This April 22 we celebrate Earth Day, a day to not only celebrate our planet but also to recognize and act on the precarious state it is in. Each in our own way can make a difference—whether we run a lodging establishment, sell a product or service, plan events, or are otherwise involved in the industry.
One example of an Earth Day activity: Environmental stewards from Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square will honor Earth Day by sponsoring a local beach clean-up at Aquatic Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public.
This Earth Day, Florida-based Legacy Vacation Resorts will celebrate that its targets have been officially accepted, making them one of only four U.S travel companies to have set their targets with the Science Based Targets initiative and the only one to have also committed to Business Ambition for 1.5°C, a campaign from a global coalition of UN agencies, business and industry leaders mobilizing companies to set net-zero science-based targets.
These past weeks I heard from many talking about the initiatives they have in place all year-round—not just Earth Day. There were so many I could not keep up.
Progress, Yet Challenges
This July I will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Green Lodging News. Things were much different in 2006 in our industry. I remember ruffling feathers by advocating 100 percent nonsmoking rooms. And it was big news at many a hotel if a recycling program was launched. Today there are very advanced commitments by the major chains and individual hotels to reduce their environmental impacts in the coming years ahead, net-zero and carbon-free are more commonly being talked about and innovation has made saving energy, reducing water consumption and waste so much easier. The cost of renewable energy has come down—especially solar, making it an almost no-brainer. That is something I would not have said 15 years ago.
As much as we have progressed in our industry, we must be mindful not to add to the environmental challenges we face—the use of plastic for example, which ultimately becomes micro-plastics that we all ingest.
Years ago, I wrote about Lake Mead and its falling water supply. According to an April 6 article in the Arizona Republic, the lake now stands at just 40 percent of its full capacity. “This summer, it’s projected to fall to the lowest levels since it was filled in the 1930s following the construction of Hoover Dam,” the article said. “The reservoir near Las Vegas is approaching a threshold that is expected to trigger a first-ever shortage declaration by the federal government for next year, leading to substantial cuts in water deliveries to Arizona, Nevada and Mexico.”
How can our industry help alleviate situations like this, rather than contribute to the problem? Plastics and water are just two examples.
As you consider Earth Day this year and every future day, design, build and operate your lodging establishments with every aspect of the environment in mind—mindful of every innovation available that will help you minimize your property’s impact.
If you have a moment, send me a note to share how your property marked Earth Day 2021. I will share that news in a future column. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Green Lodging News Adds Meyers to Product & Service Directory
Green Lodging News has added Meyers to its Green Product & Service Directory in the “Key Cards/RFID” category. The AssureCard is a better RFID hotel key card, offering all the plastic key card’s best features—durability, convenience, and low cost—while minimizing the environmental impact. These eco-friendly key cards are made from renewably sourced paper pulp. According to Meyers, they are so much better for the environment that you could throw them away after each guest visit while still improving your overall sustainability. Meyers is the first major producer of paper gift cards in the United States, manufacturing about 140 million paper cards per year. For more information, call (612) 470-3116 or e-mail paperrfidcards@meyers.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 24,009 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 2021?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. 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 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits 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 24,009. 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 1,778 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 986 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
