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Jessica Schwec

FIFA and the environment - FIFA.com - 1 views

    • Jessica Schwec
       
      FIFA has been working progressively on green initiatives. The organization has increasingly focused on environmental management at the World Cup with the upmost attention being paid to the 2018/2022 Word Cups beginning with the bid process.
  • Issues such as global warming, environmental conservation and sustainable management are a concern for FIFA, not only in regards to FIFA World Cups™, but also in relation to FIFA as an organisation.
  • FIFA has encouraged and engaged with Local Organising Committees (LOC) in regard to environmental protection since 2005 when the German LOC launched the Green Goal environmental programme for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™.
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  • Inspired by Green Goal 2006 and by previous experiences with major international events in South Africa, the South African LOC developed a Green Goal programme for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
  • The LOC for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™ launched the Green Goal 2011 programme in early 2010, building on the experiences from 2006 to expand the environmental project.
  • In assuring its commitment to the environment in the future, FIFA decided to include environmental protection in future bidding agreements, starting with the bidding process for the FIFA World Cups™ in 2018 and 2022. FIFA requested comprehensive information on the activities planned to avoid, reduce and offset the negative environmental impacts of hosting the FIFA World Cup™.
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    FIFA has paid noticeable attention to the environmental impact of the World Cup since the 2006 World Cup and green management has increased with every World Cup since with the biggest plans already staged for years 2018 and 2022. The Green Goal environmental program has been in effect since 2005 when FIFA partnered with Local Organizing Committees (LOCs) in order to champion green initiatives. This program has been adapted for every World Cup since. The program combines the resources of host cities, governmental departments, local environmentalists and international partners. Now, FIFA is implementing green initiatives into the bidding process for 2018 and 2022 by requesting information pertaining to the reduction and control of negative environmental impacts from bidders prior to making a decision on where to host the World Cup. In my opinion, FIFA has adequately worked towards environmental sustainability over the past ten years and has powerful plans to continue and improve green initiatives going forward. Previously, the indoctrination of the Green Goal program in 2005 laid the foundation for green goals and growth. Each subsequent World Cup has relied on a Green Goal program to set and measure environmental initiatives. Also, FIFA has already begun working on the Green Goal for 2018 and 2022 by requiring potential host destinations to incorporate environmental sustainability into the management structure of the mega-event. Management is required to set measurable objectives in six key areas: water, waste, energy, transportation, procurement and climate change. In addition, potential host destinations are required to plan and explain how they will incorporate stakeholders and the community via an Environmental Advisory Board. All of these aspects must be outlined in the bid submitted for consideration by FIFA and will be weighed heavily during the host location decision process.
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    FIFA's decision to use involved green standards as part of the bidding process for World Cups 2018 and 2022 is ingenious. The rigorous standards and expectations eliminate cities that are unwilling or unable to do the research and prep work required for the environmental concerns associated with such a large and prestigious event. However, these same circumstances caused increased competition between the remaining cities and come with some sort of financial cost. The increased competition between potential host cities and the associated higher costs pertaining to the implementation of green strategies may be seen as negatives to involved commercial/government entities and community conservatives. The following comparison explains how this may be so. Companies often design buildings with minimal closets despite having a large need for storage space. The philosophy behind this is "closets don't make money." On the contrary, entertainments space (i.e. Casinos), larger sales floors (i.e. Car Dealerships) and management offices are all spaces in which money is generate and therefore income is maximized by maximizing the "money-generating space" and minimizing spaces (i.e. closets) that do not do so. Similarly, green initiatives guarantee extra expenses and do not generate a significantly increased income. Some entities may view green initiatives as "closets." In conclusion, FIFA is a powerful force in the green initiative campaign. The organization has worked tirelessly the last 15 years to implement and improve environmental initiatives related to the World Cup. Despite the outside chance that a significant portion of the population will view green initiatives as costly non-necessities, I believe that FIFA's Green Goal program will be a success. It provides an expanding platform for each subsequent Word Cup by requiring environmental initiatives to be implemented at the management level and begin at the earliest point possible: bidding.
Jing Huang

