Trade show and conference season is heating up once again with many events offering opportunities to both learn from speakers and panel discussions and shop for new supplies to build your hotel’s green story and make it more efficient and healthier at the same time.
This week’s International Sleep Products Assn. Expo kicks off March 12 in Columbus, Ohio and will run through March 14. The Expo’s 248 exhibitors will display just about every type of bedding, mattress, and pillow imaginable, and more. One highlight: a session entitled, “Navigating the Road to Sustainable Sleep: Best Practices in Sustainable Manufacturing.”
The Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) will lead another session. Hear from the organization’s leadership about what has made MRC successful and their work to develop efficiencies in mattress collection, transportation, and deconstruction activities, as well as identify new uses for recycled mattress materials. Attendees of this presentation will gain a better understanding of MRC, current state laws, the progress made in addressing identified challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Next month, the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. (AAHOA) will meet in Orlando from April 2 to 5. The convention and trade show will include more than 500 exhibitors and more than 40 educational sessions. Twice during the convention, human trafficking will be the focus of a session entitled, “Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) – Learn How to Spot and Prevent Human Trafficking in Your Hotel.”
Ceramic Tile & Natural Stone
Beginning Earth Day, April 22, and running through April 25, Coverings 2024 will take place in Atlanta. Coverings is the preeminent event for the ceramic tile and natural stone industry in North America. More than 1,000 companies will participate in the trade show. There will be Earth Day activities, green-centric programs, and festivities dedicated to promoting sustainability. The title of the keynote address: “Building Globally, Designing Locally – How Materiality Empowers Spirit of Place.”
Also beginning on Earth Day is the Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development. Held in Grenada, the conference themes will range from conservation to equity and diversity to purpose-driven tourism. There will also be destination study tours, and presentation of the Sustainable Tourism Awards.
From April 30 to May 2 in Las Vegas, the HD Expo + Conference will be held. More than 500 suppliers representing more than 25 product categories will be on hand. The conference schedule includes the following sessions: “Evolving F+B: Designing for Local, Diverse, Authentic Dining,” “From Accolades to Action: A Diversity Dialogue,” “HD Idea Exchange: Conversations on Carbon x Design x the Future,” “Wellness-Minded Travelers: What They Need Now,” “Exploring New Frontiers: Hilton’s Vision for Future Fitness and Wellness,” and “HD Masterclass: Hospitality’s Sustainability Playbook.”
The Well Conference will be held May 7 to 9 in Long Beach, Calif. Among the sessions: “Fostering Socially Sustainable Real Estate,” “People and Planet: Exploring How Circularity in Built Environment Supports Human Health & Wellbeing,” and “Social Sustainability Around the World: How Regional Regulations Impact the Global Economy.” The WELL Standard will be incorporated into most of the sessions.
Restaurant Industry’s Leading Show
From May 18 to 21 in Chicago, the National Restaurant Show will be held. More than 35,000 are expected to attend this show that currently includes more than 1,800 exhibitors. The show has a long history of addressing sustainability and this year’s show will be no different. Some examples of sessions: “How You Can Benefit from Sustainability Initiatives in the Foodservice Chain”, “Reimagining Workforce Excellence: Strategies for Inclusion, Authenticity, and Skill Development,” and “Less Waste, More Revenue: The Key to Unlocking Profitability Through Sustainability.”
The month of June will include NeoCon and HITEC North America. At NeoCon in Chicago from June 10 to 12, more than 400 of the industry’s major manufacturers as well as the latest emerging companies will showcase thousands of new products and services in categories including Furniture, Fabrics, Flooring, Interior Building Products, Interior Finishes and Technology. Click here for programming details.
At HITEC North America, June 24 to 27 in Charlotte, N.C., more than 320 companies will be exhibiting. Numerous companies in the sustainability space will be on hand including Axxess Industries Inc., Blink Charging, EverCharge, FreshAir Smoking Sensors, Schneider Electric, and Verdant Energy Management Solutions.
These events are great learning and networking opportunities and door openers to new products and technologies that can help you reduce your environmental impact—at your property and throughout your supply chain.
Got an event to share? I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
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