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Get Ready for Busy Conference, Trade Show Season

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I have not done much traveling for business so far this summer but late summer and autumn will be different with the coming conference and trade show season. While there is just one conference before the end of the year with a specific green lodging focus—the Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference in Orlando, Fla., December 9 to 11—several events will include at least one or more green sessions. From a trade show standpoint, the HD Boutique Exposition & Conference from September 14 to 15, the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City from November 8 to 10, and the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo from November 11 to 13, all promise to include a wide array of vendors offering green products and services. Be sure to review the Events page on Green Lodging News for a complete list of links to information on the various conferences and shows.

There is no doubt that industry events have taken an attendance hit this year; that was the case at every event I attended. As you consider which events to attend later this year, seriously weigh what the return on your investment will be. What I have learned in my many years of attending industry events is that sometimes all it takes is one conversation with a vendor or one important piece of advice from a speaker to justify the journey and expense. In fact, learning about just one new product or technology could end up saving your property thousands or dollars, tens of thousands of dollars or even more annually.

This fall I will be speaking at the Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference in Orlando and also will be attending the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City. I will also be speaking at a Sustainable Tourism Workshop in Memphis, Tenn., and will be participating in a Sustainability Roundtable at Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need some advice on which events to attend.

Upcoming Events to Consider

Without further ado, the following is a summary of what will be “green” about late summer and autumn’s list of industry events:

• HD Boutique Exposition & Conference, September 14 to 15, Miami Beach—In addition to exhibitors offering green products and services, there will be a session entitled, “What Does it Mean to be Green?” The focus will be on sustainable design in food service.

• The Lodging Conference 2009, September 22 to 25, Phoenix—This annual event will feature a session entitled, “Practical Green Concepts in Design, Construction and Conservation Practices.”

• 19th Annual ISPA Conference & Expo, October 5 to 8, Austin, Texas—For spa owners and operators, this event will feature an “Organics Versus Synthetics” debate and a “Wellness Cuisine—The Missing Link in the Spa Experience” session.

• WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exhibition, October 7 to 9, Las Vegas—This second annual event will include a wide range of sessions relevant to lodging, ranging from “Training Water Conservation Practitioners of the Future” to “Promoting Rainwater Harvesting for Water Supply.”

• Adventure Travel World Summit, October 19 to 22, Charlevoix, Quèbec Province, Canada—Sustainability, Social Media & Networking and other topics will be on the agenda at this October event.

• Planet, People, Peace: The First International Conference, October 26 to 29, San José, Costa Rica—This event will address topics ranging from climate change to sustainable tourism trends.

• International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, November 7 to 10, New York City—Patrick Maher, The Maher Group, will moderate a “Benchmarking Your Property’s Eco-System” session.

• Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, November 11 to 13, Phoenix—Vice President Al Gore will be the keynote speaker at this event that grows by leaps and bounds every year. There are nothing but green building sessions to choose from.

• The Green Lodging and Hospitality Conference, December 9 to 11, Orlando, Fla.—Last year this event was Florida-focused but this year’s event is national in scope. The itinerary is still in development but tentative topics will focus on water conservation, sustainable renovations, energy efficiency, and much more.

Watch for additional details on the above events and those in 2010 at www.greenlodgingnews.com.

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