ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The Green Hotel Pilot Program, funded by the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I), was created in order to engage New York State’s lodging properties and understand key environmental challenges affecting this industry. The goal of the program was to assist lodging properties in reducing their environmental footprint while saving operating costs as well as increase revenue by attracting environmentally conscious tourists. In addition, those participating in the certification process would have the opportunity to increase the number of certified green hotels in New York and be featured in green tourism marketing.
In the spring of 2009 in conjunction with the New York State Governor’s Green Hospitality & Tourism Partnership (Partnership), NYSP2I initiated a pilot test of a green certification program for the NYS hotel industry, using the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program as the third party certifier. A total of 42 properties completed the pilot project. Using the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-rating program, each property received a rating of 1 to 5 leaves (5 being the highest rating) indicating their level of environmental performance. The rating process included completion of a 52-page survey representing the current state of their environmental practices, a site visit by Audubon International or NYSP2I for verification of the data presented on the survey, calculation of the environmental score using Green Leaf proprietary software, and a Green Leaf Rating and Recommendation report. Each year properties have the opportunity to be rated to increase their Green Leaf rating based on expanding and implementing environmental practices.
One participant, Grand Hyatt, located in New York City, is recipient of a 4 Leaf Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating award. Additionally, the hotel is a partner in the Waste Wise EPA Program and has obtained four out of five keys in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program.
History & Background
Adjoining Grand Central Terminal, Grand Hyatt New York is in the heart of “The City That Never Sleeps” and in the prime location to Time Square, Broadway theaters, Central Park and world-class shopping. Grand Hyatt was constructed by The Bowman-Biltmore Hotels group and originally built and opened on January 28, 1919 as The Commodore Hotel. The structure itself was developed as part of Terminal City, a complex of extravagant hotels and offices connected to Grand Central Terminal and all owned by The New York State Realty and Terminal Company, a division of The New York Central Railroad. The Commodore was named after “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt, the founder of The New York Central Railroad System.
The Commodore was successful for decades and in June 1967 The New York Central Railroad gave The Commodore a $3.4 million dollar upgrade. By the late 1970s both the railroad line and the hotel had become less successful. At the point in 1976 when The Commodore had lost $1.5 million the Trump Organization bought The Commodore. Trump Organization rebuilt the hotel. The entire building was transformed with a new reflective glass façade and reopened in 1980 as the Grand Hyatt New York. It was renovated again in 1996 and most recently in 2011.
The Grand Hyatt New York is approximately 92 years old, having been built in 1919. There are 900 employees, 1,311 guestrooms, a restaurant and 24-hour market serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, a 55,000-square-foot meeting space, and 22 breakout meeting rooms.
With the motto “Grand Hyatt New York cares about leaving our future generations with a healthier planet,” the hotel’s managers believed the Green Hotel Pilot Program was in line with their own sustainability program and their goals to reduce the hotel’s operational impact.
Grand Hyatt New York’s primary goal is to implement environmental management policies that are driven by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) manager, associates and management. The Managing Committee and the Managing Director support all environmental policies. Hyatt Global Corporation aids and supports the property level environmental management. The FRESH Thrive Team (Fun through good volunteering, Roots of Diversity, Energy and Fitness, Sustainability, Health & Wellness) and CSR manager lead and sustain all implemented improvements.
Efforts & Impact
Grand Hyatt New York manages a sustainability program that reduces the operational impact the property has on the environment. Their vision is to reduce their environmental impact now and through the future while continually providing the best hospitality and guest experience. Grand Hyatt’s goals include implementing actions and considering projects in the following areas: improving energy and water conservation, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable purchasing, green communication and education for guests and associates, and continuous program sustainability throughout each year.
Energy conservation not only provides a significant cost savings but also can decrease soil, water and air pollution. Grand Hyatt reduced their energy consumption from 2007 to 2010 by 30 percent through the implementation of cost-effective solutions. The following are steps and implementations Grand Hyatt has taken to conserve energy and costs:
• In 2011, with the $130 million renovation, censored lighting installed in all guestrooms.
• In 2010, Grand Hyatt New York participated in Con Edison’s Demand Response program.
This program is designed to enable the hotel to contribute to energy load reduction during load curtailment events called in by the company.
• In a year-to-year comparison of 2008 to 2009, the Grand Hyatt New York reduced electricity use by 6 percent (1,113,600 kilowatts), reduced steam use by 6 percent, and reduced gas use by 42 percent (32,710 therms).
• In 2008, front and back of the hotel used all energy efficient light bulbs. Sensor lighting was installed in offices.
• In 2007, the hotel replaced and installed energy efficient chillers at a cost of $4.8 million, producing an annual savings of 1.2 million kWh. Lighting dimmers were added to public areas, electronic thermostats were installed in all guestrooms, and a plate and frame heat exchanger was installed which helps the building maintain its interior temperature without using additional electricity
Water Conservation
According to Audubon International’s A Guide to Environmental Stewardship for Hotels, the quality and availability of fresh water is becoming an increasing public concern, as supplies in many areas are threatened by drought, pollution and overuse. Practicing water conservation and protecting water quality are critically important ways to keep water resources renewable. Grand Hyatt New York has reduced their water consumption from 2008 to 2010 by 35 percent through the implementation of the following cost-effective solutions.
• In 2011 public bathrooms were renovated and toilets that use 1.25 gallons per flush were installed.
