One of the strongest indicators that interest in green lodging is picking up is the number of hospitality industry events that are emerging with green building, design and operations as a focus. In the next six months alone, there are three new conferences and/or trade shows. In a span of 25 days from February 19 through March 14, 2008, there are four green events planned. It will be a challenge, if not impossible, to attend them all. Several events will even overlap. Will the lodging industry support so much green activity? I believe it will but attendance may be impacted at those events so close together.
Here is the schedule from February 19 through March 14: The Green Meeting Industry Council will hold its Greening the Hospitality Industry Conference February 19-21 in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Four Seasons Hotel. Questex Media Group, publisher of Hotel & Motel Management, just announced that it is moving its HotelWorld Expo & Conference from next month to February 25-27. It will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center and include a GreenWorld trade show component. HotelWorld will be part of International Hospitality Week, which also includes shows for the restaurant and bar and nightclub industries.
On March 12-14, JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group’s The Hotel Developer’s Conference 2008 will focus entirely on green hotel development. It will be held at the Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa in Las Vegas. At the very same time, from March 12-14, Pineapple Hospitality and Lodging Hospitality will hold its 2nd Annual Green Hospitality Conference at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Mark your 2008 calendars and stay tuned for additional details. In the meantime, be sure to check out the events scheduled this fall.
A Full Slate of Autumn Events
For the first time ever, Nielsen Business Media will hold its Green + Design Conference and Expo. It will be held October 1-2 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. So far, approximately 20 companies have signed up to exhibit. To learn about green building and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program, be sure to attend Greenbuild 2007 at McCormick Place in Chicago from November 7-9. Eighteen thousand people are expected to attend, up from 13,000 last year.
Green Lodging News is working with the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show to organize two seminars at that annual event to be held November 11-13 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. The sessions will include “Green Building: LEED and Beyond”; and “Greening Operations: How to Run a More Profitable Enterprise Without Compromising Guest Satisfaction.” Go to the Green Lodging News Events page for links to all of the events described above (and more).
It is exciting to see so much green meeting and trade show activity. Green Lodging News encourages its readers to support all of these events.
More on Mattresses
Thank you to Jean Radtke, president, Phoenix Marketing Group, for making Green Lodging News aware of another company that recycles mattresses. Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, Fort Atkinson, Wisc., will pick up old mattresses when they deliver new ones to customers. Verlo has stores located in nine states.
A New Founding Sponsor
Green Lodging News welcomes Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc. as a Founding Sponsor. Valley Forge Fabrics is a 30-year-old American fabric house specializing in quality hospitality and contract upholstery and drapery. Valley Forge is a family owned and operated business with fully staffed offices in the United States, Australia, Dubai, Italy, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Valley Forge introduces FRESH—Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards (for) Hospitality. FRESH fabrics are made with post-industrial and post-consumer recycled synthetic yarns. FRESH fabrics are recyclable—and meet all the stringent ACT guidelines and hospitality industry expectations for durability, strength, colorfastness and fire retardancy. Valley Forge is the first textile converter to offer clients an international reclamation program facilitating the recycling process.
In addition to continued research and development of FRESH fabrics, the company is dedicated to increasing the FRESH initiative throughout its processes. Valley Forge purchased renewable energy credits to run all operations for the next three years—a commitment certified by Renewable Choice Energy. Valley Forge has also offset all of its carbon dioxide emissions through The Climate Trust.
Recycling and appropriate disposal of waste is mandatory on company premises and by providing educational sessions the company is encouraging employees to FRESHen up their lifestyles. Valley Forge also provides employees with incentives to carpool and drive alternate fuel/hybrid/high-mpg vehicles. Valley Forge is a company that operates with not only profits and people in mind, but also the environment.
For more information, call (800) 223-7979, e-mail info@valleyforge.com, or go to www.valleyforge.com.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
