Earth Hour will be marked globally this Saturday, March 28 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. locally. In the past hotels have extinguished non-essential lighting, created special drinks, held candle-lit dinners, etc. Earth Hour was part party, part reflection on the current state of the planet. Of course, this year’s Earth Hour will be much different with all focus on just staying healthy and safe.
I suspect you have seen the numbers this past week—how devastating the coronavirus has been to the travel industry. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the coronavirus will cost the U.S. travel sector 4.6 million jobs by the end of April. The World Travel & Tourism Council said this past week that up to 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector are at risk. I strongly encourage you to support the efforts of the leaders in our industry who are working hard to lobby government for financial relief.
Do what you can to help those who have lost or who are losing their jobs. Our industry has done well for a long time. Share your bounty with those in need. After closing for business last week, the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. donated $100,000 worth of food to local charities. Pechanga’s closure was announced to last through the end of March, and its team members are receiving their base pay and benefits during that time.
Publication as Usual
Like every business, Green Lodging News has been impacted by the coronavirus but I will continue to publish just like I have been for the last almost 14 years. I have been working out of my home for almost 19 years—that is nothing new to me.
Please don’t hesitate to share what is helping you get through this difficult time. Perhaps it is simple advice. Maybe it is a new technology (or old one) that allows you to provide a more hygienic working environment for your guests and staff. Perhaps it is a best green practice that is saving you a lot of money—critical now. What you share with me I will share with all my readers.
After we have gotten through this biggest challenge of our time, we should all take the time to reassess our impact on the planet—and adjust accordingly. We have been slowly harming our planet for a long time and the result has been many more fatalities than the coronavirus. One example: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. WHO data shows that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. Our industry must reduce its contribution to this problem while supporting clean energy development.
If we work hard enough, we will get through this together, and be much better prepared to face the future challenges that come our way.
Earth Day Activities
Finally, if your property is planning something for Earth Day on April 22, please let me know. Earth Day is especially important this year because of the increasing threats of climate and other change. It is also the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.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 20,356 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 20,356. 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 1,806 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 980 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
