This past week I updated the State & City Green Lodging Programs page on the Green Lodging News website. I removed several links to pages for programs that are obviously inactive. For example, New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation continues to run a page for its Green Hotel Certification Pilot Program when in fact the program has been over for quite some time. Why confuse people? After scouring the Web for new programs, I found one. The Idaho Bed & Breakfast Association now has a Green Lodging Program. I spoke with Brian Scott, president of the association this past week and posted an article about the six-month-old program (see article).
Based on my count, there are now 29 states, three cities and one region that either have an official green lodging certification program or offer assistance to lodging establishments interested in reducing waste and energy and water consumption. (Click here for that list.)
States Noticeably Absent From the List
States including California, Florida, Virginia and Illinois have the most participants in their programs. States one would think would be prime candidates for green lodging programs are noticeably absent—Nevada, Texas and Colorado come to mind first. There have got to be business models that would work for those states and others.
One state, New Hampshire, recently had its manager leave and accept another position. I was just told that there are plans to fill that position with someone else. Another program that I cannot disclose at the moment is also in jeopardy of losing its leader. Sometimes as leaders leave, programs peter out. Here’s hoping that is not the case in New Hampshire and with the other program I mentioned.
State, city and regional programs certainly play an important role in our industry. They provide guidance for making operations more sustainable. They provide an additional marketing outlet for participating properties. In some cases they provide third-party assurance that a property is doing what it is saying it is doing. They complement national certification programs. They also are beehives for networking and sharing ideas. Our industry needs more state, city and regional green lodging programs.
Are you aware of any programs that I have missed? Interested in starting a program but not sure how to get started? Contact me at (440) 243-2055 or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Green Lodging News Adds Protect-A-Bed Case Study to Website
Green Lodging News has added a Protect-A-Bed case study to its website. The case study focuses on the Mansion at Judges’ Hill and how it is benefiting from Protect-A-Bed’s mattress encasements. The 48-room property is using the encasements to meet the needs of allergy-sensitive guests, as a preventive measure against bed bugs, and to extend the life of mattresses that otherwise might be destroyed once soiled. The encasements are protecting the property’s mattresses so that they can be recycled at the end of their life. To read the case study, click here. For more information about Protect-A-Bed and its products, contact Sandra DiVito at sandra.divito@protectabed.com or (847) 856-7918. Also go to www.protectabed.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 (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Planning Advertising for 2012?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2012. Many excellent spots are available on the website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2012 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. A media kit can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Social Networking Sites
Green Lodging News now has 1,032 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 150 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
