TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—The new year could see the official birth of the American Green Lodging & Hospitality Association (AGLHA), according to Peter Goren, president of the two-year-old organization that still is in the process of obtaining its 501 (c)(3) nonprofit status. The aim of the group will not be to participate in political and legislative lobbying but to focus on education and research. The AGLHA website already includes links to resources helpful to those interested in green lodging—links to government sites such as Energy Star and WasteWise, for example. Goren, who at one time led the Florida Green Lodging program, says there has been a lack of research in green lodging and his organization’s goal will be to work with other interested parties such as academic institutions to encourage research and help hotels save energy, water and reduce their overall environmental footprint.
AGLHA is currently a very small, volunteer-run operation. Once obtaining 501 (c)(3) status, Goren will open up AGLHA to those interested in joining as members. In addition to funds obtained through memberships, AGLHA will pursue grants. AGLHA intends to help organize a green lodging conference for late 2011 in partnership with the University of Florida TREEO Center. Goren and the University of Florida TREEO Center last held a conference in December 2009.
Goren says the AGLHA site will eventually have a forum section to encourage fruitful discussion, a Green Hospitality Awards program, and Green Hospitality Challenge—a program that will encourage hotels to reach certain green standards. The Challenge will not be a certification program, Goren says.
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Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
