Name: Michelle White Title: Director, Environmental Affairs Company: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Toronto Number of years with company: Three My primary responsibilities: “Overseeing the operation of Fairmont’s Green Partnership program and ensuring that its standards are consistently applied at all of our hotels.” What I enjoy most about my job: “Working with the members of our hotels’ green teams and corporate partners such as the World Heritage Alliance.” My company’s biggest environmental challenge: “The fact that we are expanding so rapidly and finding ourselves in countries where the environmental infrastructure is not the same. For example, a lot of communities don’t have what is needed...

Name: Tedd Saunders. Title & Company: President, Boston-based EcoLogical Solutions Inc. and co-owner of a number of hotels including The Lenox Hotel and Comfort Inn & Suites Boston/Airport. Primary responsibilities: “I focus most of my time on environmental initiatives within hospitality and in the environmental field. I am helping to expand the environmental programs at the Lenox Hotel and Comfort Inn & Suites Boston/Airport. What keeps me motivated: “The urgency and scope of the climate change issue keeps me humming along. Our world has massive issues to deal with in regard to energy consumption. We are trying to do our part to...

Name: Dennis Quaintance.Title: CEO & CDO (chief design officer).Company: Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants and Hotels, Greensboro, N.C.Hotel Properties: The Proximity Hotel and O.Henry Hotel, both in Greensboro.My primary responsibilities: “I am the leader of our company and have the obligation to cause followers to behave in a way that is consistent with our values—to be of service to the community.”What keeps me motivated: “My job is to cause delight. I am humbled that people choose to follow me and honor me with a night’s sleep.”Our biggest environmental challenge: “Justifying sustainable practices. Being able to pragmatically justify everything we do. LEED is...

Name: Rob Katz Title: CEO Company: Vail Resorts, Inc. Properties: Through its Mountain segment, the company owns and operates five year-round resorts. Through its Lodging segment, it owns and/or manages a portfolio of luxury hotels under the RockResorts brand, a number of hotels and condominiums located in proximity to its ski resorts, three destination resorts at Grand Teton National Park and six golf courses. Through its Real Estate segment, Vail Resorts Development Company, it holds, develops, buys and sells real estate in and around its resort communities. My primary responsibilities: “My role is to support everyone at the company and help to align...

Name: Deirdre Wallace Title: President Company: The Ambrose Group Property: The Ambrose Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif. My primary responsibilities: “I wear a lot of hats but my primary responsibility is to drive the company’s focus on sustainable development and operations.” What keeps me motivated: “The challenge of an ever changing business and trying to find the most sustainable approach to running a business. That has been very exciting for me.” My hotel’s most significant environmental accomplishment so far: “We are in the process of pursuing LEED-EB certification. We expect to submit the paperwork this year.” Our biggest environmental challenge: “Consistently finding the right vendors...

HERMOSA BEACH, CALIF.—Guido Bauer, an entrepreneur with significant hospitality industry experience and who first studied tourism and hospitality management at the University of Munich in Germany, is working hard to build a Green Hotel Certification program for the global lodging industry. Bauer launched his program in November 2006 and already has established a foothold for it in the Caribbean. With two others selling Green Hotel Certification and two support staff on board, Bauer now has his eyes set on the United States and beyond. Bauer says he started researching Green Hotel Certification several years ago after hearing over and over...

Name: Michael Luehrs Title: Director of Operations Hotel: Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Number of years with property: Three Work experience prior to current position: Michael worked in management positions for companies including Red Lion Hotels and Aramark Corp. Primary responsibilities: “Supporting the variety of other department managers in their efforts to support their teams and their guests. Giving them the tools they need to be successful.” What he likes most about his work: “I love the network of people with whom I work. I enjoy being in the position of always discovering new ways to help our business and our community.” PORTLAND, ORE.—When...

Name: Karen Wittig Title: Vice President of Sustainability & Environmental Education, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging—since March 2007 Number of years with ARAMARK: 24 Most recent position: Vice President, Premium Services for ARAMARK’s Sports and Entertainment Group Primary responsibilities: Karen is responsible for influencing current business practices and for raising awareness about sustainability and environmental concerns throughout ARAMARK Harrison Lodging. What she likes most about her work: “I am someone who is very passionate about what I do. This is another extension of my passion. The people I work with are very passionate about what they do. It is a great atmosphere to work in.”...

Name: Nicholas Lakas Title: Director, element Hotels Number of years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide: Four. Work experience prior to current position: Lakas previously worked for Westin Hotels and Resorts as the director of portfolio management and as part of Starwood’s Strategic Planning Group. Prior to working for Starwood, he worked as an investment banker for Credit Suisse Boston in San Francisco. Primary responsibilities: “I oversee the overall direction and development of the element brand.” What he likes most about his work: “The overall element project itself and to have had the opportunity to be part of developing a new brand...

Name: Teresa Sanders Title: President & Owner, InnWorks, Roseville, Minn. Number of years with her company: 15 Work experience prior to current position: Teresa worked for the USA Group and continues to work for them as secretary/treasurer. The USA Group was formed to create public and private placement offerings of real estate securities. She has also worked for Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and CIS Equipment Leasing Corp. Primary responsibilities: Teresa is responsible for all day-to-day executive and senior management functions over 18 limited-service hotels that generate approximately $10 million in revenues and employ approximately 300 full- and part-time employees. What she likes most...