrah’s Foundation, totaled more than $67 million. The Harrah’s
Foundation focuses primarily on promoting the well being of seniors. We are the
largest corporate donor to the Meals On Wheels Association of America, and support
Atlanta-based Second Wind Dreams, the AARP Foundation, the Clinton Foundation,
Age UK and many local groups.
In 2010 we are expanding our CodeGreen efforts to provide grants for workplace and
in-home environmental projects such as those that reduce energy consumption. And
increasingly, we are taking sustainability to “the front of the house,” helping guests
understand the importance of sustainable practices and creating opportunities for
them to be more sustainable when they visit.
The environmental sustainability and community engagement initiatives I have shared
with you flow through our business strategy and are essential to our business success.
We recognize that challenges lie ahead, and take seriously the responsibilities that
come with being an industry leader: Promoting social safeguards through responsible
gaming, serving as stewards of the environment, and making our communities
healthy and vibrant places to live and work. We are committed to ensuring that these
principles remain at the heart of everything we do.
On behalf of my colleagues at Harrah’s Entertainment, thank you for taking a moment
to review this report and for learning more about the activities that serve as a source
of great pride for the entire Harrah’s family.
Sincerely,
Gary Loveman
Chairman, CEO and President
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Fast Environmental Facts
Environmental Firsts for Our Industry
• Joined EPA Climate Leaders Program
• Announced Carbon Inventory and EPA-Approved Reduction Goals (June 2010)
• Participated in Carbon Disclosure Project
• Won EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement New Partner Award
• Won EPA Regional Environmental Quality Award
• Became a Founding Partner of Team Earth - Conservation International
• Won Seven Travelife Gold Awards for Sustainability in Tourism
• Won Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter (southern Nevada)
Environmental Stewardship Award
Environmental Performance by the Numbers
Since 2003, Harrah’s has:
• Reduced energy use by an estimated 163 million kilowatt-hours a year
• Reduced carbon emissions by an estimated 106,000 metric tons
• Reduced annual water consumption by more than 200 million gallons
• Recycled waste vegetable oil, reaching a total of more than
640,000 gallons in 2009
Fast Community Facts
Employee Volunteers in the Community
• In 2009 employee-led HERO (Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out) teams
volunteered 114,000 hours in their communities.
• Beneficiaries included the Nathan Adelson Hospice, Atlantic City Women’s Center,
Habitat for Humanity, and Rebuilding New Orleans Together.
• In 2010, 400 HERO volunteers at 27 Harrah’s resorts passed out 50,000 energy
efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs in local communities.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Harrah’s Entertainment Giving Back
• Harrah’s Entertainment and its affiliated Harrah’s Foundation provide donations to
local communities that enhance the quality of life for seniors, strengthen education
at all levels, support community nonprofits and protect the environment.
• In 2009 combined giving by Harrah’s Entertainment and its operations, along with
its affiliated Harrah’s Foundation, totaled more than $67 million from all sources.
• The Harrah’s Foundation has pledged more than $70 million over seven years to
community nonprofits that include Conservation International, AARP Foundation,
Age UK, the Clinton Foundation, Meals On Wheels Association of America, Second
Wind Dreams and hundreds of local organizations.
• Corporate, regional, and individual resort donations have benefited local nonprofits
including Teacher EXCHANGE, African National Women’s Council in South Africa,
Macau Red Cross, and the Maldonado Hospital in Uruguay.
Note: For additional information on and data-gathering parameters for these Fast
Facts, please see individual sections below (for example, Reducing Energy Use and
Carbon Emissions)
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Our Code of Commitment
Harrah’s Code of Commitment is a public pledge to our employees, our guests and
our communities that we will conduct our operations responsibly and sustainably.
Adopted in 2000, the Code articulates our corporate ethos, guides our relationships
with stakeholders and steers our business operations. All employees receive training in
the responsibilities outlined by the Code.
