Home Publisher's Point of View New Year Brings Changes to Green Hospitality Events Lineup

New Year Brings Changes to Green Hospitality Events Lineup

1544
0
SHARE

One of my tasks as editor of Green Lodging News is to maintain a list of events on the Green Lodging News website. While not all of the events have a green focus, the majority of them have some type of green component—a session focusing on green design or operations, a trade show where one can find resource-saving products, etc. At this time last year, many of you were gearing up for what was called Green Lodging Education Week. This week in March 2008 included The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, UNLV-JMBM Hotel Developers Conference and The Second Annual Green Hospitality Conference. The latter two events had a strong environmental focus while the Hunter event offered a fair amount of green activity as well.

Unfortunately, the UNLV-JMBM Hotel Developers Conference and Annual Green Hospitality Conference are not on the schedule this year. However, there are numerous events planned that will provide ample opportunity to learn about green building, green meetings, operations, and new trends and technologies.

The first event I will be attending is the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in San Diego. It will be held January 26 to 28 and will feature two sessions on the first day—both focused on green hotels. The first session, “Green Hotels: Providing a Road Map to a Greener Hotel Industry—Standards, Guidelines, and the Future,” will feature representatives of the U.S. Green Building Council, The Maher Group, LLC, and the EPA. The second session, “Green Hotels: What Can Hotels Do ‘Today’ to Become More Green,” will include representatives of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Gettys. Be sure to visit Green Lodging News that week for coverage of ALIS.

Events to Consider in 2009

It is impossible to mention every event but here is a list of some of the events you should consider attending in the first six months of 2009. (Click here to access the Green Lodging News Events page with links to the event sites.)

At NAFEM, which will be held February 5 to 7 in Orlando, Gary Hirshberg, chairman, president and CE-Yo, Stonyfield Farm, will address attendees with “What’s Hot! Sustainability.” Stonyfield Farm got its start as a seven-cow organic farming school and today enjoys $320 million in annual sales.

The Hotel Association of Canada Conference, set for February 10 to 11 in Toronto, will include a session entitled, “The Green Revolution: Saving Money and the Environment.” The Energy and Environment awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner.

The Upper Midwest Lodging Conference, to be held February 23 to 24 in Minneapolis, will include a “You’ve Gone Green, Now Tell the World” session and “Quick Easy Steps to Save Money and Energy at Your Property” session.

I will be moderating a session entitled, “Hotels as Leaders of Sustainable Change” at the 2009 Greening the Hospitality Industry Conference in Pittsburgh. The event, to take place February 24 to 26, includes a full slate of green meetings-related educational opportunities.

CityCenter is Focus at Las Vegas Event

At hotelworld in Las Vegas, set for March 1 to 4, the LEED-pursuing CityCenter will be the focus of a case study discussion. A “Green Building in Hospitality” session is also planned.

The Hotel Waterpark Resorts Workshop, scheduled for March 10 to 13 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., will include a session of energy efficiency.

The March 15 to 17 Hunter Hotel Investment Conference in Atlanta will include a “Going Green” roundtable discussion and a session entitled “The Green Conundrum.”

At the Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show in Atlanta, scheduled March 30 to April 2, an “Automating Your Inn” session will focus on green steps one can take to save money.

Keep visiting Green Lodging News for more details on the first New England Hospitality Eco-Expo. It will be held April 14 in Nashua, N.H.

The planners of the Hospitality Design Expo & Conference have not yet released their conference schedule. The event will be held in Las Vegas from May 13 to 16. In previous years, the event included a “Green Day.”

Going Green in New York

Even though a specific conference schedule has not been released yet, the NYU Investment Conference will include a strong green workshop presence, according to the conference website. The event will be held May 31 to June 2 in New York.

While not hospitality-specific, this year’s NeoCon World’s Trade Fair will include numerous green sessions, one of which will feature a speech by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The fair will be held June 15 to 17 in Chicago.

The Clean Show, which features the latest in laundry-related equipment, will be held June 18 to 21 in New Orleans. The event will include numerous conservation-related sessions, including “The Greening of Reusables: How to Green Your Operation.”

Green Lodging News will focus on those events taking place in the second half of 2009 later in the spring.

Green Lodging News Advertising

If you are a supplier selling green products, be sure to call me at (440) 243-2055 to discuss your advertising plans for 2009. Several premium spots are currently available, including the top banner position on the website. A 2009 media kit is now available by request or by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.

Green Lodging News Blog

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.

As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

LEAVE A REPLY