The spa culture is based upon a paradigm of luxury. Traditional spas often reference the Roman baths, for instance, where excess and decadence were the standard. A more modern approach references Asian practice, including Shirodara and Ayurvedic treatments, but in these settings as well, luxury is expressed in an abundance plush and thirsty robes and towels, heat and steam features and other amenities which require substantial energy/fuel, water and labor to sustain. “Greening” a hotel spa therefore requires redefining the client’s sense of luxury. The key to creating a client experience which is unmistakably deluxe, yet ecologically conscious, is to...

Going green through reduction or elimination of thousands of pounds of unnecessary everyday waste created throughout the lodging industry has become a hot topic over the last couple of years. One of the largest waste producers for a hotel are the millions of amenity bottles and bar soaps that are used once and thrown away every day. Imagine the sheer amount of waste with three bottles and two soaps from every room being thrown away. A 180 room hotel will throw away about 9,700 pounds every year—less than 40 percent used. It has been estimated that in the United States...

In our 60+ year history, we have never encountered a client that was not interested in energy cost savings. As architects, we believe in directing our energies toward an environmental architecture, born of human needs and responding to vital physical, social and economic circumstances. While sustainability has become an industry buzzword, we have always embraced it as a responsibility. A healthy environment is intrinsically valuable and essential to a healthy society. Through the design of the built environment, we have the opportunity to positively impact the natural environment and enhance the quality of human life. Furthermore, because our firm’s founder,...

What is the first thought some decision-makers have when approached about a green initiative or product for their hotel or restaurant? Higher costs of course. Every so often though, green initiatives or products turn out to be great for the bottom line because they are replacing older or more inefficient products or services. Phasing out traditional bottled water in favor of a greener alternative happens to be one of those instances when a restaurant or hotel can become more sustainable and increase their profits at the same time. Traditional bottled water is costly for exactly the same reasons it is...

Any new endeavor requires an element of change. And as we all know, change is hard. Even positive change is hard. But change is also a vital part of development, productivity, and—let’s face it—survival. As Andrew Carnegie once said, “Anything in life worth having is worth working for.” Businesses that lack the ability to adapt and grow will stagnate and decline. On an optimistic note, the changes we make do get easier (i.e. more natural) the more we practice doing them. It may not be easy, at first, to be green, but that fact in itself adds substance to...

I am a college student who worked for Xanterra Parks & Resorts at Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 2013. I was a room attendant for their housekeeping department—you know, the person who you ask for more towels or an extra roll of toilet paper? My fellow employees and I were all trained with a lecture by Dylan Hoffman, Director of Sustainability, on Xanterra’s green practices. In spite of this, during my day-to-day work I didn’t think too much about whether or not the procedures I followed were green—and if they were, why? Then, in January 2014, I came...

The legendary rock band, Van Halen, famously refused to perform if the bowl of M&M’s in their dressing room had not had the brown M&M’s hand-picked out of the bowl. What many don’t know is that this wasn’t the pinnacle of selfishness by star performers, but instead a clever way to make use of a small indicator as a reflection of a much larger and more significant goal. The band’s manager was responsible for hundreds of specifications and technical aspects for each intricate performance—from the weight capacity of the loading dock to the tuning of the instruments and proper setup...

Employee volunteering has come a long way. What used to be a generally philanthropic, one-off activity is now increasingly being perceived as an opportunity for skills development. The most frequently quoted skills include communication, influencing and negotiating skills and project management. A report from YOUGOV states that, “Ninety-six percent of managers believe that workplace skills can be gained from volunteering. Fifty-seven percent of managers feel that skills gained from volunteering can help fill gaps in the workplace.” By taking part in the Youth Career Initiative (YCI) hotel staff take time to mentor vulnerable young people on a voluntary basis for...

The hospitality industry has a unique opportunity to identify an energy solution that achieves the diverse needs of hotels and resorts, while ensuring a standard of excellence in maintenance and operations of facilities, landscaping and lawn care, outdoor amenities, and transportation. That solution is propane, which provides a number of energy-efficient ways to manage your property’s utility bills while maintaining comfort and adding unique touches to suit your guests. First Impressions The first impression of your property sets the tone for your guests’ stay. A beautifully maintained landscape is an important part of that image. Commercial mowers fueled by propane help maintain...

The hotel/hospitality industry is a drought stakeholder. By this I mean the industry is more closely tied to water than it may realize. Hotels/motels consume huge amounts of water but, by taking proper steps, can save huge amounts of water as well. According to a study by the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (NCDPPEA): •    Hotels/motels use approximately 14,340 gallons of water daily per connection; in the study, 232 connections were surveyed, and total water usage of all these locations was more than 5 million gallons of water per year. •    Two persons sharing a guestroom with a...