Our Code of Commitment is a pledge to:
• Our employees, to treat them with respect and provide them with opportunities to
build satisfying careers
• Our guests, to promote responsible gaming
• Our communities, to help make them healthy and vibrant places to work
The Code also states:
• We believe in being responsible stewards of the environment and we’re committed
to environmental sustainability and energy conservation.
To learn more, please visit:
http://www.harrahs.com/harrahs-corporate/about-us-code-of-commitment.html
Harrah’s Entertainment employees at the Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas resorts
implemented an impressive array of programs that have had a positive impact on
the environment, and educated employees and the general public.
– Ronald Vance, EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery
About Our Company
Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. is the world’s largest gaming, hospitality, and entertainment provider, with
70,000 employees, 52 resorts, 40,000 hotel rooms, and 1.5 million square feet of convention space.
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Harrah’s has resorts in the United States, Macau (China), South Africa, the
United Kingdom and Uruguay. Revenues in 2009 were $8.9 billion. The company’s properties operate
primarily under the Harrah’s®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names. Harrah’s also owns the World
Series of Poker® and the London Clubs International family of casinos.
To learn more, please visit:
http://www.harrahs.com/harrahs-corporate/index.html
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
About This Report
Harrah’s recognizes that sustainability is essential to achieving its core business
objectives. This, our first environmental sustainability and community engagement
report, is part of an overall strategy aimed at understanding and improving our
sustainability performance and strengthening and building relationships with key
stakeholders.
This report is informed by the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) G3 Guidelines.
It presents information about Harrah’s’ U.S. resorts (excluding Planet Hollywood,
acquired in Q1 2010) from January 2009 through June 2010, along with case study
information from Harrah’s’ non-U.S. resorts. Some performance data are also provided
for earlier years. In 2010, with GRI guidance, we launched CodeGreen Scorecard,
a data gathering initiative that will enable us to provide more comprehensive
information in future reports.
We welcome stakeholder feedback on this report and on our overall corporate
responsibility performance. Please send comments to: sustainabilityfeedback@
harrahs.com
Corporate Governance at Harrah’s
Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is one of the largest casino
entertainment providers in the world. Our business is primarily conducted through a
wholly-owned subsidiary, Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc., although certain material
properties are not owned by Harrah’s Operating Company, Inc. As of December 31,
2009, we owned, operated or managed 52 casinos in seven countries, but primarily in
the United States and England. Our casino entertainment facilities operate primarily
under the Harrah’s, Caesars and Horseshoe brand names in the United States. Our
casino entertainment facilities include 33 land-based casinos, 12 riverboat or dockside
casinos, three managed casinos on Indian lands in the United States, one managed
casino in Canada, one combination greyhound racetrack and casino, one combination
thoroughbred racetrack and casino and one harness racetrack and casino.
Our 33 land-based casinos include one in Uruguay, nine in England, one in Scotland,
two in Egypt and one in South Africa. As of December 31, 2009, our facilities have an
aggregate of approximately 3 million square feet of gaming space and approximately
39,000 hotel rooms. We have a customer loyalty program, Total Rewards, which has
over 40 million members that we use for marketing promotions and to generate
play by our customers when they travel among our markets in the United States and
Canada. We also own and operate the World Series of Poker® tournament and brand.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Unless otherwise noted or indicated by the context, the terms “Harrah’s,” “Harrah’s
Entertainment,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.
We were incorporated on November 2, 1989 in Delaware, and prior to such date
operated under predecessor companies. Our principal executive offices are located at
One Caesars Palace Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, telephone (702) 407-6000. Until
January 28, 2008, our common stock was traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol “HET.”
