Accor had a very good week this past week. First, it was ranked the top hotel company in the world based on its commitment to sustainability and other best practices by Tomorrow’s Value Rating (see article). Second, it opened its greenest Motel 6 yet in Northlake, Texas (click here for article). Accor topped the first Tomorrow’s Value Rating of the world’s 10 largest hotel groups, placing ahead of companies such as the InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott and Hyatt—other companies with strong commitments to operating sustainably. The Tomorrow’s Value Rating examines companies’ performance in five key areas: strategy, governance, engagement, value chain and innovation. Assessments are based on companies’ public disclosures, and the methodology draws on five years of experience with its predecessor rating, the Accountability Rating.
“Accor recognizes most of the social and environmental challenges facing the sector,” the Tomorrow’s Value Rating said. “It has designed a comprehensive approach to managing them, measures performance, and has even set out performance targets for many issues. It is also exploring innovative solutions to sustainability challenges, for example piloting new energy-saving technologies and buildings, and looking at how it can contribute more to local communities through its value chain.”
On October 8, Accor North America (NA) opened its 120-room “Phoenix” prototype Motel 6 Northlake-Speedway in Northlake that includes a solar thermal water heating system on its roof, a white roof to reflect heat, low e-glass tinted windows, high-efficiency PTAC units with occupancy-sensing thermostats, computer-controlled dryers, high-efficiency washers that incorporate ozone technology to allow for cold water washing, and wood-effect laminate flooring made of 80 percent pre-consumer recycled materials in guestrooms. The property, which also features low-flow aerators, showerheads and toilets, is expected to earn LEED certification by the end of the year.
Highly Efficient Building Design
The Motel 6 Northlake-Speedway is the best example yet of how far Accor is willing to go to green its Phoenix prototype. Accor had already made Phoenix modifications to approximately 60 other Motel 6 properties. According to Robert Moore, executive vice president, Technical Services and New Construction, Accor NA, “It is actually less expensive to build than our previous models. The way we have value-engineered the design has made it very efficient.” Less expensive to build green—with solar thermal included? That has got to be music to developers’ ears.
The corporate-owned Motel 6 Northlake-Speedway is an example of a prototype that franchisees will have the option to copy. “This is a whole new design that we are going to be developing for our franchising program,” Moore says.
You can bet Accor NA’s new Motel 6 is going to create a buzz within the development community. It will grab its fair share of media attention as well. In the economy segment, Accor is positioning itself to leap frog ahead of its competitors in regard to development costs and efficiency. It is a green strategy that every lodging company should pay attention to, especially those companies that did not fare so well in the Tomorrow’s Value Rating report (click here for that report).
GLN Welcomes Concept Amenities, FLS Energy as Directory Partners
Green Lodging News welcomes Concept Amenities Inc. and FLS Energy, Inc. as Green Product & Service Directory partners. Concept Amenities is the maker of ERP, a complete range of bathroom guest amenities that are biodegradable in the landfill. Designed to reduce solid waste disposal, ERP products, according to the company, will not negatively impact the environment in the long term. Concept Amenities offers a wide range of other product lines including Eco Fresh, Basic Earth Botanicals, Ecossential Elements, and Kudos Spa. The company also offers Eco Fresh and VIVE dispensers for public rest rooms, spa areas and guestrooms. For additional information, call (702) 920-8069, e-mail usasales@conceptm.com.au, or go to www.conceptamenities.com.
FLS Energy, Inc. is a solar energy generation company providing planning, design, installation and financing solutions for clients seeking clean energy alternatives and a hedge against rising energy costs. The company’s portfolio includes some of the largest solar hot water systems in the country in addition to utility scale solar electricity farms. Notable FLS Energy hotel installations include the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C., and the Hilton Asheville (N.C.). In Tennessee, two installations include the Hilton Knoxville Airport and the Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge. For additional information, call (877) 862-5050, e-mail info@flsenergy.com, or go to www.flsenergy.com.
More on Showerhead Maintenance
In response to last week’s column on showerhead maintenance and the risk of bacteria buildup in showerheads, John O’Reilly, principal, O’Reilly/DePalma Inc., wrote to let me know that many showerheads made by his client (Hansgrohe) feature the Quiclean cleaning system. It allows mineral deposits to be removed from the spray channels in the showerhead with just a flick of a finger. Because of the material composition of the showerheads, these deposits are not easily absorbed. A primary cause of bacteria on showerheads is a buildup of lime deposits containing calcium. Removing these deposits not only results in a cleaner and better looking fitting, but also deprives microorganisms of the nutrients they need to proliferate.
Have a Product You Would Like to Feature?
The Featured Product Spot in the Green Lodging News weekly e-mail newsletter is available December through March. Interested in having your product featured there? Call me at (440) 243-2055, or contact me by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Additional ad spots are also available for the remainder of 2009. Both 2009 and 2010 media kits are available by request or by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Green Lodging News Blog & Twitter
Be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. The address for the blog is http://greenlodgingnews.blogspot.com. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also now on Twitter. To follow my postings, go to http://twitter.com/greenlodging. Be sure to add Green Lodging News to those tweets that you follow. Green Lodging News now has 257 Twitter followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
