I will be attending the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) Sustainable Meetings Conference from April 7-10 in Chicago at McCormick Place. Be sure to watch for coverage of the annual event on the Green Lodging News website. I have enjoyed attending GMIC conferences in the past and this year’s event, like the others I have attended, is filled with educational and networking opportunities.Interest in the greening of meetings continues to grow for several reasons: government, nonprofit and corporate mandates to seek out and stay at properties offering green meeting options; increasing interest in and certification to the nine APEX/ASTM...

When I was in graduate school at Ohio University, I took a course that was entitled something like, “The Cognitive Processes of Writing.” At one point during the class I had to sit and try to write an article while saying everything related to that article that came to my mind. Meanwhile, what I said and did was videotaped for later review. It is probably the only time in my life that I ever felt like a lab rat.Why mention this experiment? Just as my professors were trying to understand what I really thought while writing, I would really...

Would you paint yourself green and walk around dressed up like “Buzz” the energy bee to convey an environmental message to your employees? That is exactly what Bob Holesko, vice president of facilities for HEI Hotels & Resorts did as part of his company’s CARE program (“C” stands for Community, “E” stands for Environment, “A” stands for Associates, and “R” stands for Relationships). I interviewed Bob this past week for an article I posted on Green Lodging News.I had been reading a lot of good things HEI Hotels & Resorts over the years and now I know why. The...

As published in Green Lodging News in October, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued revised “Green Guides” that are designed to help marketers ensure that the claims they make about the environmental attributes of their products are truthful and non-deceptive. The guides apply not only to products such as amenities but also to companies that own and/or operate green lodging establishments. I strongly encourage you to make yourselves aware of the content of the Green Guides and continue to follow their progress and enforcement.This past week I learned that the FTC approved a final order settling charges that The...

What do the Green Guacamole Margarita, Stories of the Cosmos, Go Green by the Shore, and Wine Cave movie screening have in common? They are among the special features being offered by lodging establishments in celebration of Earth Hour on March 23 at 8:30 p.m. and Earth Day on April 22. How will your property mark these two events?The Green Guacamole Margarita will be offered during Earth Hour at La Hacienda at the Fairmont Scottsdale (Ariz.) Princess. That evening guests will arrive at the front drive, which will be lined with luminaries, before being welcomed into a candlelit lobby....

It could end up being one of the biggest pieces of news to ever impact green lodging. What I am referring to is TripAdvisor’s announcement this past week that it will soon launch a GreenLeaders program on its website that will recognize U.S.-based hotels and B&B accommodations for their green practices. Once launched, travelers will be able to comment on and even critique green steps properties are taking (just as they can comment on their accommodation experiences today). I strongly recommend that you read the article posted on the Green Lodging News site and then click through to the...

If it is hot enough to fry an egg on your rooftop during the summer or any other time of the year, maybe it is time to do something about your rooftop. While I do not touch on every type of cool roof technology in my article posted on the Green Lodging News website this past week, I do focus on white roofs and their numerous environmental benefits. Did you know that a roof covered with solar-reflective white paint reflects up to 90 percent of sunlight as opposed to the 20 percent reflected by a traditional black roof? Or...

At first glance I thought it was a walk-in cooler. I quickly realized it was really a grow room for vegetables, flowers and herbs. What a great idea for chefs interested in using fresh ingredients in the kitchen. The grow room from Eden Grow Rooms was just one of the cool products I came across while walking The NAFEM trade show floor in Orlando. The event was held February 7 to 9 at the Orange County Convention Center. In my NAFEM Show wrap-up article I highlight many of the latest products that can help you save energy, water and...

As mentioned in my previous column, last week was a busy one for me with a trip to Orlando for The NAFEM Show (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers) with stops at the headquarters for Clean the World (the nonprofit that collects new and partially used soap, shampoo, etc. for processing and distribution) and a visit with Dina Belon-Sayre, energy specialist at The Peabody Orlando. Be sure to watch Green Lodging News this week for coverage of The NAFEM Show and my visit to The Peabody Orlando.I have already posted an article summarizing the latest news from Clean...

This week will be a busy one for me with a visit to Orlando to attend The NAFEM Show at the Orange County Convention Center. For those of you not familiar with the event, it is produced by the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers and will include more than 500 exhibitors displaying items ranging from grease traps to ice makers to ovens.I will be walking the aisles of the show looking for new ways to save energy and water in the kitchen. Waste management will also be my focus. Be sure to watch the Green Lodging News...