Green: A fad, a trend, or a new way of life?

Smiley faces like these were a fad in the 1960’s. Photo by Aleksandra P

So I was taking a break from my eco hotel duties the other day and was flipping through cyber-space when I ran across this old article from 2007. In it, an analyst was cited predicting that the green trend was nothing more than a passing fad.

“The consumer is consumed with other things, and very rarely have they ever endorsed and embraced the green endeavors,” he said, apparently with a straight face. “It’s basically a card that a lot of people played while it was hot and trendy. And it got overplayed.”

Hot and trendy? Overplayed? Could the guy have been more wrong?

Generally speaking, the difference between a fad and a trend is time. A fad is fleeting, like pet rocks, smiley faces, parachute pants or leg warmers. It comes and goes relatively quickly (and usually, it’s a relief to see them go!) A trend, on the other hand, has staying power. A trend may start life as a fad, but somehow it manages to take hold and stick around. Think shabby chic home décor, or body art.

I believe that environmentalism goes beyond fad or trend. I think it is becoming a new way of life. And to live that new lifestyle, people are consuming accordingly.

Study after study has shown that offering environmentally sensitive options is a major selling point for consumers across every sector, including hospitality. Today’s consumer is more aware of and cares more about environmental issues than ever before… it’s now a proven fact.

And that awareness and concern impacts the purchasing choices all these consumers make, whether they’re purchasing appliances, cars, electronics, food – or a hotel room.

A study conducted by the National Marketing Institute shows that consumer awareness of the environmental impact of their choices went up significantly between 2004 and 2008. For example, 40% of consumers now say that they recognize the impact their appliances have on the environment. That’s up 12% from 2004. Around 43% understand the impact of their electricity usage on the environment (up 7%) and 41% comprehend the effect of their vehicle.

The study’s conclusion was that manufacturers, retailers and service providers should increase their green offerings even more, because the demand for innovative, sustainable alternatives is definitely out there, and it’s growing.

So the next time someone tells you that green is just a fad, or that it’s not worth the time it takes for your eco hotel to pursue or expand its green initiative, show them all the evidence to the contrary.

Then, squeeze into some bell bottoms, set out a few bean bag chairs, a fondue pot and a lava lamp, spin a few 45’s on the hi-fi and invite them over for a friendly game of Twister.

Maybe then they’ll be able to see the difference between a fad and a lifestyle!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

A Breath of Fresh Air: Eco hotels embrace smoke-free atmosphere

At EcoGreenHotel, we are working toward the day when every hotel will not only offer its guests a clean, safe and sustainable accommodation, but also offer its employees a healthy place to work. In a nutshell, we support a holistic approach to green lodging, which naturally includes unpolluted air.

That’s why we get more than a little discouraged when we see a hotel implementing a fantastic green initiative yet still allowing its guests to smoke inside the building. After all, one of the most important aspects of a healthy environment is clean air, isn’t it?

And we aren’t the only ones who think that unpolluted air is elemental. According to a 2008 study by J.D. Power and Associates, the vast majority of North American hotel guests agree. A whopping 89% said that they prefer staying in a smoke free hotel environment.

In an effort to support facilities that offer a completely smoke free atmosphere, the fine folks at Pineapple Hospitality created FreshStay®, the world’s leading online directory of 100% smoke free hotels. Recently, FreshStay® celebrated the 4000th property to join its list: the Comfort Suites in St. Charles, Missouri.



Pineapple Hospitality President Ray Burger says the Choice Hotel chain – of which Comfort Suites is a part – has been an industry leader in offering smoke free rooms to its guests.

“In 1984, Comfort Suites was the first hotel company to include non-smoking rooms in every one of its worldwide properties, and it continues its industry leadership today,” Burger said. “In 2007 we listed over 400 Choice Hotels, primarily Comfort Suites and Cambria Suites, as 100% non-smoking on FreshStay®. We now feature over 1250 Choice Hotel branded properties. We also receive regular monthly updates from Hilton and Marriott, and their numbers are growing quickly as well.”

If you’re ready to take your green hotel to the next level and implement a property-wide smoking ban, contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com. We’ll be happy to guide you through the process.

Then, sign up to be a member of FreshStay®. For a small annual membership fee (but no booking commission!) your property will be featured in FreshStay’s® popular online directory aimed at Frequent Breathers® everywhere.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Green = Greenbacks in 2010: Eco Hotels Hold RFP Advantage in Race for Big Business

It’s that time again – the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has put out the coming year’s round of Requests for Proposals, otherwise known as RFP’s. From coast to coast and around the world, hotel staff are sharpening their pencils and filling out select paperwork from a mountain of NBTA forms with the hope of winning business in 2010.

RFP season is a familiar ritual for veteran hoteliers. Each summer it’s the same old song and dance, answering the same old standard questions about room count, location, ratings, taxes, amenities, ADA compliance, etc.

But we at EcoGreenHotel are pleased to see the requests for proposals require some additional new information. Hotels must now outline their environmental initiatives and green certifications. That’s right… your “Green Hotel Checklist” has just become critical ammunition in your NBTA bidding war arsenal!

NBTA’s 2010 RFP’s require that your hotel describe:

• the top five environmental programs employed on your property (such as linen reuse, reusable key cards, energy efficiency efforts)


• environmental certifications you’ve earned, with a preference given to certifications that require on-site audits


• details about your recycling program


• your use of environmentally responsible cleaners


• your water conservation efforts, such as linen reuse and/or water saving fixtures

Obviously, hotels that can demonstrate strong environmental programs stand to rank higher in the competition than those that can’t. In fact, it’s very clear that not having a sustainability plan in effect might cost your hotel big business next year.

If you want to boost your property’s green profile – and your chances of winning large national accounts in 2010 – contact EcoGreenHotel right now. Our team of seasoned green hospitality specialists can quickly, efficiently and affordably set the wheels in motion to get your environmental program rolling today. We’ll identify the “low hanging fruit” and show you how to make the best use of your current assets, and we’ll also present you with a wide variety of options for implementing a meaningful – and profitable – sustainability plan at your hotel.

Don’t put your green initiative off another minute. The planet – and your hotel’s bottom line – depends upon it.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Good to Know: Report Shows Hotel Guests Prefer Green

Been feeling a little blue about your eco hotel’s green initiative lately? Been wondering if all the hard work is worth it, or if you’re just spinning your wheels for nothing? Thinking about giving up because no one else seems to care about sustainable hospitality as much as you do?

Pull up a chair, my friend. Have I got some news for you!

A recently released report by those studious folks over at J.D. Power and Associates contained a big shot in the arm for eco hoteliers. The 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study showed, among other things, that green hotels made great strides in awareness, guest satisfaction and participation in sustainable programs since the previous reporting period in 2008.

For their report, J.D. Power surveyed over 66,000 guests who stayed in North American hotels between May of 2008 and June of 2009. Here are some notable findings about green lodging taken directly from the release:

• Guest awareness of their hotel’s green programs increased significantly in 2009. Sixty-six percent of guests said they were aware of their hotel’s conservation efforts, up from 57 percent last year. Good job getting the word out!

• A high percentage of guests took part in their hotel’s sustainability efforts. Among those guests who were aware of the green program, 72 percent said they participated in their hotel’s conservation programs during their stay, meaning they recycled or participated in the property’s linen reuse program, for example. Way to go… you and your staff are doing a terrific job of rallying the troops!

• Awareness of green programs had a strong impact on overall guest satisfaction. On average, satisfaction is more than 160 points higher among guests who report being aware of their hotel’s green programs, compared with guests who are unaware of them. Awesome! You and your team have proven that implementing a green initiative doesn’t mean that the guest experience has to suffer… in fact, it’s just the opposite!

