World Oceans Day is an international day that takes place annually on June 8. The concept was originally proposed in 1992. No matter where your hotel happens to be—even in Death Valley—consider the plight of the oceans on June 8. According to Conservation International, each year by weight, three times more trash is dumped into the ocean than fish caught, a third of the world’s wild fisheries are overexploited or depleted, and in the past 40 years, populations of marine species have been cut in half. (Perhaps you should plan an event to raise awareness about the ocean’s plight on or around June 8?)
I thought about the oceans and World Oceans Day during a chat I had this past week with Michelle Liu, Senior Vice President of Marine and Water Park Operations at Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas. Look for my article based on my conversation with Michelle soon.
If you did not know, Atlantis Paradise Island is home to the world’s largest open-air marine habitat. Michelle oversees that habitat and spearheads the resort’s mission to protect the ocean, which is done through a number of on-site educational programs that help fund the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, the resort’s nonprofit organization dedicated to saving sea species and their habitats throughout The Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean seas.
Michelle helps to curate the guest experiences that help fund the foundation—experiences such as snorkeling in the Ruins Lagoon, home to more than 20,000 deep reef and pelagic fish. The Lagoon is 2.7 million gallons large! That is just one example of many of the experiences guests can book to help raise funds for the Foundation. Paradise Island encompasses 14 lagoons, eight million gallons of ocean water and more than 50,000 aquatic animals representing over 250 marine species. Very impressive.
A Little History
When I was a kid, like many of you, I used to watch the Merv Griffin Show. Merv’s show ran for nine years. Merv was also the owner of Resorts International, the precursor to what eventually blossomed into Atlantis Paradise Island. Sol Kerzner purchased the company from Merv and $800 million later Atlantis was born. It was during Kerzner’s build-up of Atlantis from 1994 to 1998 that the world’s largest open-air marine habitat was constructed. Further phases of development included additional wildlife habitat and education facilities.
Back to World Oceans Day
When I think of World Oceans Day I think of plastic. According to the Oceanic Society, plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. With skyrocketing plastic production, ineffective recycling, and poor waste management, between 4 and 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year—enough to cover every foot of coastline on the planet. And that amount is projected to triple by 2040.
While many commitments have been made, our industry can do a much better job eliminating single-use plastic. Really, with all that we know, should plastic water (or soda) bottles still be given or sold to guests? Or, individual amenity bottles? Or utensils?
If you have plans for World Ocean Day, contact me. I would love to learn about your plans. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
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 23,765 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 23,765. 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 1,776 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 985 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
