One of the trends I am seeing in our industry is the increasing importance of amenity companies as agents of positive change. I will be writing about this in a feature article in the next few weeks. At last month’s HX: The Hotel Experience show in New York I spoke with a representative of LATHER about the company’s new baobab & shea collection—amenities that include extracts from Africa’s baobab and shea trees. The harvesting of both of these crops promotes the well-being of women and their communities in Africa. I recently interviewed the founder of Health 2 Humanity about his nonprofit’s all-natural, socially-conscious soap brand that helps create sustainable businesses in Africa. Also at HX: The Hotel Experience, I met the CEO of William Roam, a woman-owned business that pledges 1 percent of all sales to environmental organizations.
For my article I will be doing my best to contact as many amenity suppliers as possible to learn about their charitable efforts. I know there are many companies doing many good things—donating product to Clean the World, for example. What interests me most is those companies that are not afraid to make it a visible, prominent part of the way they do business. Watch for that article soon and be sure to contact me if an amenity company’s alignment with a charity or good cause has made a difference in your choice to do business with them.
Warewashers Article Coming This Week
Earlier this year, in September, Green Lodging News reported on a field study of rack and flight conveyor warewashers conducted by Pacific Gas and Electric Company Food Service Technology Center (FSTC). That study documented the energy and water savings and economic benefits of replacing an old inefficient warewasher with a new efficient or best-in-class warewasher. In an article I will be posting this week I will examine what the leading suppliers of warewashers are currently offering and what makes their machines efficient from an energy, water and chemical perspective.
Perhaps with no other water consuming machine in a hotel has there been so much progress made in the last decade than with warewashers. David Ciampoli, V.P. of Sales for Meiko, used flight machines as an example. “Ten years ago a flight machine would use 500-plus gallons an hour,” he says. “Five years ago, they went to 90 to 150 gallons. In the last five years that has dropped to 60 gallons/hour.”
Be sure to watch Green Lodging News for that article.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Planning Advertising for 2016/2017?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2016 and 2017. Many excellent spots are available on our new website, in the weekly e-mail newsletter, and Green Lodging Survey. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2016 or 2017 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 5,065. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail editor@greenlodgingnews.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,734 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 813 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