In a nutshell, this study shows that green hospitality has finally taken a firm hold in the industry, and that overall it is being done well. Your eco hotel’s efforts are starting to reap dividends, not only for the environment but also for your property’s bottom line.
So stop feeling blue. Send this blog entry link to your green team members today, and share this good green news!
Has your hotel received good guest feedback about your eco hotel’s green initiative? Tell us about it at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we may feature it on our website or in our newsletter!

For more details visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Free Environmental Audits Uncover Major Funding Opportunities for U.S. Hotels to Go Green

After decades working in the hospitality industry, I’ve seen many trends come and go. But a few years ago when climate change really started to come into focus and people began talking about ways to create a sustainable hospitality industry, I knew that eco-hospitality was not going to be just another passing fad. It was here to stay, and rightfully so.

And these days, with all the attention being paid to the environmental and economic benefits of cutting energy consumption, it’s a rare hotelier who has not at least considered implementing a sustainability initiative at his or her property. But many never get beyond the wishful thinking stage, because the process can seem so daunting – and expensive.

That’s why I started my company, EcoGreenHotel. We help lodging facilities address sustainability issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives. EcoGreenHotel recently partnered with the great folks at Atlantic Energy Solutions Inc. – a leader in assessing the energy demands and usages of municipal, corporate and industrial complexes – to take the concept a step further.

Together we created an innovative new Environmental Support Program that helps hoteliers design, fund and successfully launch their green initiatives. As part of that program, since May we’ve been offering free on-site environmental audits to all U.S. hotels! So far, over 30 properties from across the country have taken advantage of the offer, and the results have been amazing.

I would like to cite the example of one New York City hotel that is affiliated with a major franchise brand, because it really demonstrates what an in-depth environmental audit can reveal.

This particular hotel had already made progress in its sustainability plan, but like most, it still had room for improvement. Atlantic Energy Solutions’ engineers conducted an in-depth analysis of the property and identified several ways to increase its energy efficiency. The engineers recommended a variety of upgrades, including lighting, in-room thermostats, third-party energy procurement, participation in a demand response program, and energy monitoring software.

And the best news? Our team identified rebates, tax breaks, incentives and savings that will not only pay for those upgrades, but will also produce a positive cash flow for the property from Day One!

The amount of rebates and incentives available to that project was incredible gaining a six figure year one positive cash flow effect. We’ve identified ways to give that hotel an exceptionally rapid return on investment and ongoing energy savings of over $44,000 annually. And as we conduct these audits across the country, we’re uncovering tremendous opportunities for properties of all sizes because we’ve got staff totally dedicated to finding rebates and incentives.

I want to reiterate that the no-obligation assessment is totally free of charge. Atlantic Energy Solutions covers the cost of travel and other expenses for its environmental professionals to conduct the on-site audits, which consist of a thorough evaluation of each property’s electric, gas and water consumption.

Then, based upon the engineer’s findings, the team prepares and submits a free, no-obligation report and proposal to each hotel. The comprehensive report and proposal includes concrete steps the hotel can take to increase its energy efficiency, and includes a cost/benefit breakdown and a list of funding streams for which the property might qualify.

Not only are energy efficiency projects like these great for the environment and a hotel’s bottom line, they also form the basis for an entirely new marketing focus. Sustainable travel is a growing segment that the savvy hotelier would be wise to tap into. Our unique program makes it easier than ever for lodging facilities to quickly and cost-effectively go green.

Environmental audits will only be available free for a limited time. I invite property owners and managers to call me personally at (888)229-0213 Ext.801to schedule their hotel’s free on-site audit.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Florida’s Green Lodging Program: Only the good die young…

A few weeks ago in a blog post, I sang the praises of Florida’s outstanding Green Lodging program (FGLP). Established in 2004 by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), FGLP’s small but dedicated staff has helped hundreds of properties statewide implement meaningful green initiatives, and has made their program a model for the country.

That’s why I was so saddened to learn that due to drastic budget cuts, the FGLP as we know it will cease to exist on July 1st. According to a recent article in the Orlando Business Journal, the program’s budget of $337,000 was slashed to $63,000, and three of its four staff positions were eliminated.

You read that correctly – one employee and $63,000 to support the current stable of over 500 designated green properties, in addition to handling hundreds more that have filed their applications and are on the waiting list for FGLP approval.

Beginning July 1, initial site visits to determine compliance with program standards will become a thing of the past. Annual recertification will fall by the wayside, too, as will easily accessible expert advice from live DEP staff.

Instead, there will be occasional webinars, an online application process that will allow a property to assert that it has implemented its green initiative – and be approved – sight unseen, and a watered down renewal process.

FGLP’s official web site optimistically calls the changes “program improvements” and attempts to calm fears that the model project will become nothing more than a rubber stamping mechanism that allows undeserving properties to falsely bill themselves as environmentally responsible. In part, the web site states:

Maintaining environmental excellence in the program is of utmost importance to DEP. While the program will now be administered primarily online, it will not be a self-certification program.

I did not add the bold print in the statement above; DEP did. Publicly declaring that the FGLP will not be a self-certification program sounds brave and decisive, but unfortunately it also sounds like wishful thinking.

The stakes are extremely high for hoteliers in Florida, where approximately half of all the state’s visitors (many of whom are eco-conscious travelers) stay in lodging facilities, and where the Governor has mandated that all state-related conferences and meetings be held in certified green lodges whenever possible.

Yes, there’s big money to be made from earning FGLP’s green certification. Since the program has been so skillfully administered thus far, green certification truly meant something in Florida. The properties that earned it had every reason to be proud, and the ones on the waiting list knew they’d have to tow the line to get certified.

There is now a realistic fear that green lodging designation in Florida will be as easy to come by as a bad sunburn.

I understand that times are hard. Every line item in every state’s budget is on the chopping block, so the gutting of FGLP is not a huge surprise. But it is a huge disappointment, and I sincerely hope that Florida will find a way to restore the program to its previous funding levels – and high standards – post-haste.

Has your city’s or state’s green lodging program also taken a funding hit? Tell us about it at info@ecogreenhotel.com.

About EcoGreenHotel
A valuable resource for green hotels, EcoGreenHotel is dedicated to helping lodging facilities address environmental issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives. The company’s online presence at www.EcoGreenHotel.com offers a marketplace for green hotel products and services and provides a one- stop venue for green hospitality industry news, basic environmental overviews and other tools like green hotel checklists, project ideas, book lists, and valuable links designed to promote a more sustainable hospitality industry.

EcoGreenHotel’s green hotel consulting services guide owners, operators and developers through the journey of developing and/or maintaining a sustainable operation or project.

For more information about EcoGreenHotel, please visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com or send an email me Scott Parisi at sparisi@EcoGreenHotel.com.

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Water, Water Everywhere: Does your green hotel have the stomach for THIS water conservation solution?

Leave it to those wacky kids at NASA to come up with an innovative way to deal with a potential water shortage…

According to a recent Associated Press article, NASA engineers have perfected a method for transforming urine, sweat and exhaled moisture into safe and delicious drinking water.

Cheers!

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were the first to publicly toss back a few shots of the clear liquid, with a video camera as their witness. One astronaut declared, “The taste is great!” before toasting other crew members and their NASA teammates back on Planet Earth, who responded by raising their own cups full of tasty recycled wee.

If you can stop yourself from shuddering and gagging long enough to really think about it, it becomes clear that this is really a big deal for all of us. Imagine if each of us could quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively recycle our own household’s liquid waste – or that of our eco hotel’s guests – and turn it into potable water. Heck, why not?

Because it’s absolutely disgusting, you say?

Listen, the truth is that we already recycle water from our toilets and convert it into drinking water – it just takes a long time to do and the path from toilet to tap is such a convoluted winding road that we lose track of it. This new technology is fast enough to allow six astronauts to make six gallons of drinking water from their urine in just six hours, according to space station lab manager Marybeth Edeen.