• Preventive maintenance throughout the hotel is conducted for leaks by internal engineering staff.
• Low–flow aerators are placed throughout the property.
• Automatic faucet controls are in public bathrooms.
• Upon request, clients are offered water dispensers for meetings, eliminating the waste of bottled water.
• Guestroom linens and towels are changed by the third day or upon request.
Waste Management
Reusing, repurposing or recycling items conserves the consumption of resources, energy and turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Recycling redirects items that have historically been thrown out in garbage and sent to a landfill to a process stream where the product’s useful parts are transformed into a new product. In repurposing waste, the consumption of resources, energy and space used in landfills is conserved. The most common products in recycling programs are paper products, cardboard, plastic, glass and aluminum. Consumers can recycle what is permitted by their waste hauler and encourage haulers to collect a wider range of items and purchase products with recycled content. There are several ways Grand Hyatt separates the waste streams. They use green containers in common areas and recycle the following items: paper/cardboard, plastic and aluminum bottles from internal offices, batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, cell phones, computer appliances, and cooking oil.
Grand Hyatt has also found many ways to donate the following items to shelters and schools: toiletries, toilet paper, clothes/lost and found items, stewarding equipment, linen, furniture, computers, and wine corks.
In late June 2010, the Grand Hyatt New York started composting. Whenever possible, organic material is emptied into separate composting bins. This collection of what was once garbage is diverted from the landfill and is used as a resource such as soil or fertilizer. Beginning in July 2010, Grand Hyatt New York offset 20.4 tons of methane gas by composting 81.45 tons of food waste over an eight month period.
Waste is also diverted by: using E-Fax instead of regular fax, double sided printing, using scrap paper whenever possible, reusing or recycling office supplies before disposing/donating, untouched food in banquets is brought to the cafeteria, uniforms and executive committee’s suits are dry cleaned and returned without plastic, associates are provided with reusable drinking travel cups and tote bags, key cards are made with 50 percent recycled plastic, amenity bottles are made from 100 percent recycled plastic; post consumer recycled content tissue paper is purchased, VIP rooms come with reusable laundry valet bags, coreless toilet paper is purchased, and newspapers are provided only upon request to guestrooms.
Communication & Community
Communication about green initiatives is often the last and missed opportunity for employee involvement, community outreach and education. Employees who understand the environmental efforts being made and their roles and responsibilities towards these efforts are more likely to increase their willingness and enthusiasm at work and at home. Sponsoring and planning events such as Adopt-A-Highway, assisting local farmers, or volunteering time for community events encourages participation in the community and demonstrates the corporate citizenship and goodwill. The Grand Hyatt New York provides an in-house bicycle rack in the summer months to encourage associates to ride their bicycles to work.
In 2008-2009, “Go Green” bracelets were given to every associate to voluntarily wear as a message and a reminder to make environmentally conscious decisions. An apple shaped pin with the Hyatt Earth logo is another outward sign awarded to associates who take actions reflecting environmental awareness. Twice a year the Grand Hyatt provides training seminars to educate all individuals who are required to do purchasing on sustainable products and certifications that meet environmental standards and the content of the purchased product. The 2011 FRESH Thrive Team and CSR manager lead and sustain all implemented improvements.
The hotel’s mission is to incorporate environmental responsibility into everyday operations. With the support and guidance of Hyatt Corporation’s Environmental Program, HYATT THRIVE, they are all together making a positive impact on the environment. Sustainability is a continuous practice that will reduce the carbon footprint now and in the future while continually providing guests with the best hospitality experience. Grand Hyatt New York employees participated in many volunteer activities in 2011 including the Bronx Zoo JDFR walk for diabetes and Climb for Air event with the American Lung Association.
Clients who are holding an on-property event can choose to participate through the “Carbon Balanced Events Powered by EarthEra.” The program provides renewable energy for associated event space and hotel rooms. Organic food is available on banquet “green menus” for catered events along with cornstarch utensils in place of plastic ware.
Grand Hyatt New York believes in transparency and shares information with the community. Using a Facebook Fan Page under Grand Hyatt New York, Twitter, and Hyatt Thrive network, they have touched thousands using the latest media and networking tools. The NYC Green Hotel Network is an industry social networking site created to communicate and collaborate with NYC green hotel advocates to expand their efforts in improving environmental initiatives in hotel properties, the city, and the planet.
Next Steps for Grand Hyatt New York
Hyatt is committed to the environment by applying different innovations and through continuous associate education, which will allow the property to become a more sustainable hotel. Hyatt Earth, the environmental charter for Hyatt Corporation, will be supplying a list of vendors and products that are sustainable to support Hyatt’s goal of reducing the amount of waste the hotel produces by decreasing the amount of disposable materials.
In order to measure the present quantity of sustainable purchasing taking place throughout the hotel, recent purchasing records of sustainable products have been gathered from all departments. Two of the hotel’s top vendors have supplied a list of sustainable items from their products. Currently 20 percent of the hotel’s purchasing is sustainable. In order to maintain and progress in sustainable purchasing Grand Hyatt will accurately take these past mentioned steps to measure and evaluate a new set policy on a quarterly basis.
Acknowledgments
Funding provided by the NYS Pollution Prevention Institute through a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Copyright—NYS Pollution Prevention Institute 2012. All rights reserved.
