It would be easy to go negative this week, just like the presidential candidates we have been watching for months. But Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, is not a day to go negative, even with all we know about the state of our planet. Let’s use that day to celebrate the good things our industry has accomplished so far, what it is planning for the future, and to be confident that our best days are ahead of us—even with all the challenges we face.
The idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. It was then that Senator Gaylord Nelson convinced President John F. Kennedy to go on a five-day, 11-state conservation tour. That tour took place in September 1963. Years passed and it was in 1969 that Senator Nelson finally developed the idea of a nationwide grassroots demonstration. It was on April 22, 1970 when the work of Senator Nelson blossomed into what we now call Earth Day.
This year, lodging establishments and other industry representatives around the globe will be celebrating Earth Day in their own unique ways. Accor North America will stretch Earth Day to a week and celebrate Earth Guest Week from April 21-25. In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, an organization Green Lodging News also supports, Accor North America will plant 15,000 trees in areas in need of reforestation. Hotel Indigo will celebrate Earth Day by announcing a partnership with Earth Share, a nationwide network of the United States’ most respected environmental and conservation organizations.
Additional Earth Day Plans
What Accor North America and Hotel Indigo have planned are just two examples of activities planned in honor of Earth Day. The following are some additional ones:
• On Friday, April 18, the World Wildlife Fund and The Fairmont Washington, D.C. joined forces for the fifth consecutive year to help students at Francis Middle School learn about plants and gardening.
• The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ohio is sponsoring two Earth Day contests on Saturday, April 26 for area students to show how they can better care for the planet. All Geneva area elementary school classes and Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops are being invited to participate in an Aluminum Can Collection Challenge. All Geneva area junior high school students are eligible to participate in a poster contest entitled, “How I Can Make an Impact on Saving the Environment, One Person at a Time.” In addition, cleanup activities at Geneva State Park are planned.
• Deer Creek Resort and Conference Center, an ARAMARK Harrison Lodging property located in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, offered a lodging package along with its Earth Day weekend event. Available April 18 to 20, the Earth Day Package started at $119 and included a one-night stay at Deer Creek Resort, a “buy one get one free” four-course organic and sustainable dinner voucher, and one breakfast for two adults. For Earth Day itself, Deer Creek is inviting volunteers to assist in planting trees around the area.
• At the Hilton Garden Inn, Temple, Texas, the hotel is teaming up with KCEN to sponsor its Green Expo on Earth Day. Held in the back parking lot of the inn, the event will give local businesses an opportunity to showcase their green products to the public.
• Pineapple Hospitality, a supplier of products ranging from compact fluorescents to amenity dispensers, issued a “10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2008” release. Click here to access that release.
On Earth Day 2008, celebrate your past accomplishments and reward your employees for the work they have done in helping to reduce your property’s environmental impact. Use the day as a benchmark for the progress you plan to make in the coming year. Set new, achievable goals. Get buy-in from your property’s owners and managers. If we all work hard in the coming year, on Earth Day 2009 we will be one giant step closer to making our industry a sustainable one.
Green Lodging News Welcomes AWOIS as Directory Partner
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As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
