“There should be solar hot water heating on 90 percent of hotels.” “Just do it! This technology has arrived.” These are just two examples of the types of comments I heard when conducting research for my recent article on solar hot water heating (click here for article). To be honest, I did not hear one negative comment about these systems. I cannot say that I spoke with every single hotel user but those I did speak with are all happy with how their rooftop systems are performing. In previous columns I have written about “no brainers,” systems one would...

Can a lodging property be considered “green” but still set aside some of its rooms for smoking? I don’t think so. What do you think? We all know the fatal results of first-hand smoke. According to a 2006 Surgeon General report, second-hand smoke leads to the death of 50,000 Americans each year and there is no safe level of exposure. A January 2009 article in Pediatrics, the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, makes a case for the dangers of third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke is the residual tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette is extinguished. What...

As interest in green lodging has exploded the last couple of years, few books have come along to provide guidance to those interested in greening their operations, greening a building’s design from the ground up, or highlighting the success stories of those who have successfully built and operated green establishments. I occasionally receive press releases about new text books that touch on the topic in a chapter or two but a book dedicated specifically to green lodging? I have not seen any—until now. Late last year, "High Performance Hospitality, Sustainable Hotel Case Studies," was published by these three organizations: the...

With an inventory of more than 4,100 hotels and more than 600,000 guestrooms, it is incredibly important for the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) to pay attention to its carbon impact. As of September 30, 2008, the company had 1,700 hotels in its pipeline. If those hotels were to open today, they would add another 243,000 guestrooms to the more than 600,000 currently open. IHG’s brand portfolio includes InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Recognizing its environmental impact and the potential for significant...

As an environmental journalist, I have often found hotel investment conferences a little difficult to attend. Why? Almost every seminar and speech is geared toward growth. Here are just a few of the questions on everyone’s mind: What can my company do to grow the number of hotels we finance, build, manage or franchise? Where can I find the financing I need for my new project? Which markets hold the most growth potential? You get the idea. I don’t blame those hotel developers for thinking that way; it is growth that keeps our country competitive, people employed, room stock...

Every successful supplier or hotel owner has great success stories to tell. What I have discovered from my seat as an editor, however, is that most companies never bother to tell their success stories—at least in a well-documented and organized fashion. They are missing out on a great opportunity to educate our industry and drum up new business at the same time. There are many great green hotel success stories but few have been as well documented as The Nines hotel in downtown Portland, Ore. I was recently sent a 10-page case study of the property by Gary Golla. Gary...

One of my tasks as editor of Green Lodging News is to maintain a list of events on the Green Lodging News website. While not all of the events have a green focus, the majority of them have some type of green component—a session focusing on green design or operations, a trade show where one can find resource-saving products, etc. At this time last year, many of you were gearing up for what was called Green Lodging Education Week. This week in March 2008 included The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, UNLV-JMBM Hotel Developers Conference and The Second Annual Green...

Over the New Year’s holiday I spent some time in Florida. One day during the trip I drove from Treasure Island on the Gulf Coast over to Myakka River State Park. The park is a great place to watch alligators warming themselves in the sun or to catch a glimpse of the many varieties of birds that make a home there—egrets, herons, and even eagles. Given my interest in the environment, it should come as no surprise that I have an interest in wildlife watching. And, like so many others, I am willing to spend money to do it. A...

Late in 2008, Ernst & Young released a report entitled, “Hospitality Going Green.” I strongly recommend reading through the 16-page document. (A link to it appears at the end of this column.) The report explores some of the major trends and programs initiated around the world to encourage industry participation in sustainability efforts. “Hotel companies are increasingly encouraging environmentally friendly practices and embracing sustainability through both developmental and operational strategies,” the report says. “With initiatives such as education programs, reforestation programs, eco-resorts, the implementation of energy-efficient practices, and the development of buildings that comply with government-defined standards, the ‘greening’...

With this being the last Green Lodging News e-newsletter of 2008, I would like to wish all of you a very happy and prosperous new year in 2009. The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and set goals for the year ahead. It is also an ideal time to stop and say “thank you.” So, to all of the readers, guest writers and advertisers who supported Green Lodging News in 2008, thank you very much! Green Lodging News would not be possible without you. For Green Lodging News, 2008 was...