The events calendar for 2013 is filling up. Be sure to keep checking our Events page for updates throughout the year. Last year was the first year in a long time without a national or regional green lodging conference. (On a more local level, the Greater Boston Energy Efficient Hotels Conference was held in December and was successful.) I have been told that there are tentative plans to hold a green lodging conference in central Florida sometime this fall. I will provide more details when I have them.
The first big event this year is the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles from January 22-24. I wish I could say there are sessions scheduled for those interested in green lodging but there are not. Are the big playmakers really no longer interested in talking about the many upsides to green building? Perhaps it is just the event’s planners who are responsible for the oversight.
The NEWH Leadership Conference, January 25 to 26 in San Francisco, will include a session on Sustainable Meta-Trends. February 7 to 9 in Orlando, The NAFEM Show will feature more than 500 foodservice equipment and supplies vendors and a half-day LEED Basics for Foodservice workshop.
Sustainable Meetings Conference
From April 7 to 10, the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference will take place in Chicago. This event will be full of green educational and networking opportunities. Those interested in solar technology can attend Solar 2013 in Baltimore from April 16 to 20.
From May 15 to 17, HD Expo will be held in Las Vegas. This year the event moves to Mandalay Bay. Green Day was eliminated from the schedule last year and there will also be no Green Day this year but attendees can look forward to a number of “Green Conversations”—planned sessions on the trade show floor. I have agreed to moderate one of those sessions.
From May 18 to 21, the NRA Show will be held in Chicago. In addition to a chance to visit with hundreds of vendors, attendees can attend sessions touching on numerous sustainability-related topics.
HITEC will take place June 24 to 27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. HITEC is always a great event to learn about the latest energy management technologies. A “Green Initiatives” session is already on the HITEC calendar.
On September 24 to 25, what once was HD Boutique will debut as HD Americas at the Miami Beach Convention Center. From November 9 to 12, the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show will take place in New York. This year’s show will be under the management of Hospitality Media Group LLC. It will be interesting to see what changes are made to this event that has seen declining attendance in recent years.
After a successful 2012 in San Francisco, Greenbuild will move to Philadelphia in 2013 (November 20 to 22).
Got an event to highlight in 2013? I can be reached at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. To access our complete 2013 calendar, click here.
GLN Adds Focused Sustainability, Active Safeguard as Directory Partners
Green Lodging News welcomes Focused Sustainability Consulting Group, LLC and Active Safeguard as Green Product & Service Directory partners. Focused Sustainability Consulting Group offers the Big Hanna brand of in-vessel composters. By composting on-site with a Big Hanna Composter, one can reduce one’s carbon footprint while closing the loop on organic waste. On-site in-vessel composting eliminates the need for transport to landfill, and eliminates methane gas released when organic matter decomposes in landfills. Composter users get about 10 percent back in the form of finished/mature ready to use compost—not a digestate that needs further processing or hauling, or grey water going into the sewer system. Call (603) 686-5367, e-mail jecliff@focusedsustainability.com, or go to www.bighanna.com for more information.
Active Safeguard is a micro-thin, transparent coating applied to interior surfaces. One application of Active Safeguard creates a cleaning barrier that kills odors, bacteria, viruses and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) while preventing the formation of mold and mildew. The coating creates a completely non-destructive and economical decontaminating system that works 365 days per year. Active Safeguard is also completely non-toxic. Call (520) 582-5592, e-mail jimhempel@rocketmail.com, or click here for more information.
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 (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.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 (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Planning Advertising for 2013?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2013. Many excellent spots are available on the website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2013 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. A media kit can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Social Networking Sites
Green Lodging News now has 1,249 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 358 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
