SANTA FE, N.M.—Felicity Broennan of the Santa Fe Watershed Assn., spearheading the public-private sector collaboration called the Santa Fe Green Lodging Initiative, has received the 2013 Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Green Economic Development. The 2013 Sustainable Santa Fe Awards are sponsored by the city’s Sustainable Santa Fe Commission, Earth Care NM, Green Fire Times, and the Green Chamber of Commerce.
Santa Fe hosts more than one million tourists every year. While tourism is an important part of the Santa Fe economy, tourism puts considerable pressure on the environmental resources of the city. In 2012, The Santa Fe Watershed Assn. (SFWA) was awarded an 18 month grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to partner with the city, lodging associations and providers to develop Santa Fe’s Green Lodging Initiative. The initiative was undertaken to generate economic development and to work with lodging providers to help conserve water and reduce chemical pollutants entering the Santa Fe watershed.
SFWA contracted HospitalityGreen LLC, founder of the nationally-recognized Green Concierge Certification program, to provide Santa Fe lodging providers training, coaching, and individualized technical assistance that leads to third-party green certification.
Proven Success in Catskills
HospitalityGreen LLC’s work in the Catskills resulted in measured environmental and financial outcomes. Participating businesses diverted at least 2,640 tons of waste and increased occupancy in 2011 by 20 to 25 percent. Certifying more than 20 properties helped legitimately brand the Catskills as a green destination resulting in increased tourism and local jobs. Similar results are expected from the Santa Fe Green Lodging Initiative.
The Santa Fe Green Lodging Initiative was launched in November 2012 and 14 Santa Fe properties representing B&Bs, hotels, inns, motels, and resorts qualified for participation including: La Fonda on the Plaza, La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa, Old Santa Fe Inn, Inn on the Alameda, Silver Saddle Motel, Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Santa Fe Sage Inn, Hotel Santa Fe, Inn of the Governors, Ten Thousand Waves, Inn at Santa Fe, Inn of the Five Graces, Fort Marcy Suites, and Casa Cuma Bed and Breakfast.
By adopting streamlined sustainable practices, these lodging providers will save money, upgrade their facility to meet growing market expectations, and increase their competitive advantage in an expanding green hospitality marketplace.
“We are honored to be working with this exciting public-private partnership and to be awarded the 2013 Sustainable Santa Fe Award for Green Economic Development,” said Evadne Giannini, founder and CEO of HospitalityGreen LLC.
