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Once you have built a green program, how do you use it to your advantage to put heads in beds? Green Lodging News reports on the ways hoteliers are incorporating the environment into sales & marketing to build business. Does "green" appeal to a particular type of traveler or meeting planner? Got a great idea about how to turn green into gold? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Sales & Marketing

Home Sales & Marketing
Once you have built a green program, how do you use it to your advantage to put heads in beds? Green Lodging News reports on the ways hoteliers are incorporating the environment into sales & marketing to build business. Does "green" appeal to a particular type of traveler or meeting planner? Got a great idea about how to turn green into gold? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Survey Takes Close Look at Towel/Linen Reuse, In-Room Recycling, Etc.

ATLANTA—Ever wonder how energy- and environmentally conscious the hotel guests next door are? According to a recent survey, they are likely reusing their towels, turning off the lights when they leave and recycling, if given the chance. The nationwide survey of 701 people was conducted by A Closer Look, Inc., an Atlanta-based market research company focused on the hospitality industry. “Seventy-five percent of survey respondents said it is important to them that the hotel where they stay follows green practices, and those surveyed are more than willing to do their part,” says David McAleese, CEO of A Closer Look....

NBTA Adds Green Questions to Industry-Standard Hotel RFP for 2009

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) announced that the NBTA Modular Hotel RFP has been updated for the 2009 bid season. The changes include the addition of six questions to help travel buyers and hotels reach common understanding of the hotels’ environmental programs, as well as changes to the pricing grid to support dynamic pricing requests. The Modular Hotel RFP, the industry-standard hotel RFP model, is managed by the NBTA Hotel Committee. The committee, which is made up of buyers, hoteliers, third-party RFP service providers, and related vendors, gathered feedback from the corporate travel community through a survey...

Florida Hotel and Conference Center to Receive Green Lodging Certification

ORLANDO, FLA.—Going green is the right thing to do, and few understand that better than The Florida Hotel and Conference Center, which will soon receive Green Lodging certification from the State of Florida for its conservation practices. The luxurious Florida Hotel and Conference Center, which is connected to Orlando tourist attraction the Florida Mall, has significantly reduced its water and energy usage since it began working on its Green Lodging Certificate earlier this year. “Going green is a sweeping trend within the meetings industry and it is simply the right thing to do,” stated Simone Kuska, corporate director of sales...

BayStar Hotel Group in Pursuit of Florida Green Lodging Certification

TAMPA, FLA.—Tampa-based BayStar Hotel Group is implementing environmentally friendly standards and practices in its hotels to earn Green Lodging certification from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). All of the properties managed by BayStar Hotel Group are involved. The hotels include: Holiday Inn-State Capitol East in Tallahassee; Holiday Inn Express-Lake Buena Vista; Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Largo; Holiday Inn Lakeland I-4 Hotel & Conference Center in Lakeland; and Best Western Brandon Hotel & Conference Center. To qualify for Green Lodging certification, hotels must document efforts to reduce energy and water consumption, improve air quality and pass a...

Rhode Island Sets Sights on Statewide Green Lodging Certification Program

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Rhode Island will soon have its own green lodging certification program. The program is being put together by the state’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Assn., Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, and several other organizations. According to Ron Gagnon, chief of the Office of Technical and Customer Assistance, Department of Environmental Management, January is the target month for the program’s launch and it will be run by his office. The certification program will mirror Maine’s Green Lodging Certification Program. Participants will be asked to complete surveys that ask them about efforts being...

P&G Professional Launches Interactive Trade Show Site

CINCINNATI—P&G Professional, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble, has launched MyTradeShowToGo.com, an interactive experience allowing users to gain the industry insights offered at a trade show every day of the year. Now, those looking for the latest news and innovations don’t have to wait to gather information they need at the next industry event; they can simply log on to the Virtual Trade Show from the comfort and convenience of their office. P&G Professional created MyTradeShowToGo.com as an innovative response to the lodging industry’s need for constant access to the detailed news, information and offerings presented at trade shows....

Study Gauges Willingness of Europeans to Pay Extra for Green Travel

LONDON—Few holidaymakers in the United Kingdom are prepared to part with their cash in order to fulfill green travel aspirations, according to a new study. And the Spanish are putting the rest of Europe to shame, boasting a population far more inclined to fund sustainable travel than any others. According to the TNS Travel & Tourism study, 7 percent of the British have gone so far as to make a payment towards minimizing the impact of their travel—such as a carbon offsetting scheme—compared with 12 percent of Spaniards. With almost a fifth of British people claiming they expect to change...

Nationally Recognized Green Key Eco-Rating Program Now Offered in French

OTTAWA, CANADA—The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is pleased to announce the launch of the French component of its nationally recognized Green Key Eco-Rating Program. A mirror image of the English site, the new French portal serves as an important resource for the program’s expanding French member base. In commenting on this development, HAC President Tony Pollard stated, “HAC has continued to further expand the Green Key Program, and the development of the French website demonstrates our commitment to the bilingual market we operate in.” “HAC will continue to further develop the Green Key website in both official languages and...

Green Vacation Hub Partners with Eco Crown Hospitality

YACHATS, ORE.—Green Vacation Hub and Eco Crown Hospitality have partnered to strengthen the power of green travel, while boosting the hospitality industry with certified green standards. In an age of eco-awareness, green standards vary wildly from hotel to hotel. In response, Green Vacation Hub (GreenVacationHub.com) and Eco Crown Hospitality (EcoCrown.com) have partnered to offer a reliable, universal system of measurement for green accommodations. Properties listed on these websites participate in established and approved ‘green’ programs—with many of the properties exceeding the required standards. Green Vacation Hub is a global guide that links travelers with accommodations that emphasize good health...

Staybridge Suites Tallahassee Receives Florida Green Lodging Designation

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently welcomed the Staybridge Suites to the Florida Green Lodging Program. The hotel is the second designated in Leon County and 52nd for the state. The Florida Green Lodging Program is a voluntary state initiative that provides the lodging industry with technical assistance, and encourages hotels and motels to adopt cost-saving green practices that reduce waste and conserve natural resources. “Staybridge Suites has shown great environmental leadership by becoming a Florida Green Lodge,” says DEP Director of Sustainable Initiatives Deas Bohn. “They are helping conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources for...