To verify green operations in existing buildings, numerous certification programs are available to owners of lodging establishments. I have written about most of them over the past few years. For new construction, however, the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system has quickly become the gold standard. According to USGBC, LEED provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and...

Accor had a very good week this past week. First, it was ranked the top hotel company in the world based on its commitment to sustainability and other best practices by Tomorrow’s Value Rating (see article). Second, it opened its greenest Motel 6 yet in Northlake, Texas (click here for article). Accor topped the first Tomorrow’s Value Rating of the world’s 10 largest hotel groups, placing ahead of companies such as the InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott and Hyatt—other companies with strong commitments to operating sustainably. The Tomorrow’s Value Rating examines companies’ performance in five key areas: strategy, governance, engagement,...

Three years ago I wrote about showerheads that filter out chlorine and why they are important for guests—especially those guests with any kind of chemical sensitivity or compromised immune system. (Click here for that article.) In a hot shower, chlorine gas is released from the water and is easily breathed in. The human body also absorbs chlorine through the skin, mouth, and eyes. A paper recently released by two departments within the University of Colorado suggests that there may be another hazard from taking a shower—notably, Mycobacterium avium, which is a relative of the organism that causes tuberculosis (see...

The CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, caused quite a stir recently when he suggested in a remark to “The New York Times” that he would not hire obese people if he lawfully could do so. He later apologized to Clinic staff and Cleveland area residents for comments that “were hurtful to our community.” In his comments related to health care reform, Cosgrove chose extreme words but I understand his concern about obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese—a rate that is double the...

The U.S. lodging industry has been waiting a while now for one of the numerous national green lodging certification programs to catch on in a big way. Green Seal has certainly gained momentum in the past year, with major commitments from the Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, as well as from hotels in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas. Green Globe International has also made some headway, as well as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. An announcement this week made by the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), however, could catapult its Green Key Eco-Rating Program far ahead...

I have written a couple of articles now about toilets and I have to say that I will never think about them the same way again. This past week I spoke with several experts about dual flush toilets. It was definitely a worthwhile endeavor. I strongly encourage anyone looking into purchasing dual flush toilets to talk to as many vendors as you can. The toilets, which offer the option of two different flush modes—one for solid waste and one for liquid—are becoming much more common here in the United States. In fact, almost every day I receive a press...

I have not done much traveling for business so far this summer but late summer and autumn will be different with the coming conference and trade show season. While there is just one conference before the end of the year with a specific green lodging focus—the Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference in Orlando, Fla., December 9 to 11—several events will include at least one or more green sessions. From a trade show standpoint, the HD Boutique Exposition & Conference from September 14 to 15, the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City from November 8 to 10,...

About a year ago, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), based upon the recommendations of its Green Task Force, decided not to partner with a third party to offer its members a property certification program. Instead, the Task Force established a set of 11 Minimum Green Guidelines for any lodging property to follow to reduce operating costs and environmental impacts through reduced utility consumption, recycling programs, employee training, and supply chain management. The guidelines were officially launched last November. For those of you not familiar with the specific Guidelines, they range from forming an environmental committee to installing...

I have read about a lot of green marketing ideas in the last few years—giving guests who drive hybrids free or preferred parking is one of the most popular—but I have to say that what the Sheraton Seattle and Sheraton Kauai Resort started at the beginning of this year has got to be the best one yet. They launched a pilot program called “You Tidy, We Treat.” Now known as “Make a Green Choice,” it gives guests the option of not only opting out of towel and linen replacement but also all housekeeping for a day. Guests can choose to...

Three of the largest U.S.-based hotel companies—Hilton Hotels Corp., Wyndham Worldwide and Marriott International—are now walking their green talk at home in their headquarters offices. Hilton just relocated its headquarters from Beverly Hills, Calif., to a LEED Gold certified building in the Tysons Corner area of McLean, Va. Wyndham, which opened its new headquarters in a brand new building in Parsippany, N.J., earlier this year, is pursuing LEED for Commercial Interiors for the structure. Marriott International, which did not move into a new building this year, is pursuing LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance for its home offices...