Abode Luxury Rentals became the first vacation rental company to win the Park City | Summit County Green Business of the Year award.

The company earned recognition for waste reduction and guest education across its properties. The award was presented Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau's 2026 Annual Meeting, the Park Record reported. It marked the first time the Green Business of the Year honor was included in the Chamber's annual event.

The Green Business Program, which operates through Summit County Government and the Summit County Health Department, also recognized Abode as the first local business honored under its updated certification model. Abode rejoined the program in 2025 and has achieved Silver certification.

Owners Rachel and Rob Alday lead the sustainability work alongside an employee-led Green Team. The program singled out Julie Finnegan, Abode's property enhancement and sustainability manager, for her role in driving the initiatives.

The changes target everyday operations. Abode piloted refillable toiletries to cut single-use plastic and switched to non-toxic cleaning products. Large plastic laundry detergent bottles gave way to recyclable boxes of detergent sheets. Acting on an employee's idea, the company installed onsite storage boxes at properties to reduce the vehicle trips needed to replenish supplies.

Abode recycles mattresses through Spring Back Utah, a Utah-based organization that deconstructs mattresses to divert them from landfills and provides second-chance employment for people with barriers to work. Staff collect food waste at the company's office and are trained to redirect donation-ready food to local nonprofits and food pantries.

Guests at Abode properties receive information about public transit, water and energy conservation, and waste reduction during their stays. The company also sends regular sustainability updates to property owners, extending its outreach beyond its own staff.

"Abode is a clear example of what happens when sustainability is built into everyday business operations," said Emily Quinton, sustainability director at the Summit County Health Department. "Their team continues to find practical ways to reduce waste, improve operations and build on the work they've already started."