As we wind down 2010, we here at Green Lodging News have to thank all of you—loyal readers and advertisers—for your ongoing support. Of course we also wish you a very happy holiday season and a very happy new year as well! This past year was an important one for Green Lodging News, as it celebrated its fourth year in business with a new website packed with just as much news as ever, in addition to two new video sections, a Twitter feed, new blog site, and much more.
This summer Green Lodging News asked its newsletter subscribers to renew their subscriptions—a process that is still ongoing and that has resulted in 2,217 renewals (number grows daily). You can help grow the newsletter circulation by forwarding your newsletter to colleagues and asking them to subscribe using the form on the left side of the Green Lodging News website.
Traffic to the Green Lodging News website doubled in 2010. There are now more than 16,000 different people visiting the website each month for a total of more than 80,000 visits and 300,000 page views. Google ranks the Green Lodging News website a strong “6.” Only one other trade publication website has a higher ranking.
Interest in ‘Green’ on the Rise
Every now and then I see reports about the waning of interest in “green.” I don’t see that happening at all in our industry. The number of states offering green lodging programs grew this year, the number of projects certified or registered for LEED certification topped 1,100, lodging owners continued to strongly support other national certification programs, interest in new green brands grew, and the number of suppliers offering green products and services to our industry continued to explode. Outside of our industry, more than 28,000 people attended the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild event this November—not a bad turnout.
Experts say 2011 will be a better year for our industry. Colliers PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR) anticipates a 3.3 increase in demand, which will drive a 6.3 percent rise in hotel RevPAR. PKF-HR is projecting an average hotel net operating income increase of 11.1 percent, a rate that is expected to rise by more than 15 percent in 2012 and 2013. STR is expecting occupancy to rise 1.6 percent in 2011 to 58.3 percent and ADR to increase 3.9 percent to $101.73.
Yes, in many different ways our industry is still trying to find its way in regard to green building and operations, green certification, product certification, what exactly sustainability means, what a green meeting is, etc., but I am confident we are all making progress and that in 2011 there will be many positive developments.
We Need Your Participation
Here at Green Lodging News there are a number of ways you can help us in the coming year:
1. Continue to send your story ideas and press releases to editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
2. Suggest names for consideration for our Personnel Profile section. These individuals should be those who are environmental champions at your property or in your company.
3. Consider writing a guest column. Contact editor@greenlodgingnews.com or go to Guest Columns for more information.
4. Support those companies that advertise in Green Lodging News. Tell them that you saw them here. Visit our Green Product & Service Directory and encourage your suppliers to advertise their products and services there.
5. If you would like to suggest ways to improve Green Lodging News, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Once again, have a very happy and safe holiday season and a happy new year as well.
See You in Portland, Oregon or Orlando?
I will be attending and exhibiting at the Green Meeting Industry Council’s 2011 Sustainable Meetings Conference in Portland, Oregon from February 20 to 23, 2011. The event will take place at the Portland Doubletree Hotel. To register for the conference, go to www.sustainablemeetingsconference.com. I will also be moderating a panel discussion on certification programs for carpet and fabric at the NEWH Leadership Conference on January 14 in Orlando, Fla., at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios. Click here for more information on the conference.
Advertising Opportunities
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots in 2011. Several new slots have opened up on the Green Lodging News website—two skyscraper ad spots on the right hand side of the site, the home page bottom banner ad spot, and the Featured Product ad spot in the weekly newsletter and in the lower center area of the home page. Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com if you are interested in these ad spots. There are also many Green Supplier Spotlight dates available, and other spots on the website and in the weekly e-newsletter. The 2011 media kit is available by request or by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Green Lodging News Blog & Twitter
Be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also now on Twitter. To follow my postings, go to http://twitter.com/greenlodging. Be sure to add Green Lodging News to those tweets that you follow. Green Lodging News now has 641 Twitter followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