On January 28, 2008, Harrah’s Entertainment was acquired by affiliates of Apollo
Global Management, LLC (“Apollo”) and TPG Capital, LP (“TPG”) and, together with
Apollo, the “Sponsors”) in an all-cash transaction, hereinafter referred to as the
“Acquisition,” valued at approximately $30.7 billion, including the assumption of $12.4
billion of debt and the incurrence of approximately $1.0 billion of acquisition costs. As
a result of the Acquisition, the issued and outstanding shares of non-voting common
stock and non-voting preferred stock of Harrah’s Entertainment are owned by entities
affiliated with Apollo and TPG, certain co-investors and members of management, and
the issued and outstanding shares of voting common stock of Harrah’s Entertainment
are owned by Hamlet Holdings LLC, which is owned by certain individuals affiliated
with Apollo and TPG. As a result of the acquisition, our stock is no longer publicly
traded.
To learn more, please visit:
http://investor.harrahs.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=84772&p=irol-govHighlights
Managing Sustainability
Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.’s (“Harrah’s”) environmental sustainability and community
engagement strategy is approved by the CEO, reviewed periodically by the senior
management team, and governed by a CodeGreen Sustainability Steering Committee
made up of senior executives that include a Regional President, General Manager,
Vice President Capital Effectiveness, Facilities Manager, Sustainability Liaison/
Procurement Manager, Political Director, Director of Sustainability and Corporate
Social Responsibility, Director of Energy and Environmental Services and Manager of
Environmental Services.
Direct leadership for the sustainability program is provided by the Corporate Director
of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Corporate Director of
Energy & Environmental Services. A corporate-level sustainable sourcing liaison in the
Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Department focuses on green procurement.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Harrah’s comprehensive environmental sustainability strategy, launched in 2008, is
known internally as CodeGreen. Senior management at each U.S. resort appoints a
CodeGreen Lead who directs the team and its executive committee. CodeGreen Leads
are held accountable for implementing a sustainability strategy that includes action
measures and employee training on issues such as water conservation and “green
meetings.”
Each resort also has an EPA WasteWise Lead to track recycling and waste, and a
Utility Lead who: (1) serves as liaison to the Energy and Environmental Services Group
for participation in the EPA Climate Leaders program, and (2) implements energy and
water reduction initiatives. CodeGreen teams comprise key functions in operations:
Facilities, Food and Beverage, Communications, Hotel Operations, and Human
Resources, among others.
Continuous improvement and feedback measures include annual internal sustainability
surveys at each resort regarding activities and implementation, annual CodeGreen
Employee Opinion Surveys, quarterly Utility Scorecards, EPA WasteWise participation
(company-wide as of 2010), and, as of July 2010, a CodeGreen Scorecard that
encompasses each of these areas and guest responses.
To address critical environmental issues on a broader scale, Harrah’s has formed
relationships with Conservational International’s Business & Sustainability Council,
Business for Social Responsibility, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental
Committee, and TPG’s (one of Harrah’s’ private equity owners) Environmental
Workgroup.
We also partner with communities to address local needs. For example, Harrah’s
was instrumental in developing Green Chips, a new nonprofit organization that
coordinates sustainability initiatives in southern Nevada by bringing large employers,
governments, nonprofits and electric utilities together for discussion and planning. The
group has created a 12-month “Convene for Green” roundtable to develop a regional
sustainability roadmap.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Reducing Energy Use and Carbon Emissions
Environmental sustainability and energy conservation are intrinsic to Harrah’s
commitment to communities and inform company decision-making on an ongoing
basis. Since 2003, when we formed the Corporate Energy and Environmental Services
Group, we have invested more than $60 million in energy retrofits, training and green
building initiatives. In 2008, we became the first gaming entertainment company to
join the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leaders program.
We are proud to report that in 2010, we opened our first LEED Silver certified facility,
the 263,000 square-foot Octavius convention expansion at Caesars Palace.
Our strategy has been to make energy conservation investments across all our properties – rather than to build a
single showcase project – because we knew this approach would achieve greater aggregate reductions.
