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Publisher's Point of View

Each week, Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, will address the hottest industry topics. Sometimes hard hitting, his column will challenge the industry’s leaders to take action. At other times, he will lift up the industry’s environmental champions. “Point of View” is a column you will not want to miss. To contact Glenn Hasek, call (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com

Publisher's Point of View

Home Publisher's Point of View
Each week, Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, will address the hottest industry topics. Sometimes hard hitting, his column will challenge the industry’s leaders to take action. At other times, he will lift up the industry’s environmental champions. “Point of View” is a column you will not want to miss. To contact Glenn Hasek, call (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com

Big Announcements This Week Involve Chicago, Fort Lauderdale Projects

There were two significant announcements in the news this past week. The first one is that a zero carbon emissions multi-hotel complex and convention center is being planned for near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The Chicago Convention Center development promises to be the world’s first zero carbon LEED Platinum convention center complex. Stay tuned for more details on this project. At press time the developer was out of the country and could not be reached. The second announcement involves the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and its six 40-foot wind turbines. The owner of the hotel, Costa Dorada Associates,...

Hyatt Packages Corporate Responsibility Progress Into New Report

Late last month, during its official month of community service, Hyatt Hotels Corp. released its inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report. The report details the progress of Hyatt Thrive, the corporate responsibility platform that Hyatt launched last year. Prior to Hyatt Thrive, says Brigitta Witt, vice president corporate responsibility for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, “We did not have a platform that we could roll up all of our initiatives in to.” Hyatt Thrive focuses on four areas: environmental sustainability, education and personal advancement, health and wellness, and economic development and investment. Hyatt’s more than 90,000 associates have been charged with carrying...

What’s New in Sustainable Design: What is Old & Weathered

During conversations with vendors at this past May’s HD Expo & Conference in Las Vegas, one of the words that seemed to be mentioned most was “reclaimed.” Reclaimed materials are hot now in design—especially reclaimed wood. Yes, there are companies scouring the country in search of “deconstructed” buildings that have wood that can be used again. This wood is coming from barns, warehouses, churches, homes and other structures. If you have used reclaimed wood in a new project or renovation, I would love to know where you got it and how you used it.There is a huge environmental upside...

The First Six Years: Thank You for Supporting Green Lodging News

Green Lodging News will turn six years old this month. It has been seven years since I began the work to launch our electronic publication. Thank you very much to the many sponsors who have made it possible for Green Lodging News to publish its website, weekly e-newsletter, and weekly Green Supplier Spotlight. Please continue to support our sponsors and always be sure to tell them you found them here on Green Lodging News.Green Lodging News has grown a lot since July 2006. The website now averages more than 20,000 unique visitors and 120,000 total visits a month, and...

It’s Time to Become Familiar with HCMI 1.0

It’s here and you had better at least be familiar with it, especially if you host groups at your property. What I am referring to is HCMI 1.0, the methodology to calculate and communicate the carbon footprint of hotel stays and meetings. The methodology has been agreed upon by 23 leading global hospitality companies including Accor, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International Inc., MGM Resorts International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and Wyndham Worldwide. The methodology is expected to be widely used within the next two years.I...

More on Best Western’s ‘I Care Clean’ Program

Last week I wrote about Best Western International’s  new “I Care Clean” program and its use of UV (ultraviolet) wands, black lights and paper wraps during housekeeping. (Click here for that column.) A few days ago I had an opportunity to chat with Ron Pohl, Best Western’s senior vice president brand management and member services, about “I Care Clean” and how the program is progressing.“It is going extremely well,” Pohl says. “Without any promotion of the concept, customer satisfaction and overall satisfaction scores have increased 13 percent.”Research conducted for Best Western Customer by IDEO highlighted guests’ increasing concern about...

Visions of Lab Coats, Sherlock Holmes & Magnifying Glasses

This past week Best Western International rolled out a new cleaning program aimed to give it a competitive edge and meet guest demand in the midscale hotel market. Called “I Care Clean,” it equips housekeepers with ultra violet (UV) sterilization wands and UV inspection lights. Housekeepers will use the wands to sterilize “high touch” points in the hotel such as telephones, clocks, light switches, door handles, bathroom fixtures and common areas. The black lights will be used as part of the housekeeper inspection process to detect any biological matter, food particles, and more, that the human eye cannot see....

Could Your State be Next to Ban Commercial Food Waste?

Could what is happening in Massachusetts be coming to your state anytime soon? What I am referring to are proposed regulations that would ban commercial establishments—hotels included—from throwing away food waste. I recently spoke with Greg Cooper, director of consumer programs for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and he told me the DEP expects the regulations to be implemented by the middle of 2014. “My feeling is that it is highly unlikely it will not happen,” Cooper said. The DEP is currently in the process of holding a series of stakeholder meetings in order to develop a...

CityWay Project Extends Beyond the Alexander Hotel

Developers with an interest in green mixed-use development should follow the $155 million, 14-acre CityWay project in downtown Indianapolis. The project spans eight blocks of former Eli Lilly parking lots and includes the 209-room Alexander Hotel, apartments, office space and restaurants. A YMCA fitness facility also is planned. The boutique hotel, which will qualify for LEED certification, is being developed by Buckingham Companies in partnership with the City of Indianapolis, State of Indiana, Eli Lilly and Co., and the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. The Alexander, an art hotel, will be managed by Dolce Hotels and Resorts and filled with...

Some Memorable ‘Green’ Conversations from HD Expo

I attended the Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference in Las Vegas this past week. I have attended the event many times. My focus is always on trying to identify new green products to write about or pick up on new green trends. If you have never attended this event, I recommend it. It is a great opportunity to pick the brains of those in our industry who walk the talk of sustainability and who are leading innovation in product development, design, manufacturing, and end-of-life consideration. When you talk about the sustainability of a product, you need to consider its...