A few random thoughts as we wrap up the month of June and head into July.
It is good to see the industry continue to rebound from a terrible 2020/early 2021. According to STR, the last four weeks ending Saturday, June 12, twenty-six states showed demand totals within a 10 percent margin of the corresponding period of 2019. Collectively, eight of those states sold more rooms for the four-week period than they did 2019. Demand gains are widespread and, so far in 2021, most states (28) have had at least one week that surpassed a comparable week from 2019.
We are optimistic even though the delta coronavirus variant now accounts for 20 percent of all new cases in the United States—bad news for the unvaccinated and sure to impact those regions of the country where vaccination levels remain low. Our industry needs healthy destinations and healthy travelers from all places around the country to truly rebound sustainably!
Green Supplier Success Mixed
I spoke with quite a few green suppliers in recent weeks and results are mixed. One described business as great, another told me that just recently his business, which is dependent on group business, has suddenly jumped from almost nothing to gangbusters. Yet another supplier in the foodservice equipment realm (warewashing) told me his business is still slow. Why? The priority of hotel/restaurant employers right now is to hire servers and chefs to keep the business flowing. Money for investing in warewashing equipment will come later.
Whether they are featured on Green Lodging News or not, I strongly encourage you to continue to support those green suppliers that offer products and services that are going to reduce your environmental footprint while saving money at the same time. This will make it easier for your business to bounce back and maybe even elevate wages to the point where you are the “go to” place to work.
It will also position your property as “the” place to stay, according to Booking.com’s recent survey. (Eighty-one percent of survey respondents said they intend to stay in a sustainable accommodation at least once in the upcoming year.) And, according to a recent study by travel company Virtuoso, four in five people (82 percent) said the pandemic has made them want to travel more responsibly in the future.
Food Waste Article Worth Reading
Before the pandemic disrupted the restaurant industry, the National Restaurant Association partnered with the World Wildlife Fund, and, backed by support from Essity/Tork, developed a comprehensive set of resources to help operators reduce food waste, one small step at a time. 86 Food Waste is a series of free resources available for download by any interested restaurant operator of any size. It consists of an overview of the results of real-world initiatives to reduce food waste in restaurants and several topic-specific guides. Do not miss them.
Those Birthdays Keep Coming
I will turn 60 next year and will do everything I can for a while to avoid retirement with a son about to turn 10 this summer. Each week I am amazed at the number of folks I hear from who are still active in the industry in their seventies and eighties. Our industry is one you do not give up easily. I am certainly glad I chose it but there will come a time when other priorities take over.
I strongly encourage the many younger people in our industry to continue to push us all toward a more sustainable industry. Also, I strongly encourage the many older business owners in our industry to make our industry one worth fighting to get into—one with fair wages, benefits, and fun and exciting work atmospheres. The best managed companies in lodging offer that. Can you honestly say your company is one you would like your own son and daughter to work for until they retire?
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 23,512 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2021?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 23,512. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,759 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 984 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
