Tomorrow I will be chatting with Kurt Bjorkman, General Manager of The Ranch at Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach, Calif.) about his property’s many sustainability initiatives. In case you are not familiar with the property, it is a member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, a prestigious collection of lodges spanning 30 countries and six continents. According to National Geographic, “Each lodge is deeply rooted in its community and dedicated to protecting the surrounding habitats and cultures.” What caught my eye in the public relations person’s pitch about the property is its use of a GLSand glass bottle crusher....

Two recent publications on the topic of biophilic design are must-reads for architects, designers and others interested in sustainable design. Biophilic design is the practice of creating spaces that benefit both nature and humans. The first report, Human Spaces 2.0: Biophilic Design in Hospitality, was released recently by Interface in conjunction with Terrapin Bright Green. This new paper explores the biophilic design strategies used by hotels around the world to enhance guest experiences. It includes an investigation of pricing differentials for rooms with a view to nature and a discussion of the biophilic qualities of different properties and different...

What do you do when a known hate group wants to hold a meeting at your hotel? I recently received a press release from Muslim Advocates. The group describes itself on its website as a “national legal advocacy and educational organization that works on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths.” One of its goals is to “counter anti-Muslim hate by challenging bigotry and hate crimes.” There is certainly nothing wrong with that. What Muslim Advocates was concerned about was a meeting at a Marriott hotel in Crystal City, Va. earlier this month....

Asking guests to swear an oath before visiting a city seems like something from a medieval film, but it’s actually part of a new campaign launched this week by Visit Bend. The Bend Pledge is aimed at establishing a code of conduct for all people who spend time in Central Oregon. It’s a web-based initiative that asks potential visitors to abide by a code of conduct that includes items like, “I will make my own memories, but not my own trails,” and, “I will be a respectful guest in Bend’s indoor and outdoor spaces.” Visit Bend CEO Kevney Dugan explained the...

There’s a lot of good and bad advice out there, but the need to diversify your portfolio is non-negotiable. However, it’s not as simple these days to simply look at major markets and dip into them; the advent of technology and rising focus on environmentalism offers a challenge to those looking to make a wise investment. Scepticism remains, however, with personal and political doubts over climate change and faith in “classic” industries. This article will help you to get a handle on green financing. The Context The Paris agreement of 2016 has been the turning point for the world’s market. The demands of the...

The Biophilia hypothesis, according to Encyclopedia Brittanica, is the “idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.” Biophilia has influenced architecture and design significantly in recent years and is highlighted in a new book by Amanda Sturgeon entitled, “Creating Biophilic Buildings.” Be sure to check it out. Amanda is CEO of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), a leading organization that focuses on the transformation to a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. She is the founder and driving force behind the organization’s Biophilic Design Initiative...

LONDON—S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI), one of the world’s leading index providers, and RobecoSAM, an investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing (SI), recently announced the results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) review. Launched in 1999, the DJSI World represents the gold standard for corporate sustainability and is the first global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies based on RobecoSAM’s analysis of financially material Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and S&P DJI’s robust index methodology. Every year, RobecoSAM assesses the world’s largest companies via its Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), which uses a consistent,...

Wynn Boston Harbor is well on its way to its eventual opening in the summer of 2019. The $2.4 billion five-star global destination gaming resort will feature 671 hotel rooms, a spa, retail, dining, and ballroom and meeting spaces. It will generate more than 4,000 construction jobs and 10 million labor hours. It is the largest single-phase development in Massachusett’s history. Wynn is spending $30 million to clean up a former chemical plant site that had been inaccessible to the public for more than 100 years. No public funds are being used for the cleanup. Wynn chose Charter Contracting...

With Hurricane Irma bearing down on the Caribbean, Florida and probably other part of the United States, this Green Lodging News editor is getting just a little nervous. My office is based in Odessa, just north of Tampa. I have lived in Ohio most of my life, have gone through some pretty serious storms but nothing like a category 5 hurricane. Everyone knows how important tourism is to Florida. In the first six months of this year, the state welcomed 60 million visitors—a state record. Irma could so some major damage to Florida tourism, its hotels and its many...

Next month will see the release of the second annual Green Lodging Trends Report. I wrote 13 articles for this year’s report—survey results in categories ranging from Air Quality to Water Conservation. Be sure to watch for this year’s free report. Being a communicator myself, I am always interested in how hoteliers communicate their sustainability initiatives to their guests and employees. While there are many who do a great job at it, there are many—for whatever reason—who keep their green story a secret. For this year’s report we asked, “Does the property have space on its website dedicated to sharing...