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Publisher's Point of View

Each week, Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, will address the hottest industry topics. Sometimes hard hitting, his column will challenge the industry’s leaders to take action. At other times, he will lift up the industry’s environmental champions. “Point of View” is a column you will not want to miss. To contact Glenn Hasek, call (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com

Publisher's Point of View

Home Publisher's Point of View
Each week, Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, will address the hottest industry topics. Sometimes hard hitting, his column will challenge the industry’s leaders to take action. At other times, he will lift up the industry’s environmental champions. “Point of View” is a column you will not want to miss. To contact Glenn Hasek, call (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com

A First Look at New ASTM Standards for Green Events

As reported recently, eight of the nine ASTM International standards for sustainable or “green” events are now available for purchase from ASTM (for either $40 or $46 per standard). Our industry has been waiting about five years for the voluntary standards. The eight areas covered include: ASTM E2741, destinations; ASTM E2742, exhibits; ASTM E2743, transportation; ASTM E2745, audio visual (A/V) and production; ASTM E2746, communication and marketing materials; ASTM E2747, on-site offices; ASTM E2773, food and beverage; and ASTM E2774, meeting venues. Still not ready is the ninth standard on accommodations (ASTM WK22056). Within each standard are eight categories...

Shore Hotel’s New Concierge Program Caters to Eco-minded Guests

When guests check in to the 164-room luxury boutique Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, California, they learn not only about the green aspects of the LEED-pursuing property but also the entire city as well. Available to guests is a Santa Monica Green Map that highlights locations of green buildings, sustainable businesses, natural food shops, vegetarian and natural cafés, environmental organizations and agencies, farmer’s markets, solar energy sites, recycling centers, community gardens, dog parks, drinking water, walking trails, bike paths, and alternative vehicle stations. The hotel makes it easy for guests to support area green businesses and activities, if they...

Too Good to Be True? Not at All, as Some Hotels are Discovering

Last year I had a client who was touting a system that offered a five-year payback period. In this day and age, is that good enough? There are certainly lodging operators who have the patience to wait that long or longer for a return on their investment but my suspicion is that most prefer a quick ROI with as little capital as possible upfront. I recall one conference session on energy management at which I was a speaker and one of the attendees—a hotel owner—insisted on a one-year payback or less for any investment he made in energy management....

Like a Pile of Plastic Bottles, Dispenser Story Keeps Growing & Growing

I never imagined there would be so much to consider or so much to write about as I conducted research for my just posted article on amenity dispensers. The story just kept growing and growing. I finally stopped at about 2,200 words but I could have gone on much longer. There were so many unanswered questions. I strongly recommend reading the article. Be sure to let me know what you think. (Click here for article.)What was never in doubt during my research was the positive environmental and economic impact of dispensers. That will always be clear. The issue of...

Patience Pays Off: Pair Announce First Adoba Eco Hotel Property

Starwood’s Element hotel brand is proof that green done right can catch on. As of February 9, there will be 10 Element hotels open in the United States. There are currently at least four other Elements in the pipeline, according to the Element website. It is great to see Element’s success. Unique to Element is its requirement for its hotels to be LEED certified.Our industry has been waiting quite some time for another green hotel brand to come along with a similar commitment to LEED. Hilton’s Home2 Suites properties have many green features but the brand lacks a brand-wide...

Your Assistance Needed for Upcoming Amenity Dispensers Article

This past week I reported on a few of the environmental initiatives recently rolled out at the St. Louis-based Drury Hotels Company. Be sure to read the article. One of the most compelling things Drury is doing is installing amenity dispensers in all of its 123 Drury branded properties. The move is expected to save the purchase and disposal of at least 1.8 million amenity bottles a year. (Drury will still offer a facial bar soap at the bathroom sink.) Congratulations to Drury for taking this environmentally responsible step.I will be writing an article about amenity dispensers in the...

Examining the Certification/Continuous Improvement Connection

Should continuous improvement be a requirement for carrying on a green certification from one term to the next? I posed this question in a recent blog entry and then proceeded to contact spokespersons for the various leading green certification programs to learn whether or not continuous improvement is indeed a requirement. The spokespersons represented the following certification programs: Green Key Global, Green Globe Certification, Green Seal, EcoRooms & EcoSuites, LEED, and Sustainable Travel International’s STEP. Attempts were made to include the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program and Energy Star but representatives of Audubon and the U.S. EPA had not...

Hersha Hospitality Trust Making Headway with Innovative EarthView

I had an opportunity to chat with Bennett Thomas this past week. Bennett is vice president of Finance & Sustainability for Hersha Hospitality Group. Hersha Hospitality Group has over 80 hotels totaling nearly 11,000 rooms in its portfolio. Be sure to watch for a profile of Bennett soon on the Green Lodging News website. One of the most unique things about Hersha is its environmental program called EarthView. It was officially launched a little more than a year ago but was piloted starting in 2009. The initial goal of EarthView is to reduce the carbon, water and waste impact...

New LEED Pilot Credit is for the Birds

A new LEED Pilot Credit introduced in October as part of the LEED Pilot Credit Library is for the birds—literally. The Credit allows a LEED building project to earn one point if efforts are taken to deter bird collisions. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an estimated 1 billion birds die annually in the United States as a result of striking buildings, bridges, and other manmade structures. Many factors play a role, including lights, vegetation, and water. But glass is the main culprit. Because birds do not perceive conventionally formulated glass as a solid barrier, they fly...

Holiday Season Brought LED Windfall for Boston Area Hotels

In the words of Jeff Hanulec, director of engineering at the Sheraton Boston, “It was a no brainer to participate in the program.” What Jeff is referring to is an LED lamp giveaway program offered by Massachusetts utility NSTAR in partnership with Munro Distributing Company, Inc. The program, which began in the fall of 2011 and officially wrapped up at the end December, is expected to be continued in 2012. Boston area hotels are the first to participate in the program that is already generating huge chunks of savings in energy and dollars. The NSTAR/Munro program is proof that...