The system takes the crew’s combined urine from the toilet and puts it into a tank where the liquid is boiled off. The machine collects the resulting vapor and discards the nasty urine brine. The vapor is combined with water from air condensation and the resulting liquid is filtered repeatedly until it is clean enough to drink.

This technology will have a huge impact on space travel – especially for long term missions such as a manned trip to Mars. And it has great potential here on Earth, too. Edeen pointed out that the same technology was already used to purify water after the Asian tsunami in 2004, and it saved countless lives.

So belly up to the bar, and let’s drink to our good friends at NASA who have developed a water recycling system that will undoubtedly change the world – and possibly, the Universe – for the better!

Have you heard about a new environmentally-friendly technology? Tell us about it by sending a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com. We may spotlight it on our website, in our newsletter or on this blog!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Recession-Proof Eco-Events: Five tips for boosting your green hotel’s meeting, convention and wedding bookings in a tough economy

Competition for meeting, convention, event and wedding bookings is stiff these days. Everyone – from the Fortune 500 company CEO to the young couple down the street who just got engaged – is pinching pennies and looking for the best all-around venue for their events.



Your eco hotel wants to attract their business, but so does every other. Here are some tips for setting your green lodging facility apart from the rest:

1. Create a new green initiative focused specifically on meeting and event planning. Get your green team together for a brainstorming session and design a catchy (but meaningful) new program to lure more eco-conscious meeting planners to your facility. For inspiration, check out Plan.It.Green, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s program for offsetting the carbon footprint from meetings and conventions held in its area. You can construct a similar – and still really cool – project on a smaller scale for your green lodging facility.

2. Go paperless. Create mini-websites for each meeting, convention or wedding booked to your property so everyone can interact and stay informed. It’s not hard to do – ask your web guy or gal for guidance in creating a template that you can easily personalize over and over again. You’ll save some trees by communicating electronically with your guests, and your meeting/wedding guests will feel like a million bucks to have their own personalized webpage.

3. Reach out – but not too far! Surveys indicate that people are not traveling too far for meetings, weddings and other events these days, so now is a great time to focus some advertising a little closer to home and perhaps even offer some special deals to “locals” who are based within a certain radius of your green hotel.

4. Make your Reduce, Reuse and Recycle efforts visible. Don’t conceal your recycle bins in a discreet corner! Put them a prominent place so your guests can see them and use them. What’s that you say? Your bins are ugly and they ruin the view? Then order some attractive ones, like these. Or these. Or these! Then, switch your condiments and toiletries from individual packaging to bulk dispensers, and print on both sides of recycled paper using soy ink. Now, publicize how much your recycling numbers have gone up and how much your contributions to the waste stream have gone down, because they most certainly will. Perhaps an environmentally concerned event planner or a bride-to-be will read the newspaper that day and Voila! Another booking!

5. Share the good news. Once you’ve hammered out your new green meeting/convention/wedding initiative, you’ve got to tell the world. To ensure that you deliver the right message to the right audience as quickly and efficiently as possible, get help from a skilled hospitality marketing guru like this one. The investment you make in a professional marketing plan can pay for itself with just one good booking!

Do you have a tried-and-true idea for generating more meeting, convention, event or wedding business for your green hotel? Drop us a line at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we may feature it in our newsletter, blog or website!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Great Wolf Resorts – America’s First National Hotel Chain to Have All U.S. Properties Earn Green Seal Certification!

Please take a look at this one minute EcoPodcast about this amazing achievement!!

If you’ve ever been part of the certification process for a green lodge, you know that it takes a lot of dedication and teamwork. Now, can you imagine what it would take to get twelve properties certified? That’s no small accomplishment!

That’s why EcoGreenHotel salutes Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. for the distinction of being the first national hotel chain to earn Green Seal certification for all its U.S. properties. The Madison, Wisconsin company is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts. Great Wolf spent a year auditing and upgrading all twelve of its facilities to meet Green Seal’s rigorous requirements.

Has it been worth it? Great Wolf thinks so. These resorts are not only decreasing their impact on the environment, but they are also realizing savings and attracting a new guest segment – the eco-tourist. For example, at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania, the company saved nine million gallons of water in one year by changing to low flow plumbing fixtures. Great Wolf is already reporting savings on water and energy costs, and guests are delighted to stay in a resort that places so much emphasis on protecting the environment. It’s a win-win-win situation!

But the company isn’t stopping with Green Seal. It has also launched Project Green Wolf, which will build upon previous efforts by expanding Great Wolf’s water and energy conservation measures, waste minimization, environmentally- and socially-sensitive purchasing practices, and guest education. The guest education component involves a partnership with National Geographic Kids to develop children’s environmental learning programs.

Hats off to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. – a true pioneer in the green lodging industry!

For more information Visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Intelity’s ICE – the world’s most advanced in-room virtual concierge and back end monitoring system!

Want to offer your guests an impressive and easy way to check out, access valet and room service, and make spa or restaurant reservations, all from a sleek touch screen installed in their guest rooms?

Would you like to be able to track and measure all of your hotel’s activities, modify prices at a moment’s notice, earn some advertising revenue and send real time, property-wide messages to guests and staff – all with the push of a button?

Meet the Interactive Customer Experience Solution, also known as ICE. ICE was developed by Intelity, an interactive hospitality technology company based in Orlando, Florida. Since its launch in late 2008, the system has garnered a lot of attention for its cutting edge tech and ease of use. ICE’s components are provided by Dell, Adobe, Microsoft and standard open-source providers, making it possible for in-house IT staff to handle the system.

In addition to the cool touch screen, guests can access the multi-lingual system from their PDA or laptop. A virtual concierge guides them through a menu of choices. Real time weather, flight and attraction information can also be accessed. Non-invasive advertising can be incorporated, as well as video messages from the company president, general manager, owners, brides and grooms, meeting planners... the options are endless!

ICE provides real time interfacing between property management, food and beverage, valet, event planning, spa or golf – you can link it all. The system routes guest and service requests to appropriate staff through a handheld device, tracks response time and completion and creates graphs and charts for analysis.

For more information about Intelity’s ICE, visit www.intelityice.com or contact Shawn Dagon, Director of Business Development at Intelity, at 407-965-2205 or 407-267-8711.

Florida’s Green Lodging Program: A model green hotel certification program that continues to grow

If you’ve ever been to Florida – especially to ecologically-sensitive areas like the Everglades and the Florida Keys – you know that the state has incredible natural resources. Stunning beaches, unique and abundant wildlife, fertile land, and of course, all that gin clear water make Florida an extraordinary place to live and a fantastic place to visit.



Key Largo Reef: Florida’s green lodges are helping protect the environment and preserve scenes like this for future generations (photo courtesy Monroe County Tourism Development Council)


And boy, do people ever visit! The state’s tourism marketing agency, VISIT FLORIDA, recently estimated that over 82 million people visited Florida in 2008. Since approximately 50% of Florida’s visitors stay in hotels, the lodging industry has a major impact on the state’s sensitive environment.

That’s why Florida’s Green Lodging Program (FGLP) is so important. Established in 2004 by the state Department of Environmental Protection, FGLP has assisted and recognized hundreds of facilities for their sustainability efforts. From huge properties owned by major chains like Hilton and Hyatt, to funky island B&B’s owned by somebody’s mom and pop, designated green lodges are becoming as common in Florida as flip flops, tiki torches and margarita cocktails!

One thing that has made Florida’s Green Lodging Program so successful is the commitment to the environment demonstrated by Governor Charlie Crist. In 2007, Gov. Crist signed an executive order mandating that all state conventions and meetings be held in certified green lodging facilities whenever possible. With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Crist started a stampede of hoteliers scrambling to green up their properties and get them on the list of approved facilities. Close to 500 properties have met the program’s certification requirements, and hundreds more have filed the paperwork and are in the pipeline to receive their green designation.

