It was difficult to think about green lodging this past week so please bear with me as I relate what happened. My wife was almost a week overdue for the birth of our first child on Tuesday when we had an 8:15 a.m. appointment with her OB/GYN. My wife had begun to have contractions earlier that morning at 12:30 a.m. so we both knew she might be admitted to the hospital. That is indeed what happened. The doctor decided to induce labor. About 28 hours after my wife began having contractions (yes, 28 hours), she entered another stage of labor that involved four hours of pushing to try to deliver our child. (To all of you women out there who have gone through something similar to what my wife went through, you are all my heroes.)
The doctor decided that four hours of pushing was enough when it was decided that our child just was not going to make it out on its own. (There were even a couple attempts to use suction.) An emergency C-section was performed and at 9:32 a.m. on Wednesday morning our son—Benjamin Logan Hasek—was born. Weight: 9 pounds, 5 ounces. Length: 21.5 inches. I have to say that I am one proud dad but frayed around the edges from lack of sleep and all of the stresses that come with having a child. Benjamin and my wife are doing well and we are all at home now adjusting to our new life.
Now back to Green Lodging News: Benjamin has been named the new publisher and editor of Green Lodging News and will begin working next week. If you happen to get a call from someone and all you hear are a few “mah mahs” and “eh ehs,” you will know it is Ben. Don’t hang up on him; humor him.
I expect fatherhood will give me a new perspective on many things: the future of our planet being one of them. We have made quite a mess of things as a society for a long time—it is really shameful. Yet there is a lot of reason for hope and our son Benjamin exemplifies that. In reporting on the greening of our industry each week, I am constantly seeing new reasons to be hopeful; there are so many people who truly care about our collective impact on the world. Thank you to all of them.
I hope you don’t mind if I occasionally share “Ben” stories. Until next time, have a great week.
GLN Welcomes RoomService Amenities as Founding Sponsor
Green Lodging News welcomes RoomService Amenities as a Founding Sponsor. RoomService Amenities has been a leading supplier of personal care and guestroom products to the luxury hotel, spa, casino, cruise line, and resort markets for almost 40 years. The company’s innovations include the use of PCR (post consumer recycled) materials, bio-additives, and waste reducing product and packaging design as featured in its Natüra Green, 99sixty, and private label product lines. The company’s cosmetic grade manufacturing plant produces numerous high-end spa and retail products including those with internationally accredited sustainability certifications such as EcoLabel and EcoCert. For more information, e-mail sales@rsaroomservice.com, call (732) 591-0500, ext. 119, or go to www.rsaroomservicecom.
Who is Your Environmental Champion?
In our Personnel Profile section we frequently profile individuals who lead sustainability efforts at either the corporate or property level. (Click here for examples.) We are always looking for new people to profile. Do you have someone in mind for our Personnel Profile section? Be sure to contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.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 (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Advertising Opportunities
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots. Several new slots have opened up on the Green Lodging News website—two skyscraper ad spots on the right hand side of the site, 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 & Facebook
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 and Facebook. To follow my Twitter postings, go to http://twitter.com/greenlodging. Be sure to add Green Lodging News to those tweets that you follow. Also be sure to “Like” us on Facebook. Green Lodging News now has 904 Twitter and 87 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
