Next week will mark the nine-year anniversary of Green Lodging News’ launch. It actually took a year to get this publication up and running so I really have spent a decade working on Green Lodging News. I have so many people to thank for their support—the thousands of you who faithfully or even occasionally read the publication, and of course the many suppliers who have purchased advertising over the years. I also have to thank the many folks who have assisted me with circulation efforts since 2006, and Modgility, which provides website technical support. Green Lodging News would also not be as strong as it is today without the article contributions of consultants, suppliers, public relations companies, and others. Keep those guest columns, press releases and other articles coming. They are much appreciated.
I took a look back at the website stats for the end of Green Lodging News’ first year. The website experienced 47,000 page views at that point. In May our site generated almost 468,000 page views. Green Lodging News may never go head to head with publications such as Hotel Management or Hotel Business but it has proven that good content and good connections with green suppliers keeps readers coming back and draws new readers as well—a lot of new readers.
Green Lodging News should be a publication that evolves over time. If you have suggestions on how the publication can be or should be improved, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Where We Lead, Where We Follow
It has been fascinating to watch our industry change over the last decade. It has been just as fascinating to observe the growing interest in green business, climate change, and other environment-related issues outside of our industry. In some areas our industry has been a leader—dealing with issues such as product recycling (soap, mattresses, etc.) and child trafficking, for example. In other areas it has been a follower—in areas such as sustainability reporting, eliminating smoking, etc. (I am still baffled how the gaming companies, and others, who champion sustainability in so many ways, can still allow indoor smoking—after so much evidence presenting the dangers of second-hand and third-hand smoke.)
In my early days covering “green,” it was a challenge at times to come up with story topics. Today there is an overwhelming amount of sustainability activity in our industry. I am proud to say that I have done a good job staying up with the most important developments and many companies contact me first with a “scoop” before sharing it with other journalists.
One of the disappointments over the years has been the inability of any of the green lodging conferences to catch on. The recession put an end to one that was launched by Lodging Hospitality magazine. That publication no longer exists. And, the green conference first held in 2013 by Lodging magazine and repeated again in 2014, has yet to be rescheduled. There are a lot of good reasons folks interested in green lodging should be meeting every year for educational and networking reasons. I hope another green conference emerges sometime soon.
In the years ahead I will continue to follow green building, design, operations, new products and technologies, and do my best to report on those issues that impact you most. Thank you again for all of your support.
Your thoughts? I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com, or by phone at (813) 510-3868.
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 2015?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2015. Many excellent spots are available on the website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2015 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 5,119. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There is a “subscribe” form in the upper left area of the Green Lodging News home page.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,607 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 666 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
