Name: Greg Brosius
Title: President
Company: Stafford Hospitality
My primary responsibility: “To provide the forward vision and the structure for the company to grow.”
What keeps me motivated each day: “I work for an exciting company. We are basically developers at heart. We are finding new things to do every day that are fiscally and environmentally beneficial.”
Company’s most significant environmental accomplishment so far: “Last year our company reduced its energy consumption by 25 percent.”
Our biggest environmental challenge: “Keeping staff trained so they don’t lose focus.”
What advice I would give to another hotel company president considering taking a company in this direction: “I would tell them they are foolish not to. You just have to make a commitment to look at everything and change old habits. There is a financial payback right away. There is a marketing payback. In the future there is going to be the expectation that companies have a green strategy.”
TIFTON, GA.—As president of Stafford Hospitality, Greg Brosius has never been busier. His company owns eight hotels, manages 12 (including the eight owned), is negotiating with a couple of hotel groups to manage more, and is also developing two new properties. What is Brosius doing right? In the last two years he has discovered that investments in green technologies can have a significant positive impact on profitability.
The Ramada Limited in Valdosta, Ga., is a perfect example of a hotel that has benefited from green products. The hotel’s owner invested in ozone laundry and on-demand water heating systems. Those two systems alone reduced natural gas costs by 50 percent. Now closed, that Ramada Limited is being replaced with a Wingate by Wyndham property that will open soon with—you guessed it—ozone laundry and on-demand water heating systems.
When Brosius sees that something works, he repeats it throughout Stafford’s portfolio of hotels. Whereas on-demand hot water heating will be implemented only in future new properties, the following are common throughout all existing ones: ozone laundry systems, compact fluorescent bulbs, guestroom energy management systems, faucet aerators, pre-rinse spray valves, Project Planet towel and linen re-use programs, motion sensors for lighting, window tinting and Energy Star appliances.
Controller Provides Research Assistance
Susan Smith, controller for Stafford Hospitality, investigates new products and technologies that can reduce environmental impact as well as costs. For example, at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., staff are testing an electrolyzed water system that converts tap water into hypochlorous acid and sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide, which does not leave a residue, is being used as a detergent for cleaning.
Another unique product Stafford has implemented is an ozone chemical blanket for its pools. It is totally harmless to swimmers and helps to reduce heat loss and evaporation. The solution replaces traditional pool blankets.
Because of the careful attention paid to measuring the cost and results of its product investments, Stafford knows right away if they have had a positive impact. For example, the company’s investment in a guestroom energy management system had a payback of 13 months and its investment in an ozone laundry system, 18 months.
“We are getting more aggressive about the things that we do,” Brosius says. “It makes good financial sense. We are trying to involve our employees in this effort. We want them to feel good about the company they work for. [Sustainability] needs to be part of our corporate culture.”
Some Brand Resistance
In its quest to green its hotels, Stafford has come up against some resistance from hotel chains because of brand standards.
“I think brands are just slow to change,” Brosius says.
Smith added that cost is also sometimes an obstacle for greener versions of standard products.
“Wall vinyl and carpeting are much more expensive,” she says.
Stafford’s new Wingate hotel and an upcoming Hilton Garden Inn project will both be built to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Stafford has committed to pursuing the standard for all new-builds and is also encouraging its employees to become LEED certified.
Smith says one of the most rewarding things about Stafford’s business approach is employee reaction.
“As we have rolled out these programs, people have taken the good ideas home with them,” she says.
To learn more about Stafford Hospitality, click here.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