Tracking Green Initiatives via Business Intelligence - 0 views

  • Green initiatives not only save costs, meet compliance requirements, and reuse resources, but they also help create brand recognition among customers.
  • The benefits that expand beyond the organization include what occurs within the company as well. Whether managing recycling programs, reusing raw materials, lowering consumption, etc. businesses require a way to monitor these initiatives and to identify ways of becoming more efficient over time. This is where the use of BI and analytics comes in.
  • One of the chief benefits of business intelligence is its ability to consolidate information and provide greater insight into operations.  In addition BI helps organizations monitor performance across business units and can be applied to a broad variety of problems. For organizations looking at applying this to energy usage, managing emissions, or electricity consumption in data centers, BI expansion provides a good way to start the process.
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  • Comfort with dashboard use.
  • Current BI infrastructure and data preparation.
  • Companies that are thinking of expanding their BI to include green initiatives should consider the following points:
  • Current green initiatives.
  • Setting realistic goals and expectations.
  • Company priorities are shifting towards cost savings and becoming more environmentally aware and business intelligence can help to achieve these goals.
  • This article identifies the importance of green initiatives within operations and how to link them to available BI solutions.
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    This article identifies the importance of green initiatives within operations and how to link them to available BI solutions. By specifically looking at analytics organizations can assess how they are meeting targets and monitor their performance in relation to their "green" goals. This article also discusses considerations related to expanding BI use to include green initiatives.
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    Company priorities are shifting towards cost savings and becoming more environmentally aware and business intelligence can help to achieve these goals. BI's ability to monitor performance and alert decision makers about changes in behavior makes it a complementary approach to organizations wanting to become more eco-friendly. Although BI applications are well poised to fill this need, businesses still require a roadmap to successfully tie-in their BI use with their green initiatives. Outside of technology adoption and lowering energy consumption, organizations also support social action initiatives and invest in R&D efforts that work towards more environmentally friendly products and internal processes. This in turn has a broader effect on the environment at large. The benefits that expand beyond the organization include what occurs within the company as well. Whether managing recycling programs, reusing raw materials, lowering consumption, etc. businesses require a way to monitor these initiatives and to identify ways of becoming more efficient over time. This is where the use of BI and analytics comes in.
ravicka

TripAdvisor launches green initiative for sustainable travel - Blue and Green Tomorrow - 0 views

  • Jenny Rushmore, director of responsible travel at TripAdvisor, said, “We know a lot of travellers in Europe want to be savvy about the eco-friendly choices they make on holiday but they don’t always know where to go to find that information. “What makes TripAdvisor GreenLeaders so useful is that we are now providing travellers with an easy way to compare hotels’ green practices alongside the millions of reviews already on the site.”
  • John Alker, director of policy and communications at UK Green Building Council, added, “For the hotel and leisure sector, going green is not only the right thing to do, it’s just good business. Green should be viewed as another aspect of quality.
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    As people continue to move towards a lifestyle that is sustainable and eco-friendly so to are their choices re travel. Llaria Bertini in her ariticle "TripAdvisor launches green initiative for sustainable travel" highlights how the popular travel site TripAdvisor has launched an initiative to assist European travelers in making hotel choices that suit their lifestyle. The initiative called "TripAdvisor Green Leaders" came about as a result of travelers need to stay at more eco-friendly accomodation. Despite that need they had difficulty in obtaining information about hotel practices. Jenny Rushmore, director of responsible travel at TripAdvisor said "We know a lot of travellers in Europe want to be savvy about eco-friendly choices they make on holiday but they don't alwyas know where to go to find that information, " thus the initiative was born. Trip Advisor came on board to provide information for travelers re hotel Green practices , to compare offerings of various hotels as well as to provide reviews not only based on what the hoteliers would provide but from the perspective of persons who would have had a first hand experience at the property. As going green becomes a more acceptable approach for many things in various areas of our lives the hospitality and tourism industry is no exception. As John Alker,director of policy and communication at UK Green Building Council said " For the hotel and leisure sector, going green is not only the right thing to do, its just good business. " TripAdvisor initiative allows us to know which properties are taking the steps towards sustatainability in one place.
Kassandra Baumgardner

