Let’s face it—the nature of the hotel industry as a whole is inherently wasteful. Hotel guests have expectations when traveling that, when met by the hotels, result in excessive waste. From energy and water use, to waste generation, hotel guests as a whole consume more resources when traveling than they do at home. Without conscious attention and focused efforts to reducing waste and over-consumption of natural resources, the hotel industry will continue to have a large and damaging environmental impact on the world. In evaluating this scenario, we find both good and bad news: the good news is that...

Congratulations. You’ve been LEED certified.  Now what? That is the question facing the owners and operators of more than one billion square feet of commercial space that have obtained LEED status under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Green Building Rating System. What they (and you) decide will make a big impact—it will mean the difference between one billion square feet of truly sustainable real estate, and one billion square feet of potentially sustainable real estate. The gap between real and potential sustainability lies in the way LEED is perceived. If you think attaining LEED is attaining sustainability, your answer to...

Hotels and resorts are facing increased costs for garbage collection as fuel for collection vehicles increases and landfills increase their dumping fees. Landfills also create environmental problems by polluting the ground water underneath and the air above them. These environmental problems are caused by organic waste. The organic waste component of landfill is broken down by micro-organisms to form a liquid ‘leachate’ which contains bacteria, rotting matter and often chemical contaminants. This leachate can present a serious hazard if it reaches open water or enters the water table. Organic matter in landfills also generates methane, which in large quantities...

Many of us would assume that if a cleaning chemical has already been labeled green by a leading certification organization it must be pretty safe, assuming it is used correctly as instructed. This is true, at least in comparison to many conventional cleaning products used for the same or similar purposes. However, these days I think we need to take this a step further. We need to know more specifically what is in the cleaning chemicals we are using, green or not. This “ingredient disclosure” appears to be one of the next big developments in the professional cleaning industry. There are...

In a previous column (click here for it) I gave you five reasons why having a sustainable procurement policy is an essential element of implementing smart, sustainable business practices. To recap, they are: to be proactive in complying with the coming APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Event Standards; preserving or enhancing your reputation; cost savings; stakeholder pressure; and risk avoidance. So, now that you understand the importance of having a sustainable procurement policy, where do you start? This article is designed to provide you with a methodology to develop a sustainable procurement policy for your own organization. Contrary to what you might think,...

Hotel managers and housekeepers hear quite a bit about green certification, the system that allows end customers to identify green cleaning products. In fact, customers often ask their distributors if the products they recommend are “green certified” or, as some call it, “proven green.” Many cleaning product buyers are also aware that there are now several green certification organizations, including GreenSeal and EcoLogo, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment Program (DfE), which has grown in prominence lately. However, the process a product must undergo to become green certified is probably less well known among...

When you hear about the APEX Standards do you think, “Are you kidding me, I’m focused on our next conference; I don’t have time or interest in developing and implementing a sustainable procurement policy! Give me one good reason why I should read any further?” I’ll do better than that—I’ll give you five good reasons. Reason 1: A sustainable procurement policy is likely to be a requirement as part of the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Event Standards for both planners and suppliers. Still don’t care? There’re four more, but first let’s agree about what a Sustainable Procurement Policy is. One of...

It’s easy to see why “green cleaning” is a hot industry topic. We all want a clean and healthy space to live, work and play—and we need to achieve that in a sustainable way so we can enjoy that space for the long term. More emphasis has been placed on sustainability within the lodging industry during the last decade. In fact, the 2010 “Business Cleaning Sustainability Study,” conducted by Procter & Gamble Professional, revealed that nine out of 10 survey respondents believe sustainability and environmental responsibility is important for their business. Furthermore, of all the industries surveyed, these practices resonated...

As lodging facility owners know, well-designed and maintained outdoor spaces are important amenities that help create favorable guest experiences. Exterior areas for relaxation, play and fresh air can provide guests with some of their best memories of your property. Within these spaces, decked areas often figure prominently. While many decks, patios, boardwalks, pool and hot tub surrounds and docks traditionally used wood surfacing, wood-plastic composite decking is an increasingly attractive alternative. Such materials provide durability and safety features that are suited for the high-use environments of many lodging facilities, and offer great looks and support of green building goals. When selecting...

The spring career fair and recruitment season has arrived, to be followed by the handing out of many hospitality and tourism degrees in the coming months (myself included, eager to receive my M.S. in Tourism Management degree from New York University). And of course as soon-to-graduate hospitality students you are hoping for spring’s bloom to come with a job offer. The first challenge is navigating those networking events and tough interviews. Then comes fitting into the organization and its culture. One promising aspect of new graduates entering the workforce is the increased interest and passion for sustainability. Or at least...