We at EcoGreenHotel salute Governor Crist, the Florida Green Lodging Program and all the owners, management and staff of the state’s certified green lodges who have worked so hard to protect and preserve the Great State of Florida for the next generation of visitors to enjoy.

Do you know about a green lodging program that deserves kudos, too? Send a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com and tell us about it. We may feature it in a future edition of our newsletter or on our web site, www.EcoGreenHotel.com!

Global Summit an Eye Opener for Green Hotel Professionals

At EcoGreenHotel, we eat, sleep and breathe green lodging. Environmentally-friendly hospitality is all we do – and it’s all we’ve done for years. We spend every waking moment reading up on the latest information, studying trends, products and technology, and talking to hoteliers, staff, vendors, guests – heck, anybody associated with lodging – about what’s happening in the industry. It’s a complex specialty, and we know our stuff inside out.

But we can always know more.

That simple truth was brought home to us earlier this month when we participated in the 1^st Annual Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Macungie, PA. Although EcoGreenHotel President Scott Parisi delivered a keynote address at the Summit, he also took time to listen to a host of presentations. One that caught his attention was delivered by Jason Kliwinski, Director of Sustainable Design at Spiezle Architectural Group of Trenton, N.J. Spiezle is an award-winning firm that has designed spaces for companies such as Merrill Lynch, Sirius Satellite Radio and Westin.

Jason’s presentation, entitled “Creating a Culture of Sustainability,” focused on just that – making sustainability a way of life… a philosophy… a custom. He spoke of using a holistic approach to sustainability project design and implementation, and then he said something that really stuck with us:

We are better than Me.

Now, we all know that teamwork is essential to a project’s success, and chances are very good that if you’re working on a project at your eco hotel, you’ve got a team in place. But take a look at that team and assess the following:

• Is it diverse? Are all departments and management levels represented? Think too about other diversity markers like gender, race and socio-economic status. Identify gaps and fill them. Diversity is key to success – you never know who is going to have the next great idea!

• Is communication open? Is everybody still in the loop or has communication trickled off lately? Ask the team for ideas about how to establish – and maintain – the lines of communication.

• What is the level of commitment? Are team members still excited about the project or have they lost interest? Bring them together to hear an inspiring speaker (perhaps a local environmental activist) or to watch a compelling documentary about climate change. Pick an easy-to-implement sustainability project so the team can experience some instant gratification to get them back on track.

How have you inspired your eco hotel’s green team? Drop us a line at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and tell us all about it. We may feature your team in an upcoming issue of our newsletter or on our website at www.EcoGreenHotel.com!

Hospitality virtual-Marketing™ Launches Eco-Friendly Sales & Marketing Products

April 22, 2009 (Atlanta, Ga.) -- Hospitality v-Marketing™, a leading virtual marketing company in the hospitality industry; in partnership with VIZERGY, JRPG Hospitality Consulting , and EcoGreenHotel; today launches an environmentally-friendly marketing company specializing in virtual sales and marketing products for the hospitality industry. These partnerships marry the expertise of content capture, using HD photography and video, with intelligent marketing and sales solutions complete with top of the line customer service - all specifically designed for the hospitality industry.

“We help capture sales that would not be otherwise possible, said David Cro, executive officer of Hospitality v-Marketing™. “We accomplish this by enhancing the experience of the internet viewer. It is our goal to engage the viewer so they become captivated and emotionally bonded to the property. The bottom line is the viewer makes an emotional decision based on their virtual connection and that experience is what converts into a sale. This connection is not possible without the virtual technologies we create for our clients.”

Hospitality v-Marketing™ (HvM™) offers custom created rich media, hosting, deployment and delivery. An alternative to the a stand-alone website, HvM™ currently offers more than 10 robust deliverables and has more than 18 new products in development. HvM™ core products are designed to capture audience attention using high definition resolution images (HDRI), virtual tours and video along with web application developments. These products offer the industry’s best in high definition photography, allowing hoteliers and venues to uniquely showcase their value proposition to prospective clients. This, along with tracking analytics, brings hoteliers quick returns on their investment.

“Every one of our products has analytics associated with it so all of our clients can see who is intrigued and excited by their products,” said Cro. “Why use a hard copy brochure with a 3-4 year shelf life tops, when virtual is lifetime, environmentally friendly, and instantaneous with updates. And speed to market in today’s environment is key to staying ahead of the competition. ”

Hospitality v-Marketing™ has partnered with Eco-Green Hotel, a company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address environmental issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives, to promote this environmentally-friendly form of marketing in the hospitality industry.
“Hospitality v-Marketing™ brings an amazing solution to the hospitality industry that when implemented can eliminate the use of paper for sales and marketing communications,” said Scott Parisi, president, Eco-Green Hotel. “The solutions offered not only reduce or eliminate the use paper it also gives hotels and resorts a competitive marketing edge through state of the art technologies that provide an incredible presentation that cannot be achieved elsewhere.”
In addition to Eco-Green Hotel, HvM™ has partnered with VIZERGY, an Internet marketing company that empowers hotels and resorts to drive revenue through the Internet. This partnership allows HvM™ to offer extended services in the form of PPC (pay-per click) and SEO (search engine optimization). VIZERGY has a proven track record with PPC & SEO optimization with over 10 years of experience in helping their clients get better rankings. HvM™ has been seamlessly integrated into the VIZERGY workflow process to provide compelling imagery for their clients. To assist in creating an accelerated turn-around, HvM™ does in most cases, return proofs within 2 weeks.

“We’re excited and optimistic about our new affiliation with Hospitality v-Marketing™,” says Joe Hyman, VIZERGY’s Founder and CEO. “As a specialist in hospitality marketing, we know a picture is worth a thousand words. Great photography improves Website conversions and can be optimized in many social media channels, improving the image, visibility and revenue for our clients. Hospitality v-Marketing™’s work is fantastic and we look forward to recommending their services to our clients.”

HvM™ has also teamed up with hospitality marketing partners Pam Grayboff and Julie Reigle of JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC. Experts in the industry, Grayboff and Reigle offer sales & marketing, and revenue management advisory and consulting services. In addition, JRPG Hospitality Consulting offers acquisition & transition services and asset management & development services.

“As part of our vision to partner and consult with creative and environmentally friendly vendors to help with our clients, we have found Hospitality v-Marketing™ to be an innovative hospitality marketing solution offering high quality services and imagery for all hotel sizes,” said Grayboff and Reigle.

Hospitality v-Marketing™ has revolutionized process management and customer service by delivering customer products to market with speed and efficiency to assure top-line sales.
“We are hands down the fastest in the industry with our deliverables,” said Heather Kennedy, project management director for Hospitality v-Marketing™. “Our team ensures the highest standards of quality, speed and delivery. Within 24 hours of an agreement we are in contact with the client. This contact produces results that ensure satisfaction, expedited delivery and that expectations are met.”

Hospitality v-Marketing™ currently operates with four Regional Sales Directors; Jim Mathley, Teresa Rubin, Bill Scull and Allison Parris. Jim Mathley, a 19 year hospitality sales veteran, is the West Coast Regional Sales Director. Mathley is using his diverse hospitality background with Wyndham as regional director of sales and marketing to ensure every HvM™ customer receives the full benefit and maximum revenue return for their investment in using the HvM™ cutting-edge products.

Teresa Rubin is Regional Director of Sales for the Southeast Region for Hospitality v-Marketing™. She has a very strong portfolio in leading hotel sales in various brands that include: Resort, full-service hotels and select service properties including the Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Courtyard by Marriot, and Springhill Suites. She was awarded several industry awards and recognitions throughout her career including Select Service Sales Manager of the Year for Whitelodging Services Corporation and Leader of the Quarter for Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott.