Do hotels need to green up, make their guests happy and healthy? | Reuters - 0 views

  • A hotel stay might have once been thought of as an opportunity to overindulge on rich buffet food, multiple luxuriant baths and mini-bar nightcaps, but is the modern business traveller more likely to demand gluten-free breakfasts, in-room yoga mats and a green-energy policy?
  • The initiative will, its proponents hope, help to achieve consistency in the way hotels report their emissions.
  • Farrant said that though he is not yet seeing a sufficient degree of customer maturity or interest in making purchase decisions based around environmental considerations, the initiative "is starting to drive public sector procurement and corporate purchase decisions."
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    Trends in the hospitality industry are changing. Hotels were once considered the place to indulge and splurge a little, but now we are beginning to see hotels change their approach to attracting customers. Properties around the world have begun to make changes that are reducing their carbon footprint, but those changes cannot always be seen by the guest. This means that many guests do not even realize that its happening. Many changes will begin to happen as customers express their concerns more publicly. Surveys are showing that a growing number of guests want to see green initiatives within hotels, and wouldn't mind paying a little more to stay at green hotels. There is work being done to measure a customer's carbon footprint and this knowledge will give hotels some consistency in the way they report their emissions. Although still in its early stages, green initiatives provide great marketing opportunities for hotels, and they are starting to see that they can attract more people through these initiatives. Green Initiatives are will continue to becomes increasingly more popular for guests. As guests continue to become aware of the effects of their carbon footprint they are going to look for ways to help reduce it. One area will be in the hospitality industry. This is a great opportunity for hotels to increase profits, by marketing to this type of traveler.
anonymous

The Hotel Show 2012 brings green initiatives to the forefront | Hotel Show | AMEinfo.com - 0 views

  • The Hotel Show brings the Green Initiative to the forefront
  • highlight sustainable, energy efficient and eco-friendly solutions from all sectors of the industry.
  • Sustainable products and services range from soft furnishings to in-room cosmetics, water filtration systems and lighting solutions.
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  • successful sustainability initiatives in energy reduction, waste management solutions, carbon footprint measurement, and an outline of sustainable certifications being recognised around the world.
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    The Hotel Show has put it focus into green initiatives and businesses that present the products to help businesses in the hospitality sector to "go green." The show brings in businesses and hosts seminars that help hospitality-based businesses make their "green" contribution by buying products and conducting practices that yield results like reducing energy output.
Mirta Echazabal

How it can go green and Green initiatives - 1 views

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    Opportunities for adopting green initiatives are becoming more and more common in the hospitality industry. IT updates and implementations have become a sustainable practice to reduce cost, provide a better guest satisfaction and environmentally friendly. One of the ways to start off the green initiatives is by effectively reducing energy and paper consumption; this gets done by using smart phones to replace key cards and using emails to reduce paper flow. Another green initiative is the effective technology practice such as energy star which is the system that powers down a computer automatically after it has not been used for a period of time. The use of digital media (social media) instead of print media is a fantastic way to save money while lowering the impact on the environment. Green initiatives are coming up pretty fast and are required to have a strong commitment but all vary depending on the size of organization, demand of business and location of doing business. I have seen many hotels implementing green initiatives in their facilities which at first can become extremely costly but in the long term very cost effective and environmentally friendly and expand the guest experience. I have seen hotels that have a HVAC system which senses the presence of someone in the room, this system puts the AC temperature high when room is vacant and lowers the temperature when it is occupied. Additionally the lighting of the room works the same; it turns on when someone is present and automatically turns off when the room is vacant. Just these two initiatives alone can save the property millions of dollars in a period of a year. In my opinion, going green is a great way to benefit every one involved, the guest, the environment, and cost efficient (long term) for hoteliers. The green initiative has not yet been a giant boom, but in a few years a larger amount of guest will prefer to stay in a green environmental friendly hotel then with a non green hotel. I believ
marylauren1717

