Home Publisher's Point of View TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Quickly Became Global Success Story

TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Quickly Became Global Success Story

1714
0
SHARE

On April 22, 2013—Earth Day—TripAdvisor launched its GreenLeaders program. Almost three years later, that program that recognizes lodging establishments for their green initiatives has more than 11,000 participating properties in 66 global markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand. In the last year, TripAdvisor has added nearly 3,000 GreenLeaders participants. The free, voluntary program is clearly one of the most successful green programs to have ever launched in our industry.

I interviewed Ryan Dillon, Responsible Travel Specialist at TripAdvisor and manager of GreenLeaders, for a Green Lodging News article that was posted on the Green Lodging News website this past week. Be sure to read that article.

As with other green certification or recognition programs, hotels and B&Bs must complete an application in order to participate. Questions in the application address topics ranging from towel reuse to staff training to preventive maintenance. Qualifying properties are marked with a badge on their TripAdvisor page. To see a list of the business’s environmentally friendly practices, travelers click on the property’s GreenLeader badge.

From GreenPartner to Platinum Status

Properties are listed as either a GreenPartner or having achieved Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum GreenLeader status. GreenPartners meet minimum requirements. Those attaining Bronze meet minimum requirements and achieve a 30 percent score on the Green Practices survey. Those attaining Silver meet minimum requirements and achieve a 40 percent score on the Green Practices survey. Those attaining Gold meet minimum requirements and achieve a 50 percent score on the Green Practices survey. Those attaining Platinum meet minimum requirements and achieve a 60 percent score on the Green Practices survey.

Dillon says there are currently 3,100 GreenPartners, 2,600 at the Bronze level, 2,800 at the Silver level, 1,800 at the Gold level, and 1,000 that have reached Platinum.

The most represented chain in the United States and globally is Marriott. Accor has the most participants in Europe. Sixty percent in the program report being part of a chain while 40 percent do not list any chain affiliation. The cities with the most GreenLeaders properties are New York, San Francisco and Orlando. As for states, California is in the lead, followed by Florida and New York. In analyzing the property reviews that get posted on its website, TripAdvisor has found that properties that are GreenLeaders see a 7 percent higher rating than those that are not GreenLeaders.

Unlike some certification programs, GreenLeaders and GreenPartners do not undergo on-site audits. Participants can be audited, however, and Dillon says that audits are conducted weekly. “While we don’t disclose numbers, I can tell you that the incidence of a property failing our audit is rare.”

Enrollment Required Every Two Years

Whereas participants originally had to reapply on an annual basis to ensure their continued enrollment in the program, now it is every two years. Can you imagine having to manage 11,000+ applications every year?

What TripAdvisor has done over the past few years is expose millions of travelers to sustainable practices they never even new existed at lodging establishments—practices that guests have been able to take home with them. TripAdvisor has raised the expectations bar when it comes to sustainability and added a “green” component to the competition for business and leisure guests. If every hotel on your street is a GreenLeaders participant and your hotel is not, where does that position your hotel?

The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program is not perfect. Ideally, you would want to have on-site inspections by an expert. That said, what GreenLeaders has that other certification/rating programs do not have is a vehicle for travelers to briefly act as experts—keeping managers on their toes when it comes to sustainability.

Got an opinion you would like to share on GreenLeaders? I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Green Lodging News Adds Reneotech as Directory Partner

Green Lodging News welcomes Reneotech Inc. as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. EcoRaider Insect Killer, manufactured by Reneotech Inc., is a highly effective natural bio-insecticide that is ideal for use in hotel and hospitality environments as it kills bed bugs, ants and other crawling insects on contact. It is the most effective natural product that kills bed bugs with 100 percent efficacy according to a study published by the Entomological Society of America. Non-staining for furnishings, safe for children and pets, EcoRaider can be applied anywhere inside and outside of a hotel, including on bedding, linens and everywhere guests will frequent. EcoRaider gives hotel staff the power to end a pest problem immediately. It is a minimum risk pest control product and can be used by anyone without restrictions. To order consumer product online, go to ecoraiderusa.com, or find a distributor for professional products on ecoraiderpmp.com, or call (201) 751-0011. You may also e-mail toddz@ecoraiderusa.com.

Green Lodging News Adds OSRAM SYLVANIA Case Study to Website

Green Lodging News has added an OSRAM SYLVANIA case study to its website. The case study details a lighting installation at the Hôtel Le Crystal in Montreal. The goal of the installation was to provide better illumination in parking areas, hotel and conference rooms, and office areas, while saving energy.

The 4100K fluorescent lamps in the parking garage were replaced with SYLVANIA SubstiTUBE IPS T8 LED 5000K lamps which provide a brighter, whiter light that can help facilitate quick vehicle identification and increase pedestrian visibility, enhancing safety and feelings of comfort in the garage. SubstiTUBE IPS T8 LED lamps with a 3000K color temperature were installed in hotel and conference rooms, in addition to the office areas, saving energy while maintaining the warm daylight color of the lighting and giving occupants the option to dim the light as needed. Six watt SYLVANIA ORIOS™ MR16 LED Lamps replaced the 35 watt halogen MR16 lamps, resulting in additional energy savings without changing the lighting aesthetics of the hotel.

As a result of the Hôtel Le Crystal upgrading its lighting, the destination projects an annual savings of 365,158 kWh, translating into $24,985 in energy savings and avoidance of 265,013 kilograms of CO2 emissions from electricity plants. In addition, because of the long life of the lighting systems, the hotel also expects to save approximately $27,159 in maintenance costs per year. For more information, call 1-800-LIGHTBULB or click here. To access the case study, click here.

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 4,819. 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 1,659 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 744 Facebook followers.

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

LEAVE A REPLY