Bill Scull, Regional Director of Sales for the Midwest region, is responsible for creating awareness, developing partnerships and increasing sales between Hospitality v-Marketing™ and the hotel community. Scull has more than 17 years of hotel experience with Marriott International.
Allison Parris, a 13 year veteran in the hospitality industry, serves as the Director of Sales in the Northeast region. As Regional Director of Sales, Ms. Paris has conducted sales training and created marketing plans for a multitude of hotel brands, both chain-affiliated and independent hotels, most of these years with the Hilton brand.

“We have surrounded ourselves with great marketing talents in the industry who understand that hotels are looking for ways to set themselves apart from the others,” said Cro.
Hospitality v-Marketing™ aspires to be the preferred choice for hospitality internet marketing tools and photography among the world’s leading hotel, resort, destination and investment property corporations. To learn more about Hospitality v-Marketing™ products and services, please visit www.hospitalityvmarketing.com or call (404) 975 0597.
Now through June 30, 2009, Hospitality v-Marketing™ is offering a “click and book” to receive 20% off any v-brochure at www.hospitalityvmarketing.com

About Eco-Green Hotel
A valuable resource for green hotels, Eco-Green Hotel is dedicated to helping lodging facilities address environmental issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives. The company’s online presence at www.EcoGreenHotel.com offers a marketplace for green hotel products and services and provides a one- stop venue for green hospitality industry news, basic environmental overviews and other tools like green hotel checklists, project ideas, book lists, and valuable links designed to promote a more sustainable hospitality industry.

About VIZERGY
VIZERGY is an Internet marketing company that empowers hotels and resorts to drive revenue through the Internet. Founded as SECURE-RES in 1998, and rebranded to VIZERGY in 2007 to better reflect the company mission, VIZERGY offers Internet marketing, search engine optimization, Web site design, email marketing, reservation services, and e-commerce strategy development to help hotels and resorts aggressively compete online. For more information on VIZERGY and its services, please visit www.vizergy.com, call Amakeda Ponds at 904.389.1130 Ext. 179 or email Amakeda.p@vizergy.com.

About JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC
JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC is an owner and manager’s solution for lagging performance in today’s challenging economic cycle. Our advantage stems from 53 combined years of hospitality industry expertise within luxury, upper upscale and select service segments, including all hotel types from resorts, to boutiques to convention hotels. We can navigate the path to improvement in an independent realm or branded world while understanding the dynamics of franchise, brand managed and third party management structures. Our vision is to partner and consult regularly with creative and environmentally friendly vendors and providers of hospitality solutions. Our association with these partners allows us to stay current with emerging applications and services to provide the appropriate recommendations. It is our nature to integrate collaboration and integrity in every client and vendor interaction. For more information about JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC, email us at: info@jrpghospitalityconsulting.com or visit us soon at www.jrpghospitalityconsulting.com.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Another Green Lodging Certification Program in the Works! Enough already?

The buzz around Washington D.C. is that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is laying the groundwork for a federal green lodging certification program for U.S. hotels.

The EPA plans to roll out its sustainability guidelines by the end of the year, with the goal of giving facilities an outline of the standards necessary to win federal meeting and convention business in the future.

Is there a need for yet another green lodging certification program? Well, that depends. If the EPA’s program turns out to be a meaningful method for recognizing genuine accomplishments in sustainable lodging, then we’re all for it. But if it’s just another pay-to-play, rubber stamp mechanism for properties to drum up business on the ruse of operating a watered-down green lodge, then we’re wholeheartedly against it.

In other words, only time will tell if there’s really “room at the inn” for a new federal green lodging program. We’ll just have to see it before we can believe in it.

Indications are, however, that this program might actually be a worthwhile addition to the green lodging certification mix. An EPA spokesman said it will be modeled after excellent state-sponsored programs like the ones in Florida and California, and will eventually become as highly regarded and recognizable as the Energy Star ratings for appliances.

Plus, word on the street is that these new guidelines will eventually be the measure by which all federal agencies and departments will award their meeting and convention business in the future – along with price and past performance considerations, of course.

And one can’t help but wonder if a highly publicized, well-funded federal green hotel certification program will eclipse others of questionable quality – especially those in the pay-to-play arena.

So our recommendation is for hospitality properties to watch this process closely, and to plan to apply just as soon as the EPA opens the floodgates. There’s likely to be a stampede of facilities scrambling to align with the federal program and you want yours to be in front of the pack.

Are you satisfied with your facility’s sustainability program? Could your staff use some professional guidance in positioning your property to earn the upcoming federal certification? Send a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com today, and we’ll have you on the road to a meaningful green certification before you know it!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Found objects find new life in San Francisco eco hotel

I read a story in Hospitality Design magazine last week that made me smile. It was about the aptly named Good Hotel in San Francisco’s trendy SOMA district.

The 117-room property – once the site of a Best Western and a hostel catering to backpackers – has been totally remodeled and decorated largely with reused, everyday objects. The designers called upon area artists to put the finishing touches on everything from the lobby to the guestrooms.

For example, a recent art school graduate fashioned a cool bench from old blankets. A furniture maker built a computer desk from old cabinets, and he constructed a coffee table that included parts from a skateboard. Throw pillows in the guestrooms were covered with bedspread material from the old hotel. Recycled water bottles now form a chic pendant light.

I like this approach for so many reasons. First of all, it’s light hearted and fun. Some of those design elements are so quirky; you can be sure that guests are having blast exploring all the eccentric touches scattered throughout the building.

Next, the hotel employed the work of local artists, providing income for neighborhood folks. Local art immediately establishes a “sense of place” – an ambiance that adds to your guests’ overall experience.

I also like the Good Hotel’s approach to decorating because it’s cheaper than using new items. This design technique helped the hotel keep its costs down, which helped it keep its rates down, which in turn helps keep heads in beds. Enough said on that!

But what appeals to me most is how it promotes the idea that “used” doesn’t necessarily mean “useless” – that just because something has passed its prime in one form doesn’t mean that it’s not perfect for some other purpose.

Now, I’m well aware that this design tactic won’t work for everyone. But I firmly believe that the underlying philosophy will.

Call your green team together to brainstorm about how you can use repurposed items in your eco hotel – or how you can donate your facility’s used items to a worthy cause in your neighborhood. Then drop us a line at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and tell us what you came up with. We’ll post some of the best ideas online and share them with the eco hotel community in our newsletter, too.

Learn more about San Francisco’s Good Hotel here: www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/good.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

LEED-ing green hotels to a sustainable future

I admit it: I’m not a fan of acronyms. But unfortunately the world is full of them – especially, it seems, the sustainability world. There’s CFL, CFC, HEPA, HFC, LCA, VOC and so many more… not to mention the granddaddy of them all – LEED.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and I suppose that as far as acronyms go, it’s one of the more useful ones. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the most universally accepted building certification program in the country, and its authority is even spreading around the world.

Administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, this voluntary program recommends practices and performance criteria to help architects, engineers, construction and facilities managers, interior designers, lenders and government officials design, construct, remodel, operate and maintain sustainable buildings – everything from homes schools and hospitals, to retail establishments, government facilities and yes, even hotels.

The LEED program helps improve five areas critical to human and environmental wellbeing:

• Sustainable site development
• Water conservation
• Energy efficiency
• Material selection
• Indoor environmental quality

Not sure which flooring option is the most sustainable choice for your new hotel? LEED can point you in the right direction. Wondering if you should incorporate solar water heaters into your remodel, or want to tap into tax incentives and government initiatives to help offset costs? LEED has resources to guide you.

Once the U.S. Green Building Council has ensured that the building meets its requirements, it awards the facility its prestigious LEED certification. In the sustainable building world, there’s no more highly-regarded acronym than LEED!

