The CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, caused quite a stir recently when he suggested in a remark to “The New York Times” that he would not hire obese people if he lawfully could do so. He later apologized to Clinic staff and Cleveland area residents for comments that “were hurtful to our community.” In his comments related to health care reform, Cosgrove chose extreme words but I understand his concern about obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese—a rate that is double the level in the 1970s. A friend of mine works for Save the Children in Washington, D.C. According to a report she recently sent to me, more than 23 million American children and adolescents are overweight or obese. The percentage of overweight and obese children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.
What does waistline size have to do with the lodging industry? In the context of corporate social responsibility—a way of thinking and doing business at the core of green lodging—I believe it is our responsibility not to contribute to this epidemic and to not be an enabler of unhealthy eating and sedentary behavior. In your restaurants and other food and beverage operations you should offer your guests and employees what will enhance their health, not contribute to their demise.
Examine What You are Selling
When was the last time you took a close look at what you are selling in your vending machines? Your minibars? Your restaurants and lounges? Last year, RockResorts introduced Appetite for Life, a brand-wide program showcasing cuisine created with local/regional organic and sustainable ingredients. Implemented in all food and beverage operations, Appetite for Life menu items are trans fat free. A great idea. RockResorts is one of many companies that have phased out trans fats—those dangerous fats that raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good cholesterol. Trans fats are just the beginning. Why not replace high-calorie sweetened beverages including soft drinks, fruit drinks and sports drinks with healthier alternatives?
In addition to adjusting what you serve your guests and staff, make it easier for them to stay fit. Fitness centers, on-site exercise programs, bicycle lending, walking clubs and weight loss programs are just a few ideas. Why not start a “Biggest Loser” program? Add up the total weight loss of your staff. Establish goals and celebrate when you reach them. Offer incentives for weight loss. At the Cleveland Clinic, employees have lost 110,000 pounds in the last five years.
If we all do our part to make better food and beverage choices and exercise, our collective waistline will start shrinking. And maybe, just maybe, our health care costs will start shrinking as well.
What are you doing to encourage health and wellness at your property? Send me an e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. I will share the best replies in next week’s column.
GLN Welcomes Vivaro Water, AtmosAir as Directory Partners
Green Lodging News welcomes Vivaro Water and AtmosAir Solutions as Green Product & Service Directory partners. Vivaro Water’s water delivery system utilizes advanced technology to purify water. A nine-stage process removes dirt particles, chlorine, chemicals, pesticides, metals and other solids. The appliance delivers fresh clean drinking water utilizing existing water sources and eliminates the need to store and handle bulky water jugs. Vivaro’s stand-alone, high tech, high gloss “appliance” takes up less space than the outdated bottled water coolers. The water delivery systems come in several styles, sizes and colors. For more information, call (616) 738-0725, e-mail roz.nienhuis@vivarowater.com, or go to www.vivarowater.com.
AtmosAir Solutions’ air purification process can eliminate mold, control bacteria and the spread of airborne viruses, and reduce airborne particles and germs that get past normal filtration solutions. The company’s technology involves an all-natural process and produces no harmful by-products such as ozone or ultraviolet light, commonly found in many other products. The AtmosAir system can be integrated into HVAC systems or used as standalone portable units. Airflow passes through the company’s patented ionization tube. The tube energizes the air to form bi-polar (or positive and negative) air ions. The airflow then distributes the ions into all of the spaces served by the duct system in an in-duct installation, or into the applicable space if a standalone unit is used. For more information, e-mail cgendron@atmosair.com, call (203) 335-3700, or go to www.atmosair.com.
Have a Product You Would Like to Feature?
The Featured Product Spot in the Green Lodging News weekly e-mail newsletter is available December through March. Interested in having your product featured there? Call me at (440) 243-2055, or contact me by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Additional ad spots are also available for the remainder of 2009. Both 2009 and 2010 media kits are available by request or by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Looking for a Few Good Guest Columnists
Feeling passionate about a subject related to green lodging? Interested in helping to educate our industry while getting a good plug for your own company at the same time? Give me a call or send me an e-mail. I am currently in search of industry experts to submit occasional guest columns ranging from 700 to 1,000 words in length.
Green Lodging News Blog & Twitter
Be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. The address for the blog is http://greenlodgingnews.blogspot.com. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also now on Twitter. To follow my postings, go to http://twitter.com/greenlodging. Be sure to add Green Lodging News to those tweets that you follow. Green Lodging News now has 248 Twitter followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