– Gary Loveman, Chairman, CEO and President, Harrah’s Entertainment
• Carbon Inventory and Reduction Goals: In this report Harrah’s announces its first
carbon inventory (see below) for its U.S. resorts* along with an EPA-approved
absolute emissions reduction goal of 10 percent from 2007 to 2013. Harrah’s is a
Carbon Disclosure Project participant.
• Reduced Carbon Emissions: As a result of energy efficiency improvements over the
last seven years, Harrah’s cut its annual carbon emissions by an estimated 106,000
metric tons**, the equivalent of 122,000 roundtrip flights from Los Angeles to New
York not taken, or of adding the carbon storage capacity of 88,000 new acres of
pine forest for one year.
• Reduced Energy Consumption: Through corporate-level investments in energy
efficiency that began in 2003, Harrah’s has reduced the energy consumption of its
operations by an estimated 163 million kilowatt-hours per year***, enough to power
15,000 average homes. Additional energy savings have occurred through improved
operational efficiencies, conservation efforts, and operations and maintenance
investments that have occurred during the normal course of business.
*Excluding Planet Hollywood, acquired in Q1 2010
**Emissions calculated using national average emissions factors applied to estimated energy savings resulting from
corporate efficiency investments from 2003 through 2009.
***Data represents projects implemented through corporate energy program. Regions and individual resorts have
made additional investments.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
HARRAH’S DOMESTIC GHG EMISSIONS BY SOURCE CATEGORY
Purchased Steam: 2%
Purchased Chilled Water: 1.5%
Stationary Combustion: 16%
Fugitive Emissions: 2%
Mobile Combustion: 2%
Purchased Electricity: 76.5%
ENERGY METRICS
U.S. OPERATIONS
‘07
‘08 ‘09
‘07
‘08 ‘09
Greenhouse Gases
‘07
1,108,530
1,131,640
Total metric tons CO2e
1,170,150
3,415,960
3,487,780
3,392,690
1,403,170
1,444,660
Natural Gas
Total million BTU
1,505,350
Electricity
Total megawatt-hours
‘08 ‘09
Carbon Inventory Methodology
Harrah’s used Climate Leaders GHG Inventory Guidance, based on the existing GHG
Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard developed by the World
Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, to
quantify emissions for operations beginning in 2007. (Emissions and reductions prior to
2007 are estimated.) The Climate Leaders inventory catalogues six greenhouse gases
and covers emissions generated on-site (Scope 1), as well as emissions from purchased
energy such as electricity (Scope 2). Scope 3 emissions have not been inventoried.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
CASE STUDIES:
Conservation and Renewables
• A co-generation facility at Harrah’s Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
generates five megawatts of electricity, reducing energy loss through transmission
lines and capturing waste heat to create hot water. Harveys Lake Tahoe and
Showboat Atlantic City also have co-generation facilities.
• The Rincon Band of San Luiseño Indians developed a one-megawatt solar plant
that provides enough power to offset 90 percent of Harrah’s Rincon Casino’s
heating and air conditioning needs. As part of the project, Harrah’s Rincon Casino
also upgraded heating and air conditioning systems, saving 3.3 million kilowatthours a year.
• Harrah’s four Atlantic City resorts were collectively named New Jersey’s Clean
Energy Business Leader of the Year in 2009 for taking a comprehensive approach
to energy efficiency. The effort included replacing guestroom thermostats, installing
energy efficient interior and exterior lighting, subsidizing public transit for 1,400
resort employees, and upgrading air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems
controls. In 2008, the four resorts won a regional EPA Environmental Quality Award.
• Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack in Pennsylvania upgraded heating
and cooling systems, implemented advanced control strategies for
heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and
installed energy efficient lighting. Along with other
measures, these improvements reduced annual
electricity use by more than 2.8 million kilowatthours and 8,800 MMBtu.
