SEATTLE—Two Columbia Hospitality managed properties—Salish Lodge & Spa and Bell Harbor International Conference Center—announced the results of each property’s participation in the Greening Washington’s Lodging Industry pilot program. Spearheaded by the Washington Lodging Association (WLA) and Cascadia Consulting Group, Inc. (Cascadia), results of the program are intended to provide a roadmap to industry peers, guests and the public for adopting positive environmental practices throughout Washington State.
The Greening Washington’s Lodging Industry program was funded by a $53,000 Public Participation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology, one of only 13 such grants funded in 2009. In January 2010, WLA and Cascadia selected Columbia Hospitality and the Spokane-based Best Western Peppertree Inns of Washington for the pilot program, in which participating properties from each of the hospitality firms received complimentary consulting assistance to implement new environmental practices and then measure and market their successes.
“Columbia Hospitality exemplified a strong commitment to our greening program from day one,” said Jan Simon, president and CEO of the Washington Lodging Assn. “They’ve demonstrated creativity, a willingness to embrace new ideas and practices, and true dedication to serving as a model environmental steward. We’re proud to partner with true innovators in the hospitality industry.”
Salish Lodge & Spa Results
Highlights of the results from Salish Lodge & Spa’s participation in the program include:
• A nearly $6,100 and 75,000 kilowatt hour (kWh) annual savings from switching to energy efficient LED and fluorescent lighting;
• An average savings of more than $450 per month in waste costs from implementation of an increased recycling program; and
• An effort to grow a green culture through team member engagement with the Salish Green Team, which meets regularly to discuss new greening opportunities and progress.
A few of the findings from Bell Harbor International Conference Center’s participation in the program include:
• A $15,000 savings from June to December 2010 by offering water stations to guests rather than bottled water, eliminating waste from more than 40,000 bottles in six months;
• A 70 percent recycling rate of total waste, exceeding the City of Seattle’s 60 percent recycling goal for 2012; and
• Sixty-five tons of organic material have been diverted from landfills toward food donations and composting efforts since March 2010.
Another Columbia Hospitality property, Talaris Conference Center, is included in the pilot program. Since enhanced green practices were implemented in early 2011, increased efforts to encourage recycling in the venue’s overnight accommodations has resulted in the collection of approximately 200 bins of recyclable material per month. A newly formed Talaris Green Team meets regularly to discuss new greening opportunities and progress, and encourages team member participation and awareness.
“Being chosen to participate in this hugely important and exciting program has been an honor for our company,” said Lenny Zilz, vice president of operations for Columbia Hospitality. “Not only have we made large strides in our own greening practices and procedures across the board, but we are thrilled to be in a position to share our findings with our industry peers to promote continued environmental awareness and stewardship.”
These findings will be presented to members of the Washington Lodging Assn. at a private luncheon hosted by the WLA Board of Directors on Monday, March 7, 2011 at Bell Harbor International Conference Center on Pier 66 in downtown Seattle. The event is not open to the public but case studies of the project will be released in spring 2011, in order to share results and lessons learned with industry peers, guests and the public.
Go to Columbia Hospitality, WLA and Cascadia Consulting Group.
