Supporting Hospitality Sustainability - 'The GREEN Event' - By Scott Parisi

I have been involved in the planning of an upcoming event that will be held in Dallas Texas this October. Looking over the speaker matrix of contributors I realized the support that is available to hoteliers today compared to fifteen years ago is incredible.

I started my journey in the Green Hotel Industry in 2001 as GM of the first LEED Hotel in the United States. I remember researching environmentally friendly cleaning products and finding out there were hardly any choices available for commercial applications and the cost was unsustainable. Even trying to identify a waste handler that would support our recycling program was nearly impossible. The cost of a CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) was over $15 back then and now you can purchase for $2. LED lamps are available today for less than $10 guaranteed for 5 years.

Today the Green Hotel Industry has more awareness than ever before. The advancements in technology, research into more environmentally conscious cleaning solutions and good competition bringing down pricing for green products and solutions have all been drivers that have fueled this awareness we experience today. Another major factor driving the awareness within the Green Hospitality Sector is PEOPLE. I would like to share with you a few individuals that are Supporting Hospitality Sustainability and that will be all together in one place this October at The Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference.

Collaborating Experts - The Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference

Some of the most passionate and dedicated professionals within the green hospitality industry will be in attendance for the premier educational green lodging event of the year. The first annual Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference will be held at the Omni Dallas, TX October 1^st through the 3^rd 2013. Robert F. Kennedy JR. will be the Keynote Speaker opening this incredible event, then the event will continue featuring dozens of experienced experts that serve the sustainable hospitality industry every day.

The Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference is a three-day event that offers hotel owners and executives valuable information for creating and operating eco-friendly lodging properties. Attendees will hear from leaders and experts in sustainability who will share insights about attaining green certifications, implementing energy management best practices, and the benefits that come with investing in sustainable properties. Panels and breakout sessions will also cover topics including the latest advancements in green design, corporate responsibility programs, and how to market eco-friendly hotels. In addition, the event will feature a dynamic exhibit area where attendees can connect with leading hospitality green suppliers.

Speaker Highlight: Dan Ruben - Boston Green Tourism

Dan Ruben is Executive Director for Boston Green Tourism; Dan holds monthly educational seminars for his Boston Member Hotels and will be one of the educational speakers this October at the Green & Sustainability Conference in Dallas. Dan has been supporting the Boston Hospitality Industry for years and his results are amazing. I spoke with Dan and he said, his primary goal is “To help Greater Boston hotels and convention centers determine their environmental goals, improve their environmental performance and increase the number of green-certified facilities in the Boston area.

Here are some fruits of Dan’s labor:

• Thirty-five Boston area hotels have at least one green certification, including 11 hotels that have multiple certifications. That's very impressive!
• The most popular certifications are Energy Star (17), Green Key (15) and TripAdvisor (14).
• Energy Star will become increasingly visible, because Boston, many other U.S. cities and the state of California have committed to posting the Energy Star scores for commercial buildings.

Dina Belon-Sayre “Maintaining Sustainable Practices”

Dina Belon-Sayre is one of several hoteliers coming together in October to support hospitality sustainability. Dina will be moderating a panel that will discuss “Maintaining Sustainable Practices”. Dina serves as the sustainability and energy specialist at The Peabody Orlando, where she works to achieve the highest level of sustainability in hotel operations. As a director of the U.S. Green Building Council Central Florida Chapter and director of the Green Destination Orlando program, she works to promote sustainable operations throughout the hospitality industry.

Dina a LEED Accredited Professional with an ID&C specialty with 20 years’ experience in interior design, project management, brand quality and resort rehabilitation.

A hotelier’s perspective can be invaluable when investigating sustainable solutions. Chris Brophy VP of Sustainability, MGM Resorts Int’l, Mark Schneider General Manager at Hostelling International DC and Scott Larsen, CHA the General Manager at Sheraton Dallas North will all be supporting Dina in the discussion of “Maintaining Sustainable Practices”.

Glenn Hasek Publisher and Editor of Green Lodging News

Glenn Hasek’s has been investigating, writing and communicating the most current and credible Green Hotel News to the industry since 2006. Glen brings a wealth of information and knowledge to the Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference. The scoop Glenn will be creating in Dallas this October will be driving discussions based on “Sustainable Success Stories”. The panel is chucked full of hospitality experts including our host Larry Magor; Managing Director of the LEED GOLD Certified Omni Dallas. Rishi Shah is Asset Manager of the Wyndham Philadelphia and has executed a Solar PV project that financially speaks for itself. Bennett Thomas VP Finance & Sustainability at Hersha Hospitality Trust brings a portfolio perspective on hospitality sustainability. This session will be GREAT! My Don’t Miss session of the event.

Glenn is publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, a weekly e-mail newsletter reaching thousands of readers. www.greenlodgingnews.com receives more than one million total visits annually.

Hasek, who has been quoted in many national news publications on green travel, launched Green Lodging News in July 2006. He has almost 20 years of writing and editing experience in the lodging industry. He has received numerous professional awards for his work and has been a featured speaker and moderator at many lodging industry events—green lodging conferences, HD Expo, brand conventions, and the International Hotel/Motel + Restaurant Show. Hasek is also president of Hasek Communications L.L.C., a publishing and public relations consulting company.

Green Lodging News is a co-host of the Lodging Green and Sustainability Conference and Expo.

Ray Burger “Sustainable Guest Comfort”

Ray Burger will be moderating a great panel this year at the Green & Sustainability Conference. Ray’s panel will be discussing “Sustainable Guest Comfort” and will include panelists Jeff Laster of Pure Room and Diana Dobin, President of Valley Forge Fabrics. If I know Ray we will also see a surprise panelist for this one.

Ray is founder of Pineapple Hospitality and his roots run deep in the green hospitality industry. Ray’s background includes 20+ years of managing green hotels and 10+ years of providing products, programs, and services to the lodging industry. “We provide products and solutions that improve guest satisfaction, increase profitability, reduce environmental impact and/or improve the health and well being of your staff and guests. “Throughout his career, Ray has maintained a consistent approach to enhancing guest satisfaction, while remaining focused on bottom-line profitability.

I look forward to collaborating and learning from all of the contributors and attendees at this year’s event, Hope to see you in Dallas.

For more information on the Lodging Green and Sustainability Conference or if you are looking for Support in your sustainability efforts please contact me at sparisi@ecogreenhotel.com or 888.229.0213.

About the Author

Scott Parisi is President of EcoGreenHotel, a firm that develops energy and sustainability projects for commercial buildings with a large focus on the hospitality sector. As President of EGH, Scott’s day to day responsibilities include developing and implementation of energy and sustainability strategies into hotels, leveraging federal state and local utility incentives to subsidies projects and building partnerships with like minded companies that add value to EGH’s client base. Additionally, Scott develops and hosts educational workshops, staff trainings and has spoke at national and regional events including AAHOA’s National Convention, Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference, Boston Green Tourism Events, Philagreen Hospitality Association Events, GF Management University Sessions, National Purchasing Network Annual Expo and the Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit.