I attended the AAHOA Convention & Trade Show this past week. According to AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association), almost 6,400 of its 20,000 members were in attendance. For those of you not familiar with AAHOA’s clout, it is the largest hotel owners association in the world. Its members own 60 percent of the hotels in the United States and are responsible for 1.4 percent of the nation’s GDP. More than one million employees work at AAHOA Member-owned hotels, earning more than $51 billion annually, and member-owned hotels support 4.1 million U.S. jobs across all sectors of the hospitality industry.
From a sustainability standpoint, the news to be covered this year was at the Trade Show part of the event. It would be impossible to summarize the news of all the “green” suppliers at the Trade Show but there are several new innovations I would like to highlight.
Boomerang introduced its sustainable water bottling system. The system sanitizes and refills up to 3,000 reusable aluminum or glass water bottles a day with ultra-filtered, locally sourced water. The Nanotrite filtration system removes toxins, heavy metals, and microplastics during refilling while allowing natural minerals and electrolytes to pass through. With typical on-property return rates over 90 percent, water bottles can be used again and again. The system is about the size of a larger ice machine and is located in the back of house. The bottled water can be used as an amenity or sold in vending machines. Bottle designs can be customized.
As part of its monthly ESG reporting service, Boomerang collects and analyzes data from its bottling systems and recovery programs to provide clients with a report on their carbon footprint, plastic/single-use waste reduction, water usage, and other key sustainability metrics.
In one year, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai will eliminate 910,000 bottles from landfills and waterways by using the Boomerang Bottling System. Other hotels currently using the system include the The Boca Raton and The Statler Hotel at Cornell University.
Green Lodging News has reported on numerous other properties that have or will have bottling plants, but most have been outside the United States. It is great to see a U.S.-based company gaining traction with its system which totally eliminates plastic bottled water waste.
A Thermostat with a QR Code
Motison International Inc. introduced a new thermostat that is part of its larger energy management system. What is unique about the thermostat is its inclusion of a QR code within the thermostat display. Once a hotel guest scans the QR code, an app is launched that allows the guest to adjust room temperature with a smart phone. The QR code is only good for the length of the guest’s stay. Details on the new thermostat are not yet online. For more information, contact Khageshwar Thakur, Founder & CEO of Motison International, at (859) 221-6736 or kthakur@motison.com.
Duracell Industrial Operations featured its Procell InSite battery monitoring system. It allows hoteliers to remotely monitor batteries used in wireless devices such as locks, dispensers, faucets, and other systems. Live data can be used to reduce unneeded device maintenance while helping facility managers and workforce better budget their valuable time. The system can help reduce battery waste, costs and improve customer satisfaction by eliminating battery-dead situations.
Finally, I have attended many trade shows in recent years and have never seen more than a couple of EV charging system suppliers at each show. At this year’s AAHOA Trade Show there were at least a half dozen such suppliers—a reflection of increasing demand for chargers to meet the needs of travelers who are increasingly venturing out in their electric vehicles. Visit the AAHOA Convention & Trade Show exhibitor directory for more information.
Watch for articles soon on the systems described above as well as other sustainable products and services featured at the AAHOA Convention & Trade Show.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. 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 greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 19,642 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
Planning Advertising for 2024?
In addition to the Spotlight ads described above, Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for other advertising spots for 2024. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. This past month our website welcomed the largest number of different visitors in the almost 18-year history of Green Lodging News—46,812. Interested in receiving a 2024 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. A media kit can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlights currently stands at 19,642. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,723 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 more than 1,300 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.