Last week’s article on water bottle filling stations was tweeted about by many and already has had about 1,000 page views. It was great that so many folks got to read the article. While traveling this past week, I saw one of the bottle filling stations I had written about at Philadelphia International Airport. They are certainly becoming more common.
In response to my article, I heard from Jack Hlavec, General Manager of the Hilton Concord in Concord, Calif. Jack told me his property, which I have written about numerous times in the past few years, began implementing bottle filling stations early in 2015. The hotel has added fill stations on guestroom floors and in employee break rooms. All employees have been provided with refillable water bottles to use while they are working. The bottles include the Hilton logo. An in-room tent card advises guests about the stations. Guests have the option of purchasing the refillable bottles located in their guestrooms or ones in the lobby gift shop. “The water bottles have been well received and continue to gain traction,” Hlavac says. During one 30-day stretch of using the filling stations, the purchase of 18,000 12-ounce water bottles was avoided.
I will continue to monitor the development of these stations. Be sure to keep me updated as your property or properties transition to these.
Will Sustain 2016 Sustain Itself?
Also this past week, I attended Sustain 2016, the Mid-Atlantic’s Annual Hospitality Conference. I wrote a bit about it in my blog. The conference had an excellent slate of speakers. Except for lunch on the second day of the event, attendance was very low once subtracting speakers and exhibitors. Getting actual hotel people to show up for green lodging conferences has often been a challenge over the years. Common mistakes are lack of marketing, last-minute organizing and location. While the venue was great for Sustain 2016—the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Del.—it was difficult to access. I had to fly in to Philadelphia, rent a car, and then drive almost 90 minutes to get there. While Sustain 2016 was pitched as a Mid-Atlantic event, it failed to draw hoteliers in large numbers from areas outside of the immediate area. If Sustain 2016 is to repeat in the future, the organizers will have to take a different approach.
Speaking of events, I will be attending the AAHOA convention next week at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. For those of you not familiar with AAHOA, it is the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. Also on my travel calendar in coming months: the SWFL Sustainability Summit on April 28 (see below) and HD Expo from May 4 to 6.
Earth Day Activities Planned?
Earth Day is April 22. How will your organization be marking this 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.
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 4,817. 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 1,654 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 736 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
