In April, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) announced a partnership to jointly operate the Green Key Global sustainability certification program in the U.S. and Canada. Since then, many of America’s top hospitality companies have signed up for the program, which provides third-party certification for hotels’ sustainability policies and processes.
To find out what hoteliers need to know about this leading sustainability certification program, Green Lodging News spoke with Green Key Global Managing Director Anick Levesque and AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey about how Green Key Global certification supports sustainability while boosting hoteliers’ bottom lines. Our conversation is below.
Green Lodging News: First, tell us a little bit about Green Key Global and its history.
Anick Levesque: Green Key Global was founded in Canada in 1994 to assess sustainability practices in hotels and recognize hotels for their sustainability efforts. Founded by hoteliers, the program and its tools are customized to meet the specific needs of hotel operations. Over the past 30 years, the program has continuously evolved to ensure that it consistently meets high international standards. Green Key’s criteria align with all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and every assessment is subject to a third-party audit, making it a trusted, best-in-class program in North America.
Green Lodging News: Why is the new partnership between AHLA and the Hotel Association of Canada so important?
Kevin Carey: Two reasons:
One, sustainability is increasingly shaping the behavior of leisure, business, and group travelers.
For instance, 67 percent of Americans say sustainability is important to them while traveling, and 60 percent of Americans say they are more likely to stay at a hotel property if they learn it has a sustainability rating certification or label, according to an April poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of AHLA. Green Key Global gives these potential guests the info they need to make the lodging decisions that are right for them.
Two, many hotels already have significant sustainability programs in place. Green Key Global gives credibility to the sustainability initiatives properties are already undertaking, while equipping them with a plan for continued improvement.
Green Lodging News: How does it work? What can hotels expect when they apply for certification?
Anick Levesque: Green Key Global certifications are earned through an assessment and audit measuring hotels’ performance in areas such as energy and water conservation, land use, hazardous and solid waste management, air quality, and others. The assessment analyzes a property’s efforts to respect and protect the environment and local communities and provides personalized tips on how to improve by upgrading equipment, systems, standards, and operations. Properties can complete the assessment online at their leisure.
Once the assessment is complete, a third-party audit is conducted. In addition, members earn exclusive access to industry expertise on environmental measures, a directory of sustainable vendors that can help implement these measures, and discounts from vendors on select offerings.
Green Lodging News: Is it a tough sell convincing hotels to get Green Key Global certified?
Kevin Carey: To the contrary. Our members—who in many cases have been leading robust sustainability initiatives for years—are seeking it out. Our experience has shown that members are asking for Green Key Global certification since many vacationers, business travelers, and business travel groups prefer properties with sustainability certification.
AHLA’s stewardship of Green Key Global along with HAC dovetails with our Responsible Stay initiative, which highlights hotels’ commitment to energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing.
And don’t forget, practices that earn hotels a Green Key Global certification can create real cost savings for hotels.
Green Lodging News: What are some of the other benefits of a Green Key Global certification?
Anick Levesque: Being Green Key certified demonstrates a hotel’s commitment to sustainability and lends credibility to the claims being made. This positively impacts a hotel’s reputation, and attracts guests from a growing segment of consumers and businesses seeking sustainable options. Moreover, the program offers various tools for measurement, cost reduction, offsetting carbon footprint and improving employee and guest adoption to the program, which helps hotels evolve along their sustainable journey.
Green Lodging News: How much does it cost for a hotel to participate, and how can hotels sign up?
Anick Levesque: The Green Key Global program is thorough yet affordable and convenient.
The program is based on an annual membership and a virtual sustainability audit fee every three years. Considering that Green Key Global Certification can help hotels save money through operational efficiencies, attract more eco-conscious guests, and take real steps toward a goal we all share—creating a sustainable planet—we believe an investment in Green Key Global pays for itself by 5 to 6 additional bookings per hotel per year.
Signing up for the program is simple and easy. Visit us online and complete the registration page here: https://greenkeyglobal.com/join-now/.
Green Lodging News: What options does Green Key Global offer for other hospitality businesses besides hotels?
Kevin Carey: Green Key Global helps connect sustainability-minded vendors with hotels through its Vendor Program. The initiative features a comprehensive green vendor directory that makes it easy for hotels to choose vendors that are best able to help them achieve their sustainability goals.
And Green Key Global just announced a new incentive for sustainability vendors to get listed in the directory. Here’s how it works:
Vendors who are current AHLA or HAC members can get $500 off the cost of a directory listing. They’re also eligible for additional discounts toward obtaining Green Key Global “Preferred Vendor” status. Learn more about the Green Key Global Vendor Program here: https://greenkeyglobal.com/vendor-program/.
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