When it comes to consumer travel habits and the degree to which sustainability comes into play in their travel decisions, little research has been conducted in recent years. To get a recent picture of how travelers make decisions based on sustainable practices, I recommend getting the 2016 report entitled, “The Role of Sustainability in Travel & Tourism.” Research partners included Sustainable Travel International and Mandala Research. Visit California was the lead research sponsor. The purpose of the study was to learn how travelers make decisions based on sustainable practices and commitments and their economic value to the travel industry....

In my years covering green lodging I have written quite a few articles about equipment and technology found in the kitchen to help one save energy, water and reduce waste—bio-digesters, pre-rinse spray valves, warewashers, variable-speed hood controllers, and more. You can read about such topics on the Green Lodging News website in the “Kitchen & Laundry” category. Every time I chat with a supplier I learn something new and that was certainly the case today when I interviewed Craig Gavson, CEO of Hyginix LLC. In case you are not familiar with Hyginix, they manufacture the FOG Tank, a heated...

Solar and wind power continue to grow in importance and as a proportion of overall electricity generation in the United States. Two recent reports indicate this. First, according to the American Wind Energy Assn., American wind power just achieved its second strongest quarter ever for newly installed energy generating capacity. Wind surpassed hydropower dams to become the largest source of renewable electric capacity in the United States, and the fourth largest overall. More than 100,000 people are employed in the wind industry. At the close of 2016, the American wind fleet totaled 82,183 MW, enough to power 24 million average...

Green Lodging News recently featured Pranav Jampani, Director of Sustainability, Las Vegas Sands Corp., in its Personnel Profile section. During my conversation with Pranav, he said the following, “On a daily basis, we proactively try to reduce our environmental impact. Our goal is to align with science-based targets.” In an article posted on Green Lodging News last August, Caesars Entertainment Corp. was also mentioned as committing to science-based carbon reduction goals. What exactly does science-based mean? According to the Science Based Targets website, targets adopted by companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are considered “science-based” if they are in...

Wyndham Worldwide recently released its 2015-2016 Corporate Responsibility (CSR) Report. I read through the report and there were many things that stood out to me. First, Wyndham achieved a 22 percent reduction in carbon emissions and 18 percent reduction in water consumption since 2010. This applies to the company’s owned, managed and leased assets. According to Stephen P. Holmes, Chairman and CEO, Wyndham Worldwide, the carbon emissions goal was reached six years ahead of schedule. Faith Taylor, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Wyndham Worldwide, said in the report that Wyndham has saved an estimated $68 million...

Wyndham Hotel Group just opened its new-construction, 343-room Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach in Clearwater Beach, Fla. The two-tower resort, owned by Florida philanthropist Dr. Kiran Patel and managed by Wyndham Hotel Group, sits just steps from Pier 60 and the white sands of Clearwater Beach, one of the best beaches in the United States. Interestingly, the hotel was designed with turtles in mind. According to Alexandra Piscitelli, a spokesperson for the property, an exterior glazing was designed to meet various requirements including the need to comply with a 45 percent light transmittance standard that is specifically established in order...

What does your property’s “green resumé” look like? Confused? What I mean is: Have you prepared a document, preferably available online or by e-mail, that succinctly describes your property’s progress in the various areas that encompass sustainability? The purpose of the document would be to inform different stakeholders but also can be used as a sales tool for bringing in new business and informing current customers. I came across a green resumé when visiting the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center website. Be sure to check it out. The 23-page PDF showcases the property’s Seaport Saves, a program that...

KENYA—Way back in the 1980s, Serena Hotels built a lagoon consisting of six chambers at their Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge. The Lodge is connected to the lagoon through an array of septic tanks and a drainage system, bringing the wastewater from the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry directly into the chambers. Through a process of aeration, oxygenation and sunlight exposure, the water travels through each of the six chambers and undergoes a natural cleaning process. The wetlands lagoon is one of the company’s unique ways of working with the natural environment to find practical solutions for sustainability. Wetlands is one solution for waste management...

According to a report in The Japan News, a government system for ranking service-sector companies on their energy-saving achievements will begin on a full-fledged basis next fiscal year. Under the system, a scheme will be introduced for awarding “stars” to companies with excellent records. Companies that have made excellent achievements will obtain stars, but those with poor results will face consequences, such as public naming. With the star ranking system, the government aims to foster competition among companies to save more energy. This will help prevent global warming and boost related investments. Starting next fiscal year, the Economy, Trade and...

Sometime this past weekend, along a main road close to where I live, someone pulled over with their truck and unloaded what must have been a ton of old furniture, clothes and other junk. Not content to leave it all on one side of the road, they left a portion on the other side as well. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in our world—illegal dumping and littering along roadways, beaches, in the water, and in just about every location you can imagine. This morning I drove by the same road close to my home and the junk had been...