Some of the most read articles on the Green Lodging News website are the guest columns. These are not paid articles but contributions from consultants, suppliers, students and others who choose to volunteer their time to help educate and share their opinions. Our website currently has about 340 guest columns archived. They are posted approximately every two weeks.
Green Lodging News is currently seeking contributions for 2020. If you would like to help educate our industry or express an opinion about a topic relevant to green hotel operations or design, give me a call at (813) 510-3868 or e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Columns run about 700 to 1,200 words and include a photo of the author and a paragraph describing the author and his or her work at the end of article. I will look forward to hearing from you regarding your future contributions. It is a great way to gain exposure in our industry.
Goal: To Unite Tourism Sector Behind Common Vision
As reported on Green Lodging News on January 23, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative was officially launched by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The goal of the initiative is to unite the tourism sector behind a common vision to tackle the root causes of plastic pollution, enabling businesses and governments to take joint action.
Participants in the initiative are required to make a set of concrete and actionable commitments by 2025, including to:
- Eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and items by 2025;
- Take action to move from single-use to reuse models or reusable alternatives by 2025;
- Engage the value chain to move towards 100 percent of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable;
- Take action to increase the amount of recycled content across all plastic packaging and items used;
- Commit to collaborate and invest to increase the recycling and composting rates for plastics; and
- Report publicly and annually on progress made towards these targets.
It did not take long for a major company to sign on to the cause. This past week, Accor joined the UN Global Tourism Plastics Initiative and committed to remove all single-use plastic items in guest experience from its hotels by the end of 2022.
In addition to its previous commitment to eliminate all plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, the new commitment includes:
- The removal of individual plastic toiletry amenities and cups by the end of 2020.
- The elimination of all remaining single-use plastic items in guestrooms, meeting areas, restaurants and all leisure activities areas (spas, fitness centers, etc.) by the end of 2022.
Single-use plastics are defined as disposable items that are used only once and then discarded. Examples include plastic straws, cotton buds, coffee stirrers, plastic cups, plastic bags for laundry or extra pillows, plastic water bottles, all plastic packaging (for food, welcome products, etc), plastic take-away dishes and tableware, plastic gifts and welcome products (toiletries, slippers, pencils, etc.), and plastic keycards. Relevant alternatives to plastic will be proposed for each specific item, considering Life Cycle Assessments to ensure better environmental performance for the solution proposed to Accor hotels.
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO, Accor, said in an announcement about the commitment: “We are aware of the significant impact we have on our planet and our responsibility to create tangible benefits for our employees, guests, suppliers, partners and host communities. What guides us is the consciousness and social awareness that drives every person who strives to be a good citizen. It’s about being aware, socially conscious and consistent.”
Kudos to Accor for quickly committing to slash its plastics consumption. The impact of the decision will be significant. Also joining the Initiative in its first week was Melco Resorts & Entertainment.
Green Lodging News Adds Tayst Coffee to Product & Service Directory
Green Lodging News has added Tayst Coffee to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Coffees & Teas category. Tayst Coffee is transitioning hotel rooms and offices from traditional plastic Keurig Kcups into Tayst’s earth friendly compostable pods for Keurig. Tayst Coffee’s premium South American beans are roasted fresh, packed in compostable pods and shipped directly to customers in Earth friendly packaging. Click Here to try Tayst Coffee and to receive a complimentary box. You may also call (516) 962-2141, ext. 704, or e-mail greg@tayst.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, now publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 20,558 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 $200 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 month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2020?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2020. Many excellent spots are available on our new website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2020 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 20,558. 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 1,810 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 970 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