Motel.com Launches The Green Hotel Initiative | Virtual-Strategy Magazine - 0 views

  • Motel.com is an environmentally conscious company, and felt that it was the right thing to do to launch an initiative to make it easy for folks looking for a “Green Hotel”.
  • Motel.com is now maintaining a “green-feature” search, listing all of the Hotels and Motels that are Eco Friendly, and considered friends of the environment. Many such facilities listed in this new Green Hotel Section are actually Certified by the Greenkey Eco-Rating System, administered by Green Key Global. This new site improvement will now identify those Eco Friendly Hotels, as well as show the best rates.
  • The company reports that many Americans are now aware of the benefits of living an environmentally sound life, and want to be a contributor to further this concept. They know that conserving water, electricity, and natural gas can have a huge economic impact. When people are living this sustainable lifestyle at home, they would like to continue it when they travel. Staying at a “Green Hotel” is a natural choice for them.
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    Motel.com has now launched an initiative to allow customers to search for green hotels. Before this plan was put into action, customers who possessed that green thumb were unable to decipher which properties would meet their sustainable criteria. With a new "green feature" search, Motel.com lists all of the Hotels and Motels that are considered Eco Friendly or friends of the environment which efforts such as conserving water, electricity and natural gas. These properties listed as Eco Friendly are certified by the Greenkey Eco-Rating System by Green Key Global. "The Green Key Eco-Rating Program and Green Key Meetings Program are graduated rating systems designed to recognize green hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental and fiscal performance." With Americans becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, stay in an Eco Friendly Motel or Hotel has become a priority. Indeed, when I travel, I like to stay at a hotel that is better than my home. With these new initiatives in the back of my mind, staying at a certified Eco Friendly hotel would definitely meet my criteria. 
Yaping Li

Green Business Initiative - Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland - 0 views

shared by Yaping Li on 22 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • The Green Business Initiative is an inter-linked suite of projects, specifically aimed at helping enterprises save money and help to reduce their environmental impacts.
  • The projects aim to actively help enterprises to become more “resource efficient”. This means that they will use less energy, less water and less raw materials, in turn producing less waste and costing the business less money. It’s a great example of the Green Economy in action and a real win-win situation. 
  • The Green Hospitality Programme (GHP) is a range of projects specifically aimed at the tourism and hospitality industry. 
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  • Utilising the capacity and techniques perfected in the Green Hospitality Award and greenbusiness.ie project, the National Waste Prevention Programme is working with healthcare providers to look at water and energy use and waste production, with a special emphasis on food waste. By investigating areas where efficiencies can be made, often through simple "no" and low cost procedures, real savings can be generated for hospitals.
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    This article introduces some green business initiative that is the projects to help enterprises use less resource to make money. With the development of the society, it is more important for us to protect the environment. The green business initiative is a good example to protect the environment. The article shows the greenbusiness.ie project offer an effective tool to help the company not only reduce the cost but also reduce the pollution. It also introduce the project that aimed to help hospitality industry solve the save resource problem. It list some projects like Green Festivals, Less Food Waste, More Profit to prove these program already save more money and resource. The Green Healthcare and SMILE (Saving Money through Industrial Linkage and Exchanges) are the other two examples of green business initiative.
Godelieve Olibrice

Marriott Partners with Energy Leaders to Lower Carbon Footprint in Europe - 1 views

