ORLANDO—The Third Annual Green Lodging and Hospitality Conference wrapped up here on Wednesday, November 9 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando. A total of 135 attended the event that included educational opportunities as well as vendor exhibits. The opening session featured a keynote address by Hervé Houdré, general manager, InterContinental New York Barclay, and an introduction to the National Sustainable Lodging Network, a recently released social networking site for those interested in green lodging.
Houdré, in his speech entitled, “Sustainable Hospitality, a Business Responsibility and Opportunity,” explained that sustainability is a shared responsibility that also makes good business sense. In order for green programs to work in lodging, however, three things must happen: 1) there must be commitment from the top; 2) teams or committees must exist to carry out and organize the programs; and 3) one must know what one wants to achieve—in other words, have specific goals.
“Sustainability is a very long journey,” Houdré said. “Nothing can be done without measurement.”
Houdré listed some of the reasons owners fail to get behind sustainability initiatives: too expensive, competition does not focus on it, short term results are more important than long term results. For employees, the reasons include: lack of training, uncertainty about what is in it for them, and lack of time.
“It’s important to prove that there is a great ROI,” said Houdré, who helped deliver $1 million in revenue thanks to green programs while general manager at the Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C.
New York Palace Hotel Example
Houdré cited examples of a number of hotels that are currently investing in efficient energy sources. The New York Palace hotel, as one example, has invested in microturbines that will supply 42 percent of the hotel’s electricity needs and 15 percent of its air-conditioning needs. More than $800,000 will be saved annually with the hotel’s $4 million purchase—$2 million of which was paid for through a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant.
Andy Bray, project manager, the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Assn. (NEWMOA), explained the purpose of the National Sustainable Lodging Network.
“We are trying to connect together those that are doing this type of work,” he said. “My goal is to collectively solve problems we have not been able to solve.”
The Network site allows one to join groups, invite friends, post questions, access event descriptions and training materials, and link to other helpful sites.
In a session entitled, “Managing a Sustainable Property,” Gensler’s Rebecca Ruggles said the biggest myth is that sustainability is anti-luxury. She mentioned a new concept called “hedonistic sustainability”—the idea that sustainability can actually improve quality of life.
“We want guests to think energy-efficient lighting is luxurious,” Ruggles said. “The challenge is finding the ‘sweet spot’ between savings and the guest experience.”
Make Mission Statement Prominent
Mary McCarthy, director of engineering at the InterContinental Tampa, said the name of a sustainability program is important, as well as the mission statement. “When you stay at our property, the first thing you see when you turn on your TV is our sustainability mission statement,” she said.
During her lunch presentation, Kelly Bricker, associate professor, University of Utah and chairman of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), explained the GSTC’s recent news regarding a certification process for those organizations that certify lodging establishments. (See related article.) The new program includes three certification steps for the certifiers: GSTC-Recognized, GSTC-Approved and GSTC-Accredited.
In “Fulfilling the Green Commitment—Overcoming Daily Challenges to Maintain Sustainable Practices,” several speakers offered their suggestions on how to keep a sustainability program going once it has been launched. Hema Patel, managing partner, Courtesy Management, Inc., said that at her Holiday Inn and Suites—Columbia Airport, employees must know the information in the property’s “Hot Spot Guide.” This guide enables any employee to explain the green aspects of the hotel. “The intent was to make it easy to remember,” Patel said. “Lunch & Learns” are also held for hotel staff.
Marshall Kelberman, director of rooms, The Peabody Orlando, said his property has a monthly, quarterly and annual award for green champions, eco parties and fairs, and a low carbon diet campaign to help keep sustainability top of mind. How well employees know and follow sustainability practices is also part of the annual review process.
Green Meeting Standards Update
During a “Sustainable Event Standards Panel,” an update was provided on the APEX/ASTM Sustainable Event Standards. (See recent column for latest news.) According to Lawrence Leonard, COO, Convention Industry Council (CIC), the organization that runs the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Program, a sub-specialty of the CMP Program will be created to focus on sustainable meetings.
At “The World of Sustainable Hospitality Certification” session, representatives of six different green lodging certification organizations were on hand to explain their programs. The consensus was that there is not enough consumer awareness of green certification programs. In the only news of the session, Anthony Pollard, managing director, Green Key Global, announced that Green Key will have a carbon calculator available for hoteliers to use by the end of the year.
At the closing session, Shawn Seipler, executive director, Clean the World, explained the progress of his soap recycling organization, saying that more than 1,300 hotels are now participating in soap recycling—less than three years after the Orlando-based Clean the World organization was founded. Ten million bars of soap have been distributed to those in need in 50 countries. Seipler said his goal is to get companies to commit to only staying at properties that are part of his Clean the World effort.
Katherine Manfredi, founding board member, Green Meeting Industry Council Florida/Caribbean Chapter demonstrated the functionality a free Sustainable Event Measurement Tool (click here for it) that she said more than 300 venues have now used.
Last but not least, Dina Belon, U.S. Green Building Council Hospitality Advocacy Committee Chair, announced the formation of Green Destination Orlando. (See related article.)
The dates and location for next year’s conference were not announced.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
