MURRIETA, CALIF.—Green Globe International, Inc., the worldwide owner of the Green Globe brand, announced that it has recognized the Greater Chattanooga Hospitality Association’s Chattanooga Green Lodging Program, the leading certification program for tourism accommodation in the state of Tennessee.
“The Chattanooga Green Lodging Program is the first U.S.-based program to be fully recognized by Green Globe,” said Guido Bauer, CEO of Green Globe Certification. “All hotels certified under the Chattanooga program will automatically receive Green Globe Certified status.”
GCHA member Tom Cupo first proposed the Green Lodging Program in the fall of 2008, and continued to develop the program until its recent rollout.
“Our Green Lodging Program encourages hotels, bed and breakfasts, other lodging facilities and restaurants to be aware of their impact on the environment and to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint while enhancing the overall sustainability of their operations,” Cupo said.
A Path Toward Operating More Efficiently
“Our goal,” said GCHA’s president, Andrea Anderson, “was to provide a program to enable participants to conserve and protect our greatest natural resources for our residents and visitors. In addition, this program will attract environmentally-responsible partners, and contribute to operating our hotels more efficiently and cost effectively.”
Certification to the Chattanooga Green/Green Globe program requires audited performance in five core areas of energy, water and resource conservation, plus a written plan for further improvement. Hotels may also note sustainable practices that go beyond the core requirements.
“Green Lodging compliance offers clear advantages to the Chattanooga community,” said Jim Frierson, vice chair of the Chattanooga Green Team. “The environmental impacts of many of these actions are measurable, with individual results aggregating to a larger number and counting towards our overall goal of sustained carbon reduction. That’s the kind of voluntary private sector leadership we need to make significant strides.”
Skye Con Environmental provides independent third party auditing of facilities applying for certification.
“Green Globe International is recognized worldwide as the premier certifying organization for hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions,” said Dobbin Callahan, president of Skye Con. “Recognition of the Chattanooga program provides absolute credibility for the Chattanooga program.”
“I am proud of Tom Cupo and the Chattanooga Hospitality Association for taking this bold initiative, and find it immensely satisfying that their efforts are being recognized by Green Globe,” said William Mish, incoming president of the Tennessee Hospitality Assn. “It is a great demonstration of what can be accomplished by working together for the benefit of all members, and the environment.”
Go to Green Globe and the Chattanooga Green Lodging Program.
