Recent Posts
- Brace Yourself
- Hilton Hotels' Lifestyle Launch: The Real Story
- Is It Time For Greater Hotel Security?
- Two-fers, Yikes!
- An Historic Night In America
- New Webcast On Green Design
- Better Way To Get Guest To Reuse Towels?
- Good Karma From Hard Rock
- From Detox To Elephant Polo
- No, The Sky Isn't Falling
Recent Comments
- brian_in_sf on Good Karma From Hard Rock
- Melissa Scott on Brace Yourself
- Ray Burger on Brace Yourself
- Essam Alashry on Hilton Hotels' Lifestyle Launch: The Real Story
- ACLCEO on Brace Yourself
Most Commented On
- Is It Time For Greater Hotel Security? (15)
- An Historic Night In America (14)
- Are We Not Social? (13)
- Good Definition Of Boutique (7)
- Better Way To Get Guest To Reuse Towels? (6)
Archives
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- February 2008
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
Blog
Taking Green Hotelkeeping Seriously
September 12, 2007
Mark your calendar! On November 7 at 10 a.m. CST, HOTELS magazine will host a live webcast entitled “Practical Green Hotelkeeping.” You can register on our web site to attend and even post your own questions for the panel to answer.
A roundtable discussion among four industry leaders and moderated by HOTELS’ Editor In Chief Jeff Weinstein will discuss everything from basic strategies for day-to-day green hotelkeeping, the challenges of developing and building green hotels, what are realistic expectations for any green hotelkeeping program and what the future holds. We are in the process of identifying the important issues to discuss and the event, which shouldn’t last more than an hour, should not be missed. If you do miss it, the webcast will be available on our Web site for post-event viewing for three months.
Scheduled panelists include Michelle White, head of environmental affairs for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Patrick Freeman, director of sustainable development for Auberge Hotels & Resorts; Pia Heidenmark-Cook, vice president of responsible business for The Rezidor Hotel Group; and David Jerome, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility for InterContinental Hotels Group.
There have been so many press releases this year about hotel company’s plans for green hotelkeeping, but feelings remain mixed on much of this is real and how much is still lip service. It has also been a topic of discussion in the consumer press, as well. USA Today’s “Hotel Hotsheet” blog currently asks the question, “Are hotels really walking the walk when it comes to being ecologically responsible?” It appears consumer opinion is very mixed on that question.
In our world, we just completed a survey, getting responses from close to 200 hoteliers about their current active green programs, as well as their green intentions. We will publish the results in a January 2008 feature, but allow me to give you a bit of a preview: About half (51%) of survey respondents have incorporated sustainable/green concepts into recent hotel building/renovation projects; 33% plan to do so in the near future; and 16% have no plans to do so. To date, energy management seems to be the key driver of sustainable/green activity in hotels.
No doubt, green hotelkeeping is going to remain at the forefront of discussions for many years to come—hopefully permanently taking its rightful place on the front burner versus the back burner. In fact, the January 2008 ALIS investment conference in Los Angeles has an entire track devoted to green hotelkeeping.
So sign-up and tune into our webcast to hear from some of the best names in the business. I promise you will walk away more aware and, hopefully, inspired.
Posted by Jeff Weinstein on September 12, 2007 | Comments (0)