FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Dr. Diana Driscoll, CEO of Keller, Texas-based Ridgeline Hospitality LLC, spoke at the recent annual Midwest Lodging Investors Summit in Chicago, rolling out her four-tiered program for “green” assistance for hotels owners and operators.
The session entitled, “Is Green Still Relevant?”, included an in-depth look at the cost of “going green” in a difficult economy. Jonathan F. Douglas, AIA and managing principal of VOA Associates, Inc., served as moderator of the panel and Nicholas G. Rumanes, vice president of development of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., served as co-panelist.
Because much of the hospitality segment has suffered in the current recession, a frequent question asked by hoteliers now is, “How can we be sure that ‘going green’ is a fiscally good decision?” With this concern in mind, the panel discussed much of the “low hanging fruit” for hoteliers, their return on investment and the numerous incentives and rebates currently available.
Dr. Driscoll’s response to the question of the current relevancy of sustainability to hospitality included a firm “yes”, with some caveats. Her message? Go green gradually.
As Dr. Driscoll explained, “Many hoteliers are in survival mode right now and they need the reassurance that money invested in green or sustainable changes will pay off for them. There are many reasons to begin going green now and many disadvantages to not beginning green initiatives. But learning where to start can be confusing and costly. This is why Hotel Rescue, a division of Ridgeline Hospitality, LLC, has begun a four-tiered system of assistance for hotel owners and operators interested in going green.”
To learn more about Ridgeline Hospitality’s Hotel Rescue program, go to www.hotelrescue.com.