Harrah’s Entertainment and the Rincon tribe are leading community
green efforts by example. Our one-megawatt solar plant has cut our
grid consumption by almost 25 percent, and our expanded chiller plant
captures waste heat to heat our water. At Rincon, CodeGreen isn’t a
slogan; it’s a way of life.
– Brendan O’Kane, Property Operations Manager,
Harrah’s Rincon Hotel & Casino, California
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
CASE STUDIES:
Reducing Waste
Waste reduction is central to Harrah’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
We are proud to be the first national gaming company to join EPA WasteWise, and
gratified that the EPA recognized our hard work with a WasteWise New Partner Gold
Achievement Award.
Here are some examples of waste reduction initiatives at Harrah’s:
• The Bally’s & Paris Las Vegas combined CodeGreen team pursued an intensive
mapping and walk-through process to identify new opportunities to eliminate or
reduce waste. This led to a 50 percent increase in materials recovered for recycling
and a 33 percent reduction in trash. Other Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas waste
reduction initiatives include:
• New filtration and bottling systems that produce
premium mineral water on-site. Packaged and
served in reusable glass bottles, and sold as an
environmentally friendly alternative, the mineral
water has greatly reduced the volume of glass water
bottles that go to recycling. Served in eight
Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas restaurants
and another 20 Harrah’s restaurants
across the United States, the water
now outsells premium brands. An
additional benefit is reduced shipping,
which has cut carbon emissions by an estimated 25,000 pounds a week.
• Management provides produce and baked goods at cost to help draw thousands
of employees to Harrah’s Green Farmers Markets, which offer environmental
education and free CFL light bulbs. Volunteer carpenters, gardeners, and
seamstresses turn excess and recycled materials into everything from gardening
tables to purses and tote bags to be sold at the employee events. The
Green Farmers Markets raise money for and awareness of environmentally
sustainable activities, employees in need and community organizations.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
• Harrah’s St. Louis Hotel and Casino in Missouri won the recycling round of the
company-wide CodeGreen competition by recycling 8,000 pounds of batteries,
23,000 pounds of fluorescent bulbs, five different kinds of metal and wire, computer
and slot machine circuit boards, cell phones, CDs, DVDs, and eyeglasses. The team’s
robust employee engagement program includes comprehensive management
training, posters, table tents, management memos, and parking lot receptacles
where employees are encouraged to drop recyclables from home.
• In Indiana, the Horseshoe Casino Hammond CodeGreen team identified an
innovative filtering system that turns waste vegetable oil (WVO) from its kitchens
into clean-burning bio-fuel. The fuel is used to run utility vehicles and heats a large
warehouse. All Harrah’s U.S. resorts filter and recycle the daily production of WVO or
deliver it to outside vendors to be recycled and used elsewhere. In 2009 domestic
properties recycled more than 640,000 gallons of WVO.
• At Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, the innovative CodeGreen
team encouraged on-site horse trainers to use straw rather than wood shavings for
stable bedding. This enabled a local mushroom farm to use the bedding and manure
for compost. During the racing season the resort now converts nearly 400 tons of
would-be waste into productive agricultural use.
By demonstrating that a corporate recycling program can be operated
efficiently and sustainably, we hope that city agencies will follow our
lead and get the curbside residential programs back in operation
– Patrick Maher, Director of Facilities, Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel & Casino
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
CASE STUDIES:
Using Less Water
Reducing water consumption is essential to environmental
stewardship and an important aspect of our sustainability
strategy. Harrah’s has implemented multiple conservation
approaches that have led to a companywide
reduction in water consumption of more
than 200 million gallons a year.
• These approaches include installing
more efficient fixtures, offering a
standardized in-room opt-out linen
program at our hotels, and serving water
upon request only in restaurants and at
banquets.
• The innovative technology chosen for an upgrade of the laundry facility that serves
eight of our Las Vegas resorts saves 72 million gallons of water a year, while
increasing capacity by 40 percent and reducing energy consumption.