If you’d like to find out how your planned or existing lodging facility can earn LEED certification, send a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com. We’ll be happy to help you get the process started!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Mood lighting for Mother Nature: Green hotels dim lights for Earth Hour 2009

Eco-conscious hotels joined millions of other businesses, individuals and government entities around the world in observing Earth Hour 2009 on Saturday, March 28th.
Lights were dimmed or turned off en masse in 88 countries worldwide that night to show support for the fight against global warming, from the Vegas strip to New Zealand to Antarctica to Greece and all points in between. The non-profit World Wildlife Fund organized the event, and on its website called this year’s Earth Hour “the largest of its kind.”
Green hotels found lots of imaginative ways to celebrate and get their guests involved in Earth Hour beyond just dimming the lights. One Boston hotel invited all its guests and staff to a party on the rooftop to watch the lights go out over Beantown. Another offered green martinis in the bar, where the lights were dimmed and supplemented by flameless candles.
In Toronto, guests enjoyed candlelight dinners and a swimming pool filled with floating candles, and guests at one hotel in Australia were treated to eco-friendly foods and “carbon neutral” drinks.
It looks as if Earth Hour has become an annual event, so perhaps now would be a great time to add an Earth Hour Committee to your property’s green team. Participating in the event is an enjoyable and memorable way to highlight your facility’s dedication to conservation. It’s not too early to start thinking about how your facility can celebrate Earth Hour 2010!
Did staff at your property come up with a fun or particularly meaningful way to observe this year’s Earth Hour? Tell us about it at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we may post it on our website!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

All Over the Map: It’s a small (green hotel) world

Heads up, green hotel owners, managers and marketing departments! There’s a new place on the worldwide web for promoting eco hotels, and it’s making it easier than ever for properties like yours to attract potential guests.

Check this out: www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com. This site has an independent, objective online directory created to assist eco-travelers in finding environmentally friendly lodging all over the world. The U.K.-based site has been adding venues at the rate of three per month since inception and currently lists around 140 properties worldwide.

Site visitors can search the free database for an eco hotel near their destination. They can also submit hotel reviews, recommend hotels for inclusion on the site, and sign up to receive a newsletter full of information and travel-related offers.

And here’s how it works from the lodging facility side. First, hotels study the requirements for inclusion in the directory. The requirements are fairly straightforward and mainly focus on water and energy conservation, waste disposal practices, community involvement and staff training.

Then, the hotel fills out the directory’s simple online form and submits it. An Eco Hotels of the World representative will contact the facility about whether or not the property has made the cut.

And here’s the best part: Hotels are not charged any fees or commissions to be listed on the site!

EcoHotelsoftheWorld.com has been featured in various publications, including Time Out magazine and Panorama. It’s a site that’s destined to pick up speed and grow, so get in on the ground floor and secure your hotel’s free listing soon!

At EcoGreenHotel, we have lots of great ideas for marketing your green hotel effectively and cost-efficiently. Contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com with your marketing questions or concerns, and we’ll be happy to help.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Three cool tools that no green hotel office should be without

So, you’ve installed low flow faucets, toilets and showerheads, and started a linen re-use program. You’ve got sparkling new recycle bins strategically placed all around the property. Housekeeping is outfitted with the latest ozone laundry technology to save energy and cut down on chemical use, you’ve got Energy Star appliances around every corner, and your maintenance guy looks like Mr. Universe from climbing all those ladders switching the old-fashioned light bulbs for CFL’s.

Your property has the green thing down pat… or does it? There’s one part of your eco-hotel you might have overlooked when drawing up your sustainability plan – your office.

Here are three new devices that can not only make your life easier, but also make your office – and in turn, your hotel – a little greener:

• SoyPrint laser print cartridges. Soy ink is nothing new, but soy ink in laser print cartridges is. The company that manufactures these cartridges says that the U.S. consumes “more than 100 million cartridges per year. That equates to 100 million pounds or 50,000 tons of material we currently use petroleum to produce.” The cartridges start at $60 and are compatible with many popular printer brands. Visit www.soyprint.net.

• Occupancy Sensors. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average office spends 29% of its energy usage on lighting alone. If you forget to turn off the lights when you leave the office, 100% of that lighting energy is wasted. To prevent that kind of loss, install a simple infrared or ultrasonic motion sensor that cuts the lights when everyone has left the room. Sensors start at $20 and can be purchased online or at most home or hardware stores.

• Solio Hybrid Charger. This little silver doodad can charge your handheld devices using either electric or solar power, and it’s universal – no need to lug around a separate charger for all your devices. One hour of sunlight translates into 20 minutes of talk time or nearly an hour of MP3 music playing. And word on the street is that President Obama has one to charge his trusty Blackberry wherever he goes! Solio models start at $80. Visit www.solio.com.

Got a green office dilemma? EcoGreenHotel is happy to help! Contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com.
For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Why Certify: Is green hotel certification really worth the effort?

It seems you can’t turn around these days without bumping face-first into something “green.” Eat our farm’s organic berries! Buy our company’s hybrid car! Install our specially-designed low-flow toilet!

Heck, even oil companies are spending millions on ads to convince the public that they’re doing everything in their power to nurture the planet. And now, you can add supposedly-green lodging facilities to the mix.

But how can an eco-conscious traveler be sure that the environmentally-friendly claims of her chosen hotel are factual?

By checking for official certification, that’s how!

From Maine to California and from Florida to Michigan and everywhere in between, state agencies and hotel associations are launching green lodging certification programs. The programs encourage hoteliers to implement measures to save water and energy and protect air quality as well as practices like recycling that reduce contributions to the waste stream.

In exchange for the hotel’s efforts, the program certifies that the property has met – and continues to meet – a set of environmentally-friendly requirements. The program continually monitors the property’s energy and water usage and other factors that indicate responsible practices.

This certification allows the hotel to bill itself as a “green lodging facility,” thereby attracting a new and burgeoning market populated by eco-travelers and eco-meeting planners.

The hospitality industry’s response to these certification programs has been outstanding. Most hoteliers I’ve spoken with say that, although the certification process takes a little extra work, it’s absolutely worth it once you’ve factored in cost savings, increased marketing opportunities, and the property’s reduced environmental impact.

One resort manager expressed it this way: “It’s been worth the initial investment and effort to get certified. Being green means saving money in the long run, and it will make our planet a better place. The world is watching what we’re doing and I get goose bumps just thinking about it. We can do this – we have to do this.”

Want to know if there’s a green lodging certification program in your area? Contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we’ll find out for you!


For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Hotelier’s step towards the eco green practices

In today’s world, environment has a vital role and many are trying out different thing to protect it from getting polluted. Environment and human are interrelated to each other. But human beings only are destroying the environment. They are playing with the environment without thinking of its effects. People around the world want to live a in a friendly environment but they are still finding the answer of how the can do this?

Hotels around the world have started taking steps for the betterment of the environment and to make it pollution free. Many hotels are following the mantra of "Clean & Green" and have started planting a lot of greenery around the hotel. To make the environment more friendly hoteliers have started following eco friendly practices. Many hotels have started using renewable items like reusable bags in place of plastic bags which are most harmful for the environment. Now you can find more colorful flowers around and inside the hotel premises. Instead of napkins they have started offering cloth mats to the customer to reduce the wastage of papers.
For more information, Visit:EcoGreenHotel.com

Coastal tourism

Many coastal areas have experienced a particular pressure due to growth of lifestyle and growing number of tourists. Coastal environment is limited and consists of only a narrow strip along the edge of the ocean. Coastal areas are the first to experience the adverse impacts of tourism.
Proper planning and management can reduce the adverse impacts on coastal environment and ensures that proper investment into tourism products supports sustainable coastal tourism.
For more information, Visit: EcoGreenHotel.com

This Week's EcoGreenHotel Product EcoFeature

Rest Easy Bed Bug Killer and Repellant - an affordable environmentally friendly hotel product that quickly and safely eliminates nasty bed bugs. - GUARANTEED!
Unfortunately, bedbug infestation is on the rise in lodging facilities worldwide. Outbreaks have been reported in almost every state in America. In fact, bedbug service calls have gone up 300% in the last five years!

