The tourism industry has one of the highest growth rates out of all industries in the world, accounting for 10.4 percent of global GDP and 319 million jobs (10 percent of total employment in 2018). (This column was written prior to the coronavirus outbreak.) In 2018, 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded (up 47 percent from the 2010s’ 950.8 million) and the number is expected to rise to 1.8 billion in 2030. Hotels are only one of the many actors that play a big role in the industry. Hotels Play Vital Role in Sustainable Tourism The demand for hotels is...

Have you ever wondered what the environmental footprint of your IoT (Internet of Things) solution is? Significant investments are being made by the lodging industry into IoT for the purpose of enhancing the guest experience, improving staff efficiency and for reducing the energy consumption of buildings. But besides the functional objectives of your IoT initiative, how can one understand the environmental footprint of these systems and how can one compare these footprints as part of a competitive IoT evaluation? Are there greener IoT systems than others? This brief article attempts to provide some thought-provoking insights into this topic. Over its entire...

For many years, coated fabrics have been defined as either Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or Polyurethane (PU) textiles. They are two different polymer-based platforms—which have their own strengths and weaknesses. Both platforms are used in upholstery applications from residential to contract, and hospitality to healthcare. PVC has long been recognized as the go-to workhorse for extreme use conditions, especially in public spaces. Polyurethanes are recognized for their soft hand, unique surface feeling, and versatile design options. Both continue to thrive and offer robust options to the end-users. However, new to our industry are silicone coated textiles. Silicone has been around for...

In 2013, some colleagues and I published a research study in the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly concerning the lack of advancement of women into the C-Suite in the hospitality industry. Our work was borne out of a curiosity about the reported career obstacles that modern female executives faced. In the present era of “Me Too,” it seems appropriate to revisit that research to shine a light again upon the issues that might hold women back, as well as to re-examine the ways business leaders can help women to navigate those obstacles successfully. Barriers to Women’s Advancement Our review of the research has...

The hospitality industry has immense scope of embracing sustainability and going green. Waste management is a critical aspect and has a huge impact on any hotel’s environmental as well as financial bottom line. Irrelevant of your hotel size, effective waste management can help you optimize operations, save resources, cut down expenses and enhance your brand value, which can attract more customers. There are numerous areas within which you can work to improve your waste management. Listed here are four key areas which are solid opportunities for you to make substantial positive impact on the way your hotel handles waste. ...

A recent report by The Soil Association communicated via “Just Style” highlights some of the key environmental impacts from the use of conventional cotton. In this report details have emerged around the consumption of water and land cultivated with the use of insecticides during the cotton production process. This, therefore, raises some interesting points for hotel owners to consider for improving the guest experience. Cotton is a key textile within the hospital trade. Specifically, hotels, lodges and health spas are key consumers of cotton, used within bedding, robes and towels. Conventional Cotton Versus Organic In the report and among our sources, there...

Several years ago, when many hotel properties around the world were first starting to get serious about sustainability, they paid close attention to a book, Responsible Hospitality, written by Rebecca Hawkins and Paulina Bohdanowicz. This book is considered the first book to bring together environmental and sustainability concepts and help define how far the hospitality industry should go to achieve them. The book listed taking conservation measures, many of which were revolutionary for the day. Among them were the following: Older windows should be replaced with double- and triple- glazed windows to reduce energy consumption. High thermal mass construction materials...

A hotel room isn’t just a home away from home. It’s an opportunity to impress and dazzle—in addition to offering comfort and creating unforgettable experiences for guests. The hospitality industry is paying attention. In recent years, hotels at all price levels have stepped up their addition of technology as part of their amenities. With people choosier than ever about how they spend their travel dollar, hotels want to provide a better, more dramatic guest experience—one that, if anything, improves on what people have in their own homes. How are they doing that? Here are some trends to follow in 2020 and the...

Unlike a bedroom where a new coat of paint, a few lamps and a fresh set of curtains can transform the room into a fantastic renovation piece, a bathroom requires much more complicated, informed decisions that are often tied to technological advancements. An outdated bathroom is not only aesthetically unpleasant; it also utilizes significantly more water and energy than it should, and would, if it incorporated contemporary products. Besides taking advantage of the opportunity to be responsible for protecting the environment while striving for substantial reductions in utility costs, innovative solutions are a great way to attract and retain...

Whether you operate an event space, offer lodging, or both, you know how time consuming it can be to find the right furniture. This can be especially challenging when you require a large quantity of seating, particularly for an event space. In all this bustle, it’s easy to overlook the importance of purchasing environmentally friendly furniture. If you are trying to be mindful of your environmental impact and wish to find green, sustainably produced seating, this can pose an even greater challenge. Fortunately, to meet the demand for eco-friendly products, we’ve seen an increase in the number of green furniture...