• Water conservation programs at our golf courses have cut consumption by as
much as 60 percent. These initiatives include replacing irrigated turf in non-playable
areas with drought-resistant landscaping, which also permits substantial cuts in
the use of fertilizer and chemicals, and increases wildlife habitat. Here are some
examples of water conservation and biodiversity initiatives at Harrah’s’ golf courses:
• The Chariot Run Golf Course at Harrah’s Horseshoe Southern Indiana resort
achieved Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Certification, in part for cutting
annual water use by 27 million gallons from 2007 to 2009, reducing irrigated
areas from 126 to 76 acres, and increasing the use of organic fertilizers from 55
to 90 percent. Since 2006 natural habitat has increased 63 percent, sparking
the re-emergence of native plant and tree species. Wildlife corridors have
been built that connect to surrounding native areas. Chariot Run won a 2009
Environmental Leaders in Golf Award for leadership and sustainability in golf
course management from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of
America and Golf Digest.
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
• Harrah’s Atlantic City Country Club in New Jersey reduced water consumption
by 60 percent through use of drought tolerant grass varieties, reduced mowable
acreage, more precise irrigation, and an equipment wash-down area that
recycles water. The course is now adding and repairing drainage areas, which will
cut the amount of chemicals and machinery required for maintenance.
• In southern Nevada, the Cascata and Rio Secco golf courses replaced grass in
non-playable areas with drought resistant landscaping, upgraded computerized
irrigation systems for greater efficiency, and changed mowing patterns to reduce
time spent on fairways and tees. The result is reduced fuel consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions. The courses were also among the first to work with
the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) to implement its Water Smart
Landscape Program.
• Caesars Golf Macau in China introduced Integrated Pest Management to reduce
water consumption and the use of fertilizer and pesticides. It also established an
eco-friendly habitat for ducks and other wildlife. The course is in the process of
being certified by the International Audubon Society.
Water*
3,310,320
3,429,450
Total gallons (000s)
N/A
‘07
‘08 ‘09
Does not include some non-gaming
properties such as office buildings and
several golf courses
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Volunteering in Our Communities
Harrah’s is deeply committed to making its communities healthy and
vibrant places in which to live and work. Employee-based Harrah’s
Entertainment Reaching Out (HERO) teams at each of our resorts
lend time, expertise, creativity, and passion to initiatives that
improve people’s lives. In 2009 HERO teams contributed 114,000
volunteer hours at nearly 600 individual HERO events.
Volunteerism initiatives frequently are combined with philanthropic
gifts to achieve greater impact and meet both environmental and social needs. For
example, our Atlantic City employees helped build the nation’s first green-certified*
Habitat for Humanity home with the support of a $125,000 grant from the Harrah’s
Foundation. The completed house was quieter and more comfortable than a
traditionally built home, and offered lower energy and water costs.
*NAHBGreen - National Green Building Program
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
HEROs in the Community
HERO teams at every Harrah’s property contribute to the betterment of their
communities. Here are some examples:
• The nonprofit Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas plays an essential community
role as the only hospice in Southern Nevada that serves pediatric patients, but its
facilities were aging. Nearly 100 CodeGreen team members from multiple Harrah’s
resorts helped renovate the hospice, making it more attractive, reducing its
environmental footprint, and cutting its utility bills by 15 percent. Projects included
replacing inefficient water fixtures, weather-stripping doors to increase energy
efficiency, repainting everything from window trim to the aviary with eco-friendly
paint, switching to rechargeable batteries, and planting desert-friendly landscaping.
The work done at Nathan Adelson Hospice by Harrah’s volunteers allows us to continue to
care for our patients, their friends and families in a healthier, more sustainable environment.
– Carole A. Fisher, President and CEO, Nathan Adelson Hospice, Las Vegas
• Table Games Dealer Colleen McIntyre-Berenotto at Showboat Atlantic City in New
Jersey sets a high standard for community service. In 2009 she volunteered 386
hours as a veteran’s advocate, 416 hours as a domestic response advocate, and 60
hours as a HERO committee representative, averaging 17 hours a week. For this
extraordinary effort, Colleen earned a President’s Volunteer Service Award signed by
President Obama, bestowed on individuals whose commitment and example inspire
others to volunteer.
• Accounting Services Clerk Janet Leis at Harrah’s Reno in Nevada is an energetic
organizer for Salvation Army dinners, and helped organize Back to School Shopping
and Coat drives for lower income families. She also raised money and recruited
volunteers to send 700 packages to U.S. troops in the Middle East, and launched a
resort-wide recycling program.
• CodeGreen volunteers from Harrah’s New Orleans work with the Coalition to
Restore Coastal Louisiana to preserve critical cypress and mangrove forests. These
forests stabilize barrier islands, improving wildlife habitat and providing critical
flood protection. New Orleans HERO volunteers support Boys Town and Junior
Achievement.
To learn more about HERO, please visit:
http://www.harrahs.com/harrahs-corporate/about-us-HERO.html
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Giving Back to Our Communities
Harrah’s is committed to supporting the
communities in which it is privileged to
operate by donating to local charitable
organizations. In 2009 combined giving by
Harrah’s Entertainment and its operations,
along with its affiliated Harrah’s Foundation,
totaled more than $67 million. Of this, $13.5
million was discretionary.
The Harrah’s Foundation provides multi-year
donations to community nonprofits, with a
core focus on promoting vitality, longevity,
and independence among seniors. The
Foundation is the largest corporate donor to the Meals On Wheels Association of
America, and supports Atlanta-based Second Wind Dreams, the AARP Foundation,
Age UK, the Clinton Foundation, the Brees Dream Foundation and many local
groups.
Atlanta, Georgia-based Second Wind Dreams’ mission is to improve the quality of life
in elder care communities by identifying and fulfilling resident’s individual life dreams.
Harrah’s Foundation donations helped reunite 89- and 93-year-old sisters separated
for 13 years, sent an 81-year-old fan to an Aretha Franklin concert, and helped a
68-year-old woman who felt she had let her family down by failing to graduate high
school receive a diploma for life-long learning.
Harrah’s Foundation also provides educational and civic grants to local groups vital to
the success of communities. Examples include Guardian Family Services in Metropolis,
Illinois, and Bossier Arts Council in Bossier City, Louisiana.
To learn more about the Harrah’s Foundation, please visit:
http://www.harrahsfoundation.com
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Corporate, Regional and Resort Giving
Harrah’s also gives back to its communities at the corporate level and through its
regional operations and resorts. For example, the Las Vegas Region and Harrah’s
Foundation jointly awarded a $700,000 grant to the nonprofit Teacher EXCHANGE, a
reuse/recycle center where teachers in Southern Nevada can obtain donated new or
gently-used computers, furniture, and office supplies at no cost. Las Vegas Meetings
By Harrah’s Entertainment has supported the effort with a donation of $50,000 in
lightly used or new convention and office materials over the last several years.
Donations from Harrah’s international resorts include:
• Emerald Resort and Casino in South Africa donated funds to refurbish a home
health care facility that serves 200 patients.
• Conrad Punte del Este Casino and Resort in Uruguay donated $50,000 to
Maldonado Hospital for the purchase of medical equipment, and provides annual
donations of school supplies, materials and clothes for school children.
• Caesars Golf Macau donated $1 million (HKD), raised through local fundraising
efforts, to the Macau Red Cross for Szechuan earthquake victims.
To learn more, visit:
http://www.harrahs.com/harrahs-corporate/about-us-community.html
Responsible Gaming
Harrah’s is committed to social sustainability and social safeguards. Responsible
gaming is core to our Code of Commitment and part of our corporate heritage,
culture and daily operations.
