OREANDA-NEWS. August 23, 2013. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials hosted a roundtable with seven Chinese visitors to share best practices at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. This visit was one of several in Atlanta as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The guests arrived on Wednesday from New York City and departed to Indianapolis.

“We are honored by the international recognition of our programs at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and look forward to assisting our colleagues achieve their sustainability and efficiency goals,” said Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Louis Miller. “As the world’s busiest passenger airport, we are constantly adapting to changes in the industry and an open dialogue with our partners across the world is critical to all of our successes.”

One of the primary focuses of this delegation’s trip is to examine best practices in sustainable development in the United States. In 2011, Atlanta was one of the first cities selected by President Obama to participate in a U.S. Department of Energy-backed sustainability program. As a result, over 80 buildings in Atlanta pledged to reduce their energy and water consumption by 20% by 2020. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport was one of 20 Atlanta properties to reach the 20% reduction goal this year, just two years after the launch of the program.

“At Hartsfield-Jackson, we prioritize environmental stewardship,” said Hartsfield-Jackson Director of Asset Management and Sustainability Michael Cheyne. “With the amount of foot traffic we see through this airport, it is imperative that we think about the economic, environmental and social impact in every change we make and we look forward to continuing to share best practices with our international colleagues.”

“Due to the Airport’s leadership in sustainability and its function as the gateway to the international world, we were thrilled that our visitors were able to visit with the Airport’s executive management,” said Georgia Council for International Visitors Program Director Emily O’Harris. “This delegation of Chinese civic and business leaders enjoyed a conversation with distinguished leaders in the aviation industry and will be traveling home with an understanding of best practices at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.”