These tiny nocturnal bloodsuckers are not only blamed for ruining many a night's sleep for unwary hotel guests, but they have also ruined many a good hotel's reputation. Some guests have even filed lawsuits against hotels harboring bedbugs.

Eliminating stubborn bedbugs the conventional way - with potentially harmful chemicals - can be time consuming, expensive and dangerous. But Rest Easy Bed Bug Killer and Repellant offers a quick, affordable and safe alternative.

Here's why more and more green hotels are stocking up on Rest Easy:

• It kills 90% of bedbugs within five seconds of exposure, and it destroys the remainder within 30 minutes

• It is made with 100% natural, pleasant-smelling ingredients like lemongrass oil and cinnamon oil

• It's safe to use around children and pets

• It can be applied as a preventative repellant or to eliminate existing bedbugs

• It doesn't require a professional exterminator - it can be applied by your hotel's staff

• It's cost-effective

• It's guaranteed to work!

To learn more about this exciting green hotel product, go to EcoGreenHotel

EcoGreenHotel Newsletter

“In the current economic climate, hotel operators will focus more of their energies on cost reduction, improving operating efficiencies in their hotels, and strengthening their brands through an emphasis on green principles,”

(Ernst & Young LLP, 2009)

A valuable resource for hoteliers, EcoGreenHotel.com is dedicated to helping hotels address environmental issues and implement environmentally friendly initiatives. It is a marketplace with plentiful amounts of information ranging from green products and services, industry "green" news, basic environmental overview to other tools like checklists, green project ideas, book lists, and resourceful links for a more sustainable hotel.

Are you meeting the minimum green guidelines?
Find AH&LA's 11 minimum guidelines for going green with examples, ROI information and additional resources on AH&LA's Green Resource Center. You'll also find an additional 58 guidelines for hoteliers more advanced in the greening process. AH&LA members also can ask the Green Guru their most pressing questions free of charge.

To view the full Newsletter visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Sustainable Tourism

It is the kind of approach that maintains the local culture and its tradition and also motivates to conserve the local culture and resources. It involves the local people to maintain their local tradition.

Characteristics of Sustainable Tourism:

• It utmost to maintain the local tradition and local culture.
• It points to conserve the resources where one visited to
• It deeply involves the local people and stress upon the tourist places.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is mainly focuses on ecology. It concerns with learning new things about the planet and also learning about personal growth. It involves the travel to destination where flora and fauna are the main attractions.

The Major goal of ecotourism is to promote the recycling of components, water and energy conservation.

For more information, Visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Environmental Management System

To make your hotel environment friendly what is required is improvement of the facilities provided by the property and its equipments.
The effort required is to improve the standard of operating procedures and training and motivating the staff members for efficient use of resources.
The system that helps you achieve above goals is Environmental Management System.
Environmental Management System (EMS) can be said as a framework that helps the management to assign responsibilities, motivate the staff members, implement the best practices and monitor the performance as a whole.
Other activities included in the Environmental Management System include conducting meetings, training the staff members and monitoring and reporting progress.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Steps towards Environmental Management

The following steps when followed properly or kept in mind can make you save enormously:
• Adoption of an environmental policy
• Appointment of an environmental officer,
• Establishment of a team known as The Green Team,
• Establishment of a maintenance program,
• Adoption of practices that conserve the environment and minimize the production of waste
• Development of a monitoring program for utilities.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

National Energy Services Company, Inc. Is Named a Recommended "Product" and "Services" Provider by EcoGreenHotel.com.

For information visit the link below to see a press release about National Energy Services Company, Inc. on CNN.com

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0475466.htm

The price of natural gas has doubled within the past few years. Have you been able to compensate for this blow to your bottom line? For more than 10 years, National Energy Service Company has been helping companies reduce their energy costs and improve profitability.

National Energy Services Company, Inc. offer Ozone Laundry Systems, which reduce energy costs while giving your guests cleaner, softer, brighter linens - and ultimately a better guest experience, as well as wireless Energy Management Systems, which allow you to monitor, control and reduce your energy consumption.

National Energy Services Company, Inc. financing programs allow properties to finance energy-saving improvements over time, using the monthly savings generated to pay for the upgrades themselves. No initial investment is required for you to begin seeing lower energy bills and more satisfied guests.

For more information please visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com or www.EcoGreenHotel.co.uk

Environmental Management: Win-Win situation

Proper Environmental Management is a win-win situation for both you and your property. It helps to reduce operating costs and improves profitability.

Substantial cost savings can be done with a modest investment.

Apart from cost savings, environmental management guarantees that you will stand out from competition and will be recognized. Environmental Management helps you to get recognized through certification programs, awards and other promotions.

Other benefit is the image of your property gets enhanced with guests that are conscious about environment.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

What does Environmental Management involve?

Managing all components of the environment: biotic and aboitic is what Environmental Management involves.
Management of all the components of environment becomes necessary because of relationships between the species and their habitats.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

What is Environmental Management?

The term ‘environmental management’ not only means managing the environment but managing the interaction of human societies with the environment and its impact.

Thus, environmental management is not only for the sake of environment but it is for the sake of mankind.
For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Being a Green Hotel guest

When staying in a hotel, the following steps help you to become a green hotel guest:
• Ask the hotel staff not to change the sheets and towels on a daily basis.
• Switch off the lights and electrical appliances if any like television, air conditioner and close the drapes when leaving the room.
• Participate in the recycling efforts which the hotel promotes.
• Pass the newspaper provided by the hotel to someone else after you have read and encourage the hotel management to implement recycling.
• Take short showers
• While brushing teeth, don’t let the water run
• Turn off the exercise machines when done
• Place the brochures and other tourist information back in the racks after reading rather than throwing
• If disposable utensils are used in the hotel, bring your own disposable cups etc.
• When having food, if you don’t drink water along, ask the staff not to pour in your glass
• Thank the staff and management- managers and employees for embracing green hotel practices and appreciate their effort

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Go for a Green Hotel

One can help to reduce the negative impact that hotels have on environment by staying at a green hotel.
Green hotels use energy and resources efficiently thereby implementing recycling of products. Using nonrenewable resources efficiently and utilizing renewable resources is what Green hotels concentrate on.

The staggering figure of guests in the hotels, the meals prepared for them, water consumption, and energy required for lighting, cooling and heating all indicate that there is an enormous need to implement green hotel practices.

While you are at a green hotel, you are sure to receive quality service. Apart from the service quality, you will also be helping the environment.
Adopting green hotel practices helps hotels to realize cost savings which can be used for enhancing services provided to the guests.

For more information visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Requirements for environmentally friendly hotel

When turning your hotel into an environmentally friendly hotel, what is required is

• Proper education and motivation of the staff members and guests,
• Achieving cost savings, and
• Increasing the market share.

Tools like providing educational material to the staff and guests, proper planning, implementing practices that help in conserving resources and guarantee quality management help you implement proper environmentally friendly practices.

Thus, it can be said that as hotels put their top priority to improve the experience of their guests, being environmentally friendly is important and has to start from within.

Hotels can succeed in ‘Driving business to its properties’ by being environmentally friendly and also offer healthy and sustainable options.

The most important factor why hotels are being environmentally friendly is the social responsibility that has reached a tipping point in the hospitality industry and is spreading awareness significantly.

