With a portfolio of more than 50 properties across North America, Caesars Entertainment offers a diverse range of sustainable meeting and convention destinations, from the serene natural surroundings of properties like Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe to the vibrant energy of the Las Vegas Strip. However, there is one common thread that unites the company’s entire collection: a commitment to a caring business model that leaves a positive legacy for the planet and the event industry.
The company’s latest CSR report underscores the value of that commitment: Last year, the company invested a total of $72 million in the communities where it operates and successfully diverted 41% of its waste from landfills.
A prime example of this dedication can be found at its Atlantic City portfolio. According to Steve Van Der Molen, vice president of meeting operations for Caesars Entertainment in the Atlantic City region, a consistent part of his role has involved considering the broader implications that extend beyond the opening and closing sessions of a conference and into the long-term environmental impact.
“Sustainability has always been one of our core pillars,” Van Der Molen said, “We’re focused on giving back and how we can be leaders in sustainability.”
Feeding the Community and Addressing Food Waste
Maintaining a role at the forefront of the events industry begins in the back of the house. In Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment partners with Three Square Food Bank to redirect surplus food from meetings and events. During any conference at the LEED Gold-certified Caesars FORUM, for example, excess food is placed in special containers and picked up by Three Square Food Bank.
Across the country, other initiatives at Caesars Entertainment properties aim to make sure that no ingredient goes to waste. In Atlantic City, Van Der Molen said that a close relationship with a local pig farmer creates an outlet for hundreds of tons of food scraps each year. At Caesars Entertainment’s five racing destinations, a plan to redirect horse waste resulted in 16,000 pounds of manure being turned into compost last year.
These programs have made big strides, but Caesars Entertainment is working toward even bigger results. By 2030, the company plans to redirect 65% of all waste from landfills.
Ramping Up Renewable Energy Production
As the company aims to lower its waste output, it’s also making significant investments to reduce its carbon footprint and provide cleaner energy for large-scale meetings. Between 2022 and 2024, the renewable energy makeup of all Caesars Entertainment properties increased from 11.9% to 13.7%—and this share is expected to continue rising with further investment in clean energy.
Over the past two years, five new solar installations have been installed in Atlantic City, including garage canopies at Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah’s, along with an almost-finished installation at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center. The project, completed by DSD Renewables, was recognized as one of the Top Projects of the Year in the 2025 Environment+Energy Leader Awards. Collectively, the solar installations will meet 5.5% of Caesars Entertainment’s energy needs in Atlantic City.
Meanwhile, in Nevada, Caesars Entertainment recently turned on its first utility-scale solar project. With the ability to produce 65 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, the system will generate approximately 15% of the total electrical usage at the company’s properties along the Las Vegas Strip.
Those enhancements, along with projects such as a community solar program in Illinois, will play a crucial role in the company’s pursuit of net zero. By 2030, the company aims for a 46.2% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its 2019 base year, along with a 37.5% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2035.
Empowering Meeting Planners With Actionable Data
In addition to setting bold internal goals, Caesars Entertainment can help meeting planners pursue their own organizational objectives with an audit of total energy consumption during any conference. These reviews are becoming increasingly important, too: KPMG research shows that 79 percent of companies publish reports on sustainability, with nearly all of the world’s largest companies — 95 percent — publishing carbon targets.
For meeting planners who are focused on making more sustainable decisions but struggling with where to begin—a common challenge across the industry—the numbers offer a good baseline to help shape a sustainability strategy. This includes energy and water usage, along with waste diversion numbers that utilize steward and dock sorters to separate waste from the rest of a resort. The calculations are available at every Caesars Entertainment property. Compiling them is no small undertaking, either. The company’s audit process is intensive, and they have a dedicated team that partners with a property’s operations team to develop a five- to six-page study that documents the meeting’s footprint.
The benchmarks at those properties are continually improving as the company implements eco-friendly enhancements, such as water-efficient fixtures and advanced automation controls at the new Caesars Virginia.
Regardless of an organization’s goals for change within its groups, Caesars Entertainment has developed an operational approach with a large team behind this. Every planner has different needs and we want to understand their priorities,to utilize that data to help make them a reality. “We start by having a conversation with the planner to understand their most important issues,” Van der Molen said. “Sometimes it means using locally sourced produce. Other times, it’s serving items in bulk to reduce plastic waste or using compostable materials. Whatever the priority is, we’re here to support and make recommendations.”
It’s a journey that Van Der Molen and other meeting leaders at Caesars Entertainment are well acquainted with. From issuing its first CSR report in 2010 to the present, the company continues to focus on its role, not just to entertain and engage attendees, but also to recognize its ability to lead the charge to a brighter future.
To learn more about Caesars Entertainment, visit the company’s website.
This article was produced in collaboration between Skift and Caesars Entertainment.