Harrah’s established the first task force to study problem gambling issues more than
two decades ago, then implemented the industry’s first responsible gaming initiative,
and funded a 24-hour toll-free helpline at the National Council on Problem Gambling.
We provide ongoing financial support to the National Center for Responsible Gaming,
and have been a consistent public advocate of responsible gaming practices.
We want the people who gamble at our casinos to be there for the right reason – to have fun.
To learn more, please visit:
http://www.harrahs.com/harrahs-corporate/about-us-responsible-gaming.html
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Harrah’s Entertainment Environmental Sustainability and Community Engagement Report
Global Reporting Initiative Index
Harrah’s Entertainment recognizes the importance of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
standards to transparent, relevant reporting. This Environmental Sustainability and Community
Engagement report was informed by and references GRI G3 Guidelines. It is G3 Undeclared.
To learn more, please visit: http://www.globalreporting.org/Home
DISCLOSURE DESCRIPTION
REPORT SECTION
STRATEGY AND ANALYSIS
1.1
Statement from the most senior decision-maker of the organization about
CEO Letter
the relevance of sustainability to the organization and its strategy
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
2.1
Name of the Organization
About Our Company
2.2
Primary brands, products, and/or services
About Our Company
2.3
Operational structure of the organization, including main divisions,
operating companies, subsidiaries, and joint ventures
About Our Company
2.4
Location of organization’s headquarters
About Our Company
2.5
Number of countries where the organization operates, and names of countries
About Our Company
with either major operations or that are specifically relevant to the sustainability
issues covered in the report
2.6
Nature of ownership and legal form
Corporate Governance
2.10
Awards received during the reporting period
Fast Environmental
and Community Facts
REPORT PARAMETERS
3.1
Reporting period for information provided
About This Report
3.4
Contact point for questions regarding the report or its contents
About This Report
3.7
State any specific limitations on the scope or boundary of the report
About This Report
3.9
Data measurement techniques and the bases of calculations, including
Reducing Energy Use and Carbon
assumptions and techniques underlying estimations applied to the compilation
Emissions & About This Report
of the Indicators and other information in the report
3.12
Table identifying the location of the Standard Disclosures in the report
GRI Index
GOVERNANCE, COMMITMENTS, AND ENGAGEMENT
4.1
Governance structure of the organization, including committees under the
Corporate Governance
highest governance body responsible for specific tasks, such as setting strategy
& Managing Sustainability
or organizational oversight
4.6
Processes in place for the highest governance body to ensure conflicts of interest
Corporate Governance
are avoided
4.8
Internally developed statements of mission or values, codes of conduct, and
Code of Commitment
principles relevant to economic, environmental, and social performance and the
& Responsible Gaming
status of their implementation.
4.13
Memberships in associations and/or national/international advocacy
Managing Sustainability & Fast organizations
Environmental and Community Facts
4.14
List of stakeholder groups engaged by the organization
Managing Sustainability & Fast
Environmental and Community Facts
ECONOMIC
EC8
Development and impact of infrastructure investments and services provided primarily Giving Back to Our Communities
for public benefit through commercial, in-kind, or pro bono engagement (Core)
ENVIRONMENTAL
Disclosure on Management Approach
Managing Sustainability
EN3
Direct energy consumption by primary energy source (Core)
Reducing Energy Use and Carbon Emissions
EN5
Energy saved due to conservation and efficiency improvements (Additional)
Reducing Energy Use and Carbon Emissions
EN8
Total water withdrawal by source (Core)
Using Less Water
EN16
Total direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight (Core)
Reducing Energy Use and Carbon Emissions
EN18
Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reductions achieved (Additional) Reducing Energy Use and Carbon Emissions
LABOR PRACTICES AND DECENT WORK
LA1
Total workforce by employment type, employment contract, and region (Core)
About Our Company
PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY
PR5
Practices related to customer satisfaction, including results of surveys measuring
Managing Sustainability
customer satisfaction (Additional)
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