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    This article is about the effort of Marriott Hotels to reduce the usage of CO2 in their hotels throughout Europe. This is an ongoing effort of the corporation to remain competitive while protecting the environment. The first phase of the initiative was to install smart metering, high quality data, use of LED lighting and the combined heat and power to monitor energy consumption. Additionally, this initiative will allow associates to track their energy consumption and build awareness among the hotels. This initiative by Marriott hotels could be implemented across all their properties and more hotel leaders should follow this initiative without affecting guests' satisfaction.
mjbengo04

10 "Green" Hotel Initiatives Every Event Planner Should Know About - 0 views

  • As environmental concerns and the popularity of eco-friendly practices like green meetings continue to increase, it’s important for meeting and event planners to continually expand their own knowledge of sustainability, particularly as it relates to the venues, vendors, and the work of other event services professionals.
  • Understanding these green hotel initiatives can offer event planners more to consider when selecting hotels for their client's programs whether as a venue for the event itself or as the choice for overnight accommodations for out-of-town guests.
  • Just a few years ago, RockResorts, along with its director of environmental affairs decided upon ten initiatives to adopt within Vail Resorts’ hotels and properties as their sustainable practices starting point. These ten initiatives have since become the norm for hotels looking to offer more sustainable services.
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  • From central operations such as boilers to lighting systems, kitchen equipment, and automated energy management systems, hotels globally are working to reduce energy use while sustaining
  • Efforts include the linen and towel reuse programs that are now an industry standard to installation of low-flow faucets, showerheads, and other fixtures.
  • Many hotels are making a statement by offering guests custom formulated amenities.
  • Many hotel companies are shifting to card options made from paper, wood, and bioplastic that are better for the environment but equally as durable.
  • Recognizing the importance of safer products for guests and employees as well as the natural environment, many hotels have shifted to cleaning products that are made with bio-based oils and other natural cleaners.
  • A shift to more sustainable and healthier cuisine offers travelers unique opportunities to experience a greater connection to the locations they are visiting in a more sustainable way
  • Hotels and resorts are integrating more and more selections in menus of all types that integrate organic produce, hormone free meats and dairy, and other natural products that offer guests healthier food selections.
  • A growing trend with all types of spas is the integration of treatments that feature local and indigenous ingredients as well as natural and organic products.
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    According to Rob Hard, sustainability awareness has grown quite substantially. Now it is a must for for all employees in the industry, not only leaders, to extend their knowledge in sustainability practices. This article focuses on event planners and how understanding a hotel green initiatives can help make their selection of a hotel to be in the clients interest. Nowadays, hotels are slowly transitioning into becoming a green hotel for this reason. Some few initiatives that were talked about were the following: energy conservation, water conservation, bottled water alternatives, and recycling and waste reduction.
Maria Zuniga

Restaurants Serve New Sustainability Initiatives | GreenBiz - 0 views

  • The National Restaurant Association (NRA) wants to lighten its industry's environmental impacts with a new initiative aimed at helping restaurateurs implement eco-friendly business practices.
  • All restaurants, no matter how large or small -- from big corporations with thousands of franchised locations to small, independent neighborhood eateries -- can do their part, at the pace they can sustain, to reduce our industry's impact on the environment and conserve resources for future generations,
  • The NRA's Conserve initiative will include a website with advice for restaurants, as well as case studies, best practices and no-cost ideas.
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  • The GRA also will serve as a resource for PepsiCo Foodservice customers interested in environmental site assessments, cost-benefit analyses and opportunities to incorporate sustainability into their operations.
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    This article is very interesting because it talks about the green initiatives restaurants want to take. It is very important for the hospitality industry to be pioneers to taking green initiatives using IT. It is beneficial not only to the environment, but also to the customers to operate more efficiently. This change will help future generations. Business as usual will not be acceptable or will be less profitable. Companies need to react to the new trends of eco friendly products and services.
bhern082

Sustainable cruise ships: a look at the sector's most eco-friendly initiatives - 1 views

  • Oceania and Regent wage war on single-use plastics
  • In partnership with eco-friendly water company Vero Water, Oceania has pledged to eliminate millions of plastic water bottles every year as part of its OceaniaNEXