Home Publisher's Point of View Lodging Industry to North Carolina: There is No Room for Inequality

Lodging Industry to North Carolina: There is No Room for Inequality

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At the top of a Marriott website dedicated to lesbian and gay travel, a Marriott statement reads as follows: “At Marriott, there is no room for inequality. We believe that every guest, whoever they are, wherever they go, should feel comfortable and welcome the moment they walk through our doors.” Marriott is just one example of many companies in our industry that have made sure that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is welcome in its hotels. Of course it makes sense—legally, ethically, economically, etc.—to welcome all people just as much as any other without discriminating based on religion or sexual preference. We are indeed all equal, aren’t we? Or, as some believe, are there those of us who are more equal than others?

Responding to what I see as another knucklehead-driven piece of state legislation that legalizes discrimination, Marriott joined companies including Hilton, Starwood Hotels, Choice Hotels and many others in signing a letter last week that calls on North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and the North Carolina General Assembly to repeal the radical provisions in the deeply discriminatory House Bill 2 that recently was pushed through the legislature. In a nutshell, the law mandates the use of bathrooms by gender assignment at birth rather than gender identity. It also bars local governments in the state from passing anti-discrimination laws to protect gay and transgender people.

A Pattern of Legislation that Discriminates

What the legislature in North Carolina did in House Bill 2 was repeat the type of discriminatory language that has appeared in legislation in other states and inspired protests in the process that could have a strong negative impact on business, tourism and possibly even result in the loss of jobs for the good people of the state. Don’t these representatives watch the news? If you pass legislation that discriminates, you will pay a price.

Just last week, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal announced he would veto anti-LGBT legislation in Georgia after facing a sustained outcry from a broad chorus of advocates and companies. The legislation would have allowed people and businesses to deny services to gay people if it was based on religious belief.

Perhaps the travel industry is not making enough noise when these pieces of legislation are introduced? How in the world are the proposed laws reaching the governor’s desk before they are either signed or vetoed? Are these pieces of legislation on the radar screen of the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. or our state associations? How many more of these laws are we going to see passed?

Kudos to Marriott, Hilton, Starwood Hotels, Choice Hotels and all the many other companies for standing up against legislation that discriminates.

Maybe it’s time to write legislation that mandates a knucklehead test for anyone considering running for state office? On second thought, make that both state and national office.

Green Lodging News Adds GreenEarth Cleaning as Founding Sponsor

Green Lodging News welcomes GreenEarth Cleaning as a Founding Sponsor. GreenEarth Cleaning began in 1999 as an environmentally non-toxic alternative for the dry cleaning industry. It has now become the industry’s largest brand with over 6,000 points of service in 25 countries. Because the GreenEarth dry cleaning technology uses liquid silicone as its dry cleaning fluid, there are no longer any environmental damages associated with dry cleaning on the premises. Within the hospitality industry, the GreenEarth dry cleaning process has been adopted by numerous high-end properties in several countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and the Philippines, to name a few. With the conversion to GreenEarth, these hotels are enjoying lower operating costs (less utilities, chemical additives, and production labor). For more information, contact Tim Maxwell at tmaxwell@greenearthcleaning.com. You may also call (877) 926-0895 or go to www.greenearthcleaning.com.

Earth Day Activities Planned?

Earth Day is April 22. In honor of Earth Day, the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa in Monterey (Calif.) will give out a tree-in-a-box kit to guests who check in on April 22. Starwood Hotels & Resorts is donating tree-planting kits to the New York Restoration Project. Kids will have their trees ready to plant by Earth Day. How will your organization be marking the occasion this year? I would love to know. Call me at (813) 510-3868, or e-mail editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

SWFL Sustainability Summit

I will be moderating a panel discussion at the SWFL Sustainability Summit on April 28. The session is entitled, “Lessons in Lodging Sustainability: Association & Property Best Practices.” Panelists will include: Joe Nugent, Director of Sales & Marketing, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Fort Myers; Dan Murphy, Vice President of Corporate Relations and Membership for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Tallahassee; and William Mejia, Energy Engineer, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. The event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Estero, Fla. Click here for more details. For $10 off of your registration, use the promo code: GreenLodgingNews.  

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?

Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2016. 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 2016 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 4,823. 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 1,658 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 741 Facebook followers.

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

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