When temperatures hit record, intolerable levels in your part of the planet, how quickly will tourism dry up? I have been thinking about that this week as record heat waves send temperatures far beyond 100 degrees in many places. It can be unhealthy just to be outside. In Phoenix, there have been 25 heat-associated deaths so far, and 249 are still under investigation. High temperatures are just one of the painful impacts of climate change and the long list of impacts on our industry are many. The temperature trends certainly heighten the importance of reducing our industry’s climate impact—greenhouse gas emissions ultimately created because of our activities.
Along with a direct impact on tourism—the willingness of people to travel to your destination—there are considerations such as worker conditions, strains on mechanical systems, and the damaging of the natural infrastructure that draws people to your location in the first place.
Here in Florida, ocean/gulf water temperatures have flirted with or topped 100 degrees in numerous places, resulting in rapid coral die offs. The hot waters will rapidly fuel any tropical storm that comes along—a great worry for residents here who last year saw Hurricane Ian cause between $50 billion and $65 billion in damages. Insurance companies are leaving the state.
More on the Enormous Economic Cost
Of course, there are the other costs of doing business—higher electricity rates and higher prices throughout your supply chain caused by temperature strain. As reported on CNN, recent studies have shown that extreme heat could cost the United States $100 billion annually from the productivity loss alone. If left unchecked, it could sap away one-sixth of global economic activity by the year 2100.
This past week, Bloomberg reported that extreme heat threatens Europe’s $2 trillion travel industry. “Greek wildfires have forced evacuations of thousands of holiday goers,” the report said. “Unbearable heat this year has forced authorities to shut the Acropolis and driven tourists on the Italian island of Sardinia indoors.”
There is a direct link between heat, wildfires, wildfire smoke, outdoor air quality because of that smoke, and the willingness of people to travel to destinations impacted by the fires and smoke. And how does a hotel in a smoke zone maintain a high level of indoor air quality?
Canada’s Worst Wildfire Season on Record
According to The New York Times, Canada’s worst wildfire season on record is straining the outdoor segments of Canada’s tourism industry “at a crucial time in its rebound from years of pandemic travel restrictions. Of the 28.6 million acres that have burned across the country so far, more than 11.6 million acres were in Quebec, the most of any province, according to data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.”
The high levels of heat from climate change are impacting our planet faster than expected and impacting most of you directly. You certainly should be rethinking building design and where you locate your hotel in the years to come. The creation of heat islands in urban areas is just adding to the acceleration of higher temperatures. Will your company add to that problem?
The number of considerations that must come into play—risk assessments—for your hotel company and all businesses with the baking of our planet is mindboggling. How are you managing this discussion? I would love to know. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 19,679 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $135 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each week, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2023?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2023. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier and Green Suppliers Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2023 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. A media kit can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 19,679. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,723 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has more than 1,300 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
