NATIONAL REPORT—The Third Annual Green Lodging Trends Report Survey will be launched by Greenview on July 9, 2018. The survey will close on August 10, 2018. You can participate in the survey by clicking here. There is no cost to participate. Tens of thousands of green lodging establishments around the planet are being encouraged to benchmark their sustainability practices by completing this survey which last year saw some 2,100 properties participating from 46 countries. The survey encompasses topics ranging from energy management to communication to Health & Wellness. The Green Lodging Trends Report Survey has the support of Green Lodging...

HOUSTON—HITEC, the lodging industry’s leading technology trade show, was held at the LEED Silver George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston June 18 to 21. Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) just announced that the event broke barriers as the highest attended event in the association’s history with over 6,650 attendees. There were approximately 400 exhibitors, many of whom displayed their latest innovations to help reduce energy consumption in the guestroom. Other exhibitors concentrated on other aspects of sustainability—indoor air quality, for example. The following is a summary of the HITEC announcements having some type of “green” connection: Honeywell launched the...

Architects, designers, and contractors are now commonly engaged in new construction, renovation and redesign projects intended to have smallest environmental and climate footprint possible. The factors that contribute to “green buildings” are fairly intuitive: energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, reduced water consumption, utilization of recycled materials, and low-emitting building materials and maintenance products. Building codes, owner specifications, and market demand are driving this trend around the world. One of the cornerstones of this movement is the push for “healthy buildings,” addressing occupant health, comfort, and wellness. After all, the building’s primary function is to serve its occupants’ needs. As...

PULASKI, N.Y.—Founded in 2003 PURE is the global leading provider of healthy indoor spaces. PURE has partnered with industry leaders in hospitality, maritime, fitness, scholastic, office and residential applications in over 15 countries. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) is a nonprofit organization, with a “mission to empower wellness worldwide by educating public and private sectors about preventative health and wellness.” Each year at the Global Wellness Summit, the GWI identifies new trends that will shape the future of the wellness industry. With technology changing how people travel, and what guests demand, hotels are seeking for ways to evolve. The PURE program...

LONDON—The World Green Building Council launched a new report highlighting tangible economic benefits of green building and showcasing improved occupant satisfaction when companies implement new health, wellbeing and productivity features in existing green structures. Doing Right by Planet and People: The Business Case for Health and Wellbeing in Green Building examines case studies of 11 facilities around the globe that have one or more green certifications including LEED, Green Star and BREEAM. The report evaluates health and wellbeing features that were integrated into the facilities, such as: enhanced fresh air ventilation, acoustic privacy, increase of daylight penetration and use of biophilic design elements such...

A guest’s stay at a five-star hotel ought to be an exciting and enjoyable experience. However, my own visit to one such top-tier hotel—during a vacation in Mexico some years ago—turned out to be a bit too exciting. Inside the first room that I was checked in to, the carpets and the air had such a moldy smell that I could barely breathe, let alone relax. I wound up sleeping on the balcony the first night I was there—before being transferred to another, cleaner room. I’m not the only one who has encountered this sort of problem. Poor air quality...

It was about five and one-half years ago that “Stay Well” rooms first emerged in our industry at the MGM Grand. These rooms, created by Delos Living, LLC, include features designed to enhance overall health. From advanced air purification to dawn simulation, circadian rhythm lighting and a healthy mattress, the wellness features are specifically designed to allow rejuvenating sleep, deliver purified air, provide specially filtered water and protect guests against allergens and germs. Other hotel properties have since adopted Stay Well rooms, including some Marriotts but the rooms may have gotten their biggest boost yet at the recent Wyndham Hotel Group’s 2018...

Purchasers of building materials and items such as furniture that contain building materials should always be mindful of formaldehyde risks. Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas used in making building materials. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials. In certain concentrations it can be cancerous. By the beginning of June this year, virtually all composite wood products manufactured or sold in the United States, as well as products made with composite wood components, must meet tough formaldehyde standards. As a result, manufacturers of...

From global hotel operators like Hilton, Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group to independent hoteliers like the Broadmoor, more hospitality professionals are using modular construction to open properties faster and meet green building goals. “We believe the modular process will be a game changer for our valued development partners, especially during a time when labor shortages can be a challenge to timely openings,” said Karim Khalifa, Marriott International’s former Senior Vice President of Global Design Strategies. The company’s commitment to this building process is highlighted in its Modular Construction Initiative, which called for 50 hotel deals in 2017 to incorporate pre-fabricated bathrooms...

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—Travelers are often weary, and the lodging industry knows it. That’s why promising a quality night’s sleep has become a key marketing advantage touted by many of the top hospitality players. Yet beyond thread count, branded mattresses and customizable pillow menus, some hoteliers are overlooking the basics for creating a better sleeping experience for guests. With allergy and humidity seasons now arriving, the need to increase guest comfort is as obvious as the nose on a face. Thanks to new technology introduced by Friedrich Air Conditioning Co., a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of heating, cooling and other air-conditioning products, the issue...