For more information visit www.ecogreenhotel.com

Benefits of Green Hotel Certification

Green Hotel Certification program helps a property to enjoy various benefits:
• Brand image and reputation of the corporation is enhanced,
• New revenue opportunities are created,
• The operating and maintenance costs are reduced,
• International recognition and opening up of new markets,
• Community connections are strengthened, and
• A healthier work environment.

Apart from the above described benefits, high return, increased profits and positive cash flows are also some of the major benefits that are increasing the popularity of Green Hotel certification.
In a nutshell, it can be said that to protect our environment, to increase competition, to gain profits and to earn recognition, green Hotel certification is a positive step.
For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Share Your Green Hotel Practices

EcoGreenHotel knows that the best green ideas, the most environmentally friendly practices and the greatest sustainable solutions for hotels and resorts are developed by the individuals that are working in the industry every day.

Help EcoGreenHotel with the mission to "Support Hospitality Sustainability".

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

What is Green Hotel Certification?

A leading third party certification based on documentation accepted worldwide is Green Hotel Certification. Green Hotel Certification recognizes the sustainability efforts being taken.

Green Hotel Certification can be regarded as a promotional tool which will help you reach a global consumer market aware of the importance of environment.

For more information,Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Benefits of Going Green

- Reduction in energy bills: when energy saving measures like use of fluorescent bulbs, sensors for rest rooms and meeting areas, there is a reduction in energy bills.
- Reduction in water bills: Introduction of water saving equipments like low-flow showerheads etc. help to reduce water bills.
- Healthier guests, staff and management: Going Green guarantees that there is a healthy environment in the hotel.

Thus, for sustaining longer in the hospitality industry it is necessary to implement the concept of Green Hotels and also Green Hotel Management. Exemplifying the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility in all areas of operation and employing policies and programs that set international standards for sustainability is what Green Hotel Management is all about.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Steps to make your hotel environmentally friendly

To create environmentally hotel, the design criteria needs to concentrate on the following aspects:
• Creating and managing committees for managing environmental programs,
• Using disposable cups instead of glassware to reduce waste,
• Placing wastebaskets with separate partition for recyclable components in guest rooms,
• Reusing broken or worn resources for other purposes,
• Conserving energy by using high-efficiency lighting,
• Equipping electrical and irrigation systems with timers which helps in conserving water and energy,
• Planting plants in your garden that consume less water i.e. Landscaping should be suited to the local ecosystem to avoid unnecessary use of chemicals,
• Creating areas for recycling and sorting trash from the waste in the hotel.

For more information, visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Managing the Green Hotel

Saving planet Earth and making it a better place to live is what the hospitality industry focuses on today. This is being done by using and implementing new technologies in such a way so that the creations of today regenerate themselves.
Great ideas are required so that inspiring theories can be implemented in hotels and other places without harming nature/ natural beauty.
Some ideas which can make the place better are:

- Use of water- based paints
- Nailed down carpeting, etc.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Green Hotel

Green Hotel:

Hotels taking into consideration the environmental aspects with reference to areas related to services provided to the guests, management of the hotel and eating facilities provided are known as Green Hotels.

Essentials of a Green Hotel:

The following areas are to be looked on when considering a green hotel:

- Energy Management with regard to efficiency of the building and measures taken for conservation.
- Preparation of food: A green hotel provides the guests with options of vegetarian and organic food.

Other than the above mentioned areas, another area is Waste Management which should include 3R’s namely: Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Eco Hotel

A hotel that makes important improvements regarding environment in its structure inorder to minimize the impact on environment is known as Eco hotel.
Incorporation of environmental consciousness and environmental considerations in operations and management gives exact meaning to the term Eco-hotel or Green Hotel.
Earlier, these hotels were located in jungles in the natural environment to make people feel that they are living admist natural beauty close to the environment.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Make your business greener

Small steps can help you to make your business go green. Few actions that companies can take to go green are:

1. Energy Audit: The first step in going green is to have an energy audit. An Audit helps you find the areas where you can reduce usage and save money.

2. Survey regarding “going green” or “sustainable organization”: Annual surveys with employees should be conducted to find how well the organization is doing by implementing green business practices. This will provide information and suggestions for future actions.

3. Go paperless: Encouraging e-mailing can reduce the usage of paper. Photocopying and printing on both sides can save paper.

4. Recycle: Elementary step towards going green is to start recycling waste. Sustainable supply chain makes the output of waste move into input creating a cycle where wastes turn into raw materials and are no longer wasted. Recycling paper, glass, metal and plastic can help in going green.

5. Green buying: Suppliers should know that you are interested in sustainable products. When purchasing, environment should also be a factor not just price.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Improving the air quality in Hotels

To have clean and fresh air inside your hotel is good business. Among the Green Ideas to make Environmentally Friendly Hotels is the introduction of fresh air in hotels. A variety of ways help you to introduce fresh air in hotels:

1. Cleaning all the parts of air system: All parts of the heating and the air system including coils, ducts and fans must be cleaned thoroughly.
2. Cleaning the upholstery: Upholstery on the sofas, chairs, carpets etc must be cleaned.
3. High Ozone shock treatment: To kill any remaining bacteria or mold in the room, it is necessary that a high ozone shock treatment is completed.
4. Applying a pure shield to the room: To prevent microorganisms away from getting attached to the surfaces, shielding the room with a spray that forms an electrostatic barrier is a must.
5. Air Purifying System: An air purifying system (filtering system) helps to remove about 98-100% of bacteria and keeps the room allergy free.

Grey Water Recycling

What is grey water?
Any water that has been used in the hotel, other than water from toilets, is known as grey water.
Grey Water can further be used for other purposes like landscape irrigation.

Benefits of Grey Water Recycling
The benefits of Grey Water recycling are as follows:
1. Plant Growth: Since plants can survive on water that has a certain amount of compost, grey water aids plant growth and helps in making a landscape flourish where enough water may not be available for growth of plants.
2. Reduced fresh water usage: In regions where irrigation is needed, Grey water could replace fresh water that helps in saving money and increasing water supply.
3. Extended life and capacity of septic tank: Grey water puts less strain on the septic tank or the treatment plan and increases its life. Decreased wastewater flow means effectiveness at lower costs.
4. Effective Purification: The region of the soil that is biologically active purifies grey water to a higher degree protecting the quality of natural surface and ground waters.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Encourage Hotels to go green

The hotel in which you are staying may not be implementing the above mentioned practices. Guests can play a major part in making Hotels implement practices that help hotels go green.

The suggestions from the guest side could be:

1. Implementation of linen reuse program

2. Use of fluorescent lighting

3. Use of low flow showerhead

Guests do make a difference to Hotels as the main motto of Hotels is to customer satisfaction. Guests can help hotels to go green every time they travel. Green practices will help in energy and water conservation and make the Earth a better planet to live. Go Green Campaign should be followed even in Homes and not just in Hotels as it will make your homes more energy efficient. Hotels should implement the Go Green Campaign because satisfied hotel guests help to encourage Tourism.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Solid Waste Management

Solid wastes generated by hotel offices are usually in large quantities and toxic those pollute our environment. Stationery, paper and cartridges of copiers and printers are among the normal wastes. To reduce operating expenses, implementing recycling and waste disposal programs are a must for offices. The recycling program should include categorizing the wastes into recyclable and non-recyclable wastes and treating them differently. These programs help to save resources, reduce pollution and protect both the environment and employee health.

Following are some simple solid waste control ideas:

· Avoiding unnecessary paperwork,

· Canceling junk mail,

· Reusing scrap paper for notes,

· Using electronic mail or voice mail over hard copy mail,

· Solid waste management program,

· Recycling all office paper,

· Double- sided photocopying in order to reduce paper use,

· Using refillable cartridge tones,

· Using white paper rather than colored paper for recycling,

· Using fax machines that use both plain and recyclable paper,

· Awareness and involvement of office employees in all stages of Recycling Program