At the beginning of a new decade, have you thought about what has disappeared since the turn of the century and what has become entrenched?
Think about the record store. Just 10 years ago we all bought music at record stores. When Napster first appeared in 1999 barely anyone had even heard of an MP3 file. Then along came the iPod and iTunes in 2001 and the need to go to a store and buy music began to die. Along with the music store the CD and video cassettes are also on life support at best.
Ten years ago almost everyone had a landline. The rise of cell phones and VoIP changed that. Digital cameras killed film. Nearly every house had an encyclopedia set. Cars had paper maps and the back of your TV was as big as the screen. Young people actually wore watches.
In 2000 the concept of sustainability was just emerging. A winter holiday was a Caribbean or Hawaiian beach getaway. The concept of humans hiking though the Virunga Forest of Rwanda speaking softly and avoiding standing taller then our closest primate relatives, the mountain gorilla, was not a top-of-mind vacation experience.
Startling Environmental Changes
Climate change, permafrost melt, glacial retreat and a year-round navigable Northwest Passage were virtually inconceivable concepts a decade ago.
It can be easy to lose sight of the long range picture these days. Amidst the challenges of today’s economy where RevPAR remains much lower than the average hotelier needs it to be, remaining focused on your long range game plan seems like a very daunting task.
The move to green is not going to go away; it’s going to become even more important. Following almost every downturn there is spending on innovations that end up driving outstanding opportunities. Green technology is one of the key emerging areas. Governments are supporting it as are many big players in industry.
The lodging sector is a driver in helping Canada become a better world leader in sectors such as wind and solar energy and waste management. Among the long list of opportunities engendered by a greener economy are building retrofits.
Construction and operation of buildings generates 40 percent of North America’s carbon emissions. In big cities the numbers are far higher: 63 percent in Toronto and 79 percent in New York. Green retrofits that make buildings more efficient such as installing energy-saving lighting, insulating walls and “reskinning” buildings with new exteriors are the best approach and solution to deal with the carbon problem. Smart lighting fixtures, remote controls and training to encourage workers to cut lights and power are all a solution and go right to the bottom line.
Issue of Great Importance
According to Leger Marketing, climate change is one of the new realities and ranks as the second biggest issue we currently face according to 37 percent of Canadians. In fact 61 percent of those 18 to 24 years old are concerned about the planet being in peril from climate change. This issue is topped only by Canadians’ concern about the economy and employment.
Clearly the market is driving change. A 2009 international survey by TripAdvisor showed that 40 percent of those surveyed took environmental practices into consideration when booking trips. This attitude is reflected amongst Canadian travelers as well. According to the Hotel Association of Canada’s 2008 Annual Travel Intentions, 81 percent of respondents said they always or as much as possible, make an effort to reduce their eco-footprint by recycling, turning off lights and reusing towels when they are staying in a hotel, motel or resort.
Is it any wonder the American Dialect Society chose “green” as the fourth most important word of the decade?
Tony Pollard is president of the Hotel Association of Canada.
