One of the most read pages on my website is “Hotel & Management Company Green Pages.” It has racked up more than 28,000 page views since it was first posted. The page simply includes links to hotel or management company pages dedicated to sustainability, corporate social responsibility, ESG, etc. Where possible I have included the specific name of the company’s green program. When perusing this page, be sure to let me know if your company is not included. While doing that, send me the link to the appropriate page on your site. Or, if you are aware of a company that is not your own that should be included, let me know as well. I would like the list to be as comprehensive as possible.
I recently went through the list and updated the links. What was surprising to me was the number of companies that once had pages dedicated to sustainability but no longer do. Some of that is due to acquisitions. In other cases, it may just be a case of a site being in the process of being updated. What I hope is that companies are not bowing to forces that believe sustainability is a bunch of hooey and have thus chosen to be silent about their efforts. The governor here in Florida, for example, has called ESG part of the “woke mind virus” infecting America and an “elite-driven phenomenon.”
What companies’ green pages really are is a summary of the great things they are doing to reduce their environmental impact, to uplift the local community—all while increasing profitability at the same time. What investor could argue with that? The pages are truly a gold mine of ideas to take and implement at your own company or property. Of course, many of the pages include links to the company’s current ESG report and sometimes include links to all past such reports as well.
According to Investopedia, the top five companies publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada include: Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels, Host Hotels & Resorts, and InterContinental Hotels Group. All five of these companies appear in the Green Pages. Surprisingly, BWH Hotels, with about 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries, has a site that includes information about its charitable efforts but just four sentences about its environmental initiatives.
It’s Good for Business
At this time of heightened awareness about the environment, it is imperative to publicly document, in detail, your progress and goals. It should not just be a passing reference on your site. Numerous surveys have shown that consumers are more likely to choose your company and for years now group business has favored those companies that care about people and planet.
According to an article appearing in the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance, “More companies and investment funds are adopting programs or policies that are keyed to various ESG measures as they look to drive profitability and improve access to capital. Regulators across the globe are busy writing and implementing new disclosure regimes. Investors are pushing for information as they develop and refine ESG-based investing strategies. Meanwhile, ESG-related issues in the United States have given rise to divisive political views.”
Adds the article, “Heading into 2023, the pressure will continue to build as a broader set of stakeholders (including shareholders, regulators, employees, customers, and community members) expect companies across geographies and industries to act on a wide set of ESG-focused concerns. Navigating risk and opportunity will require calibrated solutions that balance these competing priorities, and which are aligned with long-term sustainability and profitability. It will demand targeted, measurable, and trackable action plans and—in some cases—tradeoffs.”
One of the most gratifying parts of covering the green part of the hotel industry for me is reading the many outstanding stories around goal setting, goals met, and people helping people, pets, nature, and wildlife. Those stories appear on company sites and in their annual ESG reports.
Your thoughts? I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
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 greenlodgingnews@gmail.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 greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 19,723 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $135 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each week, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2023?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2023. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier and Green Suppliers Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2023 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 Spotlight currently stands at 19,723. 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 1,734 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.
