I started coaching my son’s soccer team this year. I was actually “volunteered” to be a coach by my wife. Maybe some of you can relate to that type of experience. I love watching my son play and enjoy watching and learning the game. Admittedly, every now and again I have had an “I will never do this again type of experience” but the thought usually passes within a couple of days. Maybe some of you can relate to that, too. I thought about my coaching experience this morning and how I might relate it to green teaming at a...

This past week I learned about one of the most impressive wellness resort projects in the world—Amaala. The ultra-luxury well destination in Saudi Arabia is slated to be completed by 2028 and will include approximately 30 hotels, an airport, and much more. Sustainability is a cornerstone of the project with the primary goal being a zero-carbon footprint. The project has the support of many international companies. Very impressive. One of the team members behind the project is His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. It was the CIA’s assessment that His Royal Highness ordered the murder...

At the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa in Grand Cayman, the Seafire team has joined forces with a local dive company to help replenish the coral in Caribbean waters, launching a program called Seafire Guardians. The mission of Seafire Guardians is to protect, develop and regenerate the Caribbean’s coral reefs. The property sponsored staff members to become coral certified through the PADI Coral Restoration course, after which they founded the Guardians project to ensure continued action. As “rainforests of the sea”, corals are not just a diver’s dream, but also support an astonishing 25 percent of marine life and...

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy just released its 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The 50-state Scorecard reveals increasing state commitment to energy efficiency, the least-expensive clean energy resource, even where it had traditionally been overlooked. Research has shown that energy efficiency can slash U.S. energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050—getting us halfway to the U.S. climate goals. The 13th annual report identifies the leaders—Massachusetts and California; the most-improved states, notably Maryland; the states that lost ground, such as Kentucky; and those lagging behind, including North Dakota and Wyoming. According to the Scorecard, Nevada,...

While on a press trip in New York City with Lutron last week, I got to visit their new Commercial Experience Center as well as the gigantic $20 billion Hudson Yards development located just south of the Javits Center. If you have an interest in the power of commercial lighting and controlling it, I highly recommend visiting the Experience Center. If you have a general interest in green building, I recommend a visit to Hudson Yards. Wikipedia does a good job explaining the scope of the Hudson Yards development. According to the site, Hudson Yards is a real estate development...

According to an article published by Maria Stamas and Pierre Delforge of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the City Council of San José, Calif., yesterday voted to adopt requirements for builders that will provide San José residents with clean, affordable energy in buildings and make good on the city’s promise to lead on sustainability. The new ordinance will make San José the largest U.S. city to require construction of electric buildings. Following adoption of the ordinance and a forthcoming ordinance directed by City Council for an October vote, greenhouse gas emissions of San José’s new buildings will be cut...

Since beginning Green Lodging News more than 13 years ago, I have been compiling a list of certification programs in which lodging establishments can participate. I will be adding yet another one to my list soon: The Actively Green Certified Businesses program in Vail, Colo. The program is open to all types of businesses in Vail. There are currently 62 businesses that have been certified. The purpose of Actively Green is to help properties save money, engage employees, be an environmental steward, expand economic development, increase marketing power and attract more customers, and become a community leader. Businesses get started...

The next time you think about using scented cleaning products, personal care products or adding scents to areas of your hotel, think about your guests and your associates. According to a June 2019 study by Anne Steinemann entitled, “International Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity,” 32 percent of adults reported fragrance sensitivity. To get to the 32 percent, surveys were conducted in four countries—United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Sweden. Commonly reported health problems include respiratory difficulties (16.7 percent), mucosal symptoms (13.2 percent), migraine headaches (12.6 percent), skin rashes (9.1 percent), and asthma attacks (7.0 percent). For 9.5 percent of the...

One of the most fascinating aspects of sustainability that I have covered over the years is the convergence of the arts—oftentimes local arts—with hotel design and the guest experience. Look up “artist” on the Green Lodging News website and you will find more than 70 articles. One of the most interesting art hotels to open recently is Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel in Milwaukee. Drawing inspiration from Saint Catherine, the patron saint of artists, Saint Kate is among the first hotels in the nation to broadly celebrate arts in its many forms—from painting and sculpture to dance and drama. Upon...

Yesterday was a big day at San Francisco International Airport. Effective yesterday, August 20, water is no longer allowed to be sold in plastic bottles. The rule requires all airport retailers, restaurants, airline lounges, and vending machines to sell or provide water in recyclable aluminum, glass or BPI-certified compostable bottles. The policy applies to purified water, mineral water, carbonated or sparkling water, and electrolyte-enhanced water, but does not include flavored beverages such as sodas, teas, or juices. “SFO continues to lead the way in airport sustainability initiatives,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “With this move, we take a giant...