Growing up, it was common for my father to have a couple of his buddies over for a card game. Sometimes I would join them. My father and his friends would all be smoking like chimneys. When my father joined the air force during World War II, the military gave enlisted men cigarettes for free. (Today I wonder, sarcastically of course, whose side the military was on.) Eventually, our ceiling turned quite dark from the toxins. Maybe you had a similar experience as a child. Today, when I travel, I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke in hotels. My wife...

Each day I receive a newsletter from the Good News Network highlighting the good news of the day. There could easily be a hospitality version of this newsletter given the volume of news I receive about hotel companies doing great things in their communities and around the world. The heart of our industry is big and that is one of the main reasons I have stayed in it for so many years. Compassion and giving are not just a holiday thing but something that happens year-round. It is ingrained in the DNA of so many companies. I try to post...

Here in Florida, I know too well the sound and fury of the gas-powered lawn mower and other gas-powered lawn equipment. Fortunately, we have hit the dry season, and it will be quiet for a while. In a new report entitled, “Lawn Care Goes Electric,” the authors address the problems associated with gas-powered mowers and other equipment and highlight the advantages of their electric counterparts. Be sure to give the report a read. In the report’s Executive Summary, the authors get right to the problem of gas-powered mowers. “The inefficient engines in gasoline-powered lawn equipment can emit as much pollution...

I attended Boutique Design New York (BDNY) this past week. As usual, the folks behind the trade show and conference—Emerald Expositions—did a great job putting together the event. The trade show floor included about 650 exhibitors and that was the highlight for me—speaking with the exhibitors, learning about their cool products, and hearing the stories behind the products. Numerous exhibitors said the quality of the traffic to their booths was strong—a reflection of the post-pandemic strength of our industry. The number of green or “greener” products has increased significantly in recent years and that was reflected on the show floor....

I never knew laundry dryer lint could create so much havoc, but it makes a lot of sense and if you have an on-premise laundry, you understand better than I do. The lint dust easily spreads, causing a cleaning and indoor air quality issue. Each lint screen needs to be cleaned daily or more and if the lint is exhausted on your rooftop or other problematic spot it can be sucked right back in by your HVAC system. Hardened lint on HVAC coils is not what you want to see. If lint is not removed in a timely manner, it...

Every now and then I come across someone, or a company, determined to dramatically change the way we look at a consumable item in a hotel. I have written in the past about Pürlin’s Zero Laundry – Zero Waste Linens and of course most of you are familiar with Clean the World and what it has done with partially used soap. In some cases, a great idea runs up against numerous factors: lack of funds, not enough infrastructure, competition, or the simple fact that a way of doing things is just too ingrained in the industry. I challenge our industry...

Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel companies with 28 million reported accommodation listings, just released its seven predictions for travel in 2024. Booking.com commissioned research among more than 27,000 travelers across 33 countries and territories. Not surprisingly, several of the predictions have connections to trends that I cover hear on Green Lodging News. Says Booking.com, “Heat has officially had its vacay heyday, with scorching temperatures pushing the mercury to record-breaking levels and causing heat waves around the world. Sweltering conditions are accelerating a rise in travelers chasing cooler climes to revive and refresh themselves. The majority (51 percent)...

Welcome to the mega-solar installation club, Caesars Entertainment. It was announced this past week that DSD Renewables has completed a four canopy, 6.5 MW solar portfolio for Caesars at the gaming company’s Atlantic City destinations. The solar projects will offset approximately 6 percent of energy needs for the resort properties in the area, taking energy load off the utility, Atlantic City Electric, and making energy resources available for other customers. DSD financed and developed the installations and will serve as the long-term owner and operator of the systems. DSD is exploring additional projects with Caesars at other destinations across the U.S. DSD and...

Over the years I have written about the many upsides to certification, whether focusing on building design, operations, wellness, etc. Any worthwhile hotel certification program incorporates continuous improvement, or levels of achievement. Think about LEED with its Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. Or Green Key Global, with its 1 to 5 Green Keys. These voluntary programs have both experienced a high level of success and Green Key Global is bound for even greater adoption thanks to the recently announced joint venture company that will own it. Some properties have gone so far as achieving multiple certifications—Hotel Marcel being one...

This past week the Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP) was launched. Given the number of properties represented by its first members, expect HARP to have a significant impact on pushing the supplier community toward sustainable, low-carbon practices. HARP members include Marriott International, Accor, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group, EcoVadis, and two global hospitality group purchasing organizations, Avendra and Entegra. According to a statement issued by HARP, it will “work to accelerate sustainable practices by fostering close collaboration with trading partners to build transparency and scale positive impact across their value chains.” “As companies seek to engage their...