This past week was an important one as far as official statements and reports are concerned.
First, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow delivered an assessment and vision for the U.S. travel industry at the association’s annual State of the Travel Industry address.
Dow, who will be stepping down as president and CEO of U.S. Travel in July, mentioned sustainability as one of the five key areas of focus that will drive the association and the broader travel industry in the months and years ahead.
Said Dow in his speech, “There are so many viable solutions that will make our industry more sustainable while also ensuring that customers can continue to travel and explore America. First, with the majority of trips in America being taken by car, expanding electric vehicle infrastructure is the only way to truly make the travel industry sustainable. We have made great progress on this front. The infrastructure bill that was signed into law last October included $7.5 billion in funding to expand EV infrastructure. And the travel industry must play a leadership role in the deployment of this infrastructure to ensure that travelers don’t have EV charging deserts but rather the opportunity to go anywhere and everywhere in this beautiful country.”
Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership
Second, officials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, released the 2022 Women in Hospitality Industry Leadership report. Now in its fifth year, the report details women’s progress in leadership positions within the hospitality industry. To download a copy of the report, visit here.
“As the hospitality industry rebuilds the jobs it has lost since the start of the pandemic, developing career opportunities for women and minorities is even more vital in the hotel sector,” said Peggy Berg, Chair, Castell Project, Inc. “This report tracks progress and we are seeing more women in senior executive roles, successfully advancing every aspect of their companies. There are more women on the podium, building their own careers and inspiring others. There are more women owners, including women of color. Recognition of the value and importance of diverse leadership is now widespread, so we expect these trends to accelerate.
“We are also seeing new challenges,” Berg added. “Enrollment at college and university hospitality programs is declining among men as well as women. Hospitality advanced education is the industry’s talent pipeline. Our Castell@College initiative inspires students by showing them desirable futures through the hospitality industry. However, broader work to upgrade the industry’s reputation as an employer and career option is critical for women and the industry.”
State of the Restaurant Industry
Third, the National Restaurant Association released its 2022 State of the Restaurant Industry report, which measures the restaurant industry’s continued recovery and examines the status of current and emerging trends across key categories. Click here to purchase the report.
While a good portion of the report addresses the labor shortage and how restaurants have pivoted to stay or gain in business, some of it addresses trends in sustainability. “Wellness has gained mindshare, with chefs ranking food believed to boost immunity and plant-based sandwiches highly in a list of Top 10 Trends for 2022,” the report says. “Sustainable, quality- and temperature-retaining packaging options also reign in 2022 as operators continue working to provide the best possible off-premises experience for customers.”
Green Lodging News Welcomes Grass!365 to Green Product & Service Directory
Green Lodging News welcomes Grass!365 to the “Grass/Synthetic” category of its Green Product & Service Directory. Grass!365 is the choice of hotels and resorts looking for lawns that stay green 365 days per year. Users of the company’s synthetic grass enjoy low maintenance landscaping, no more mowing, watering, or fertilizing their property’s natural lawn for reduced operating costs and a better guest experience. Grass!365 synthetic grass features revolutionary SealTuft backing, which drains over 1,000 inches per hour (more than 30 times the industry average) and has a stronger bind than standard turf, making it great for pet-friendly resorts, too. The Grass!365 synthetic grass system is recyclable. Learn more by calling (800) 490-2971 or e-mail Sales@Grass365.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 22,387 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 week, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2022?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2022. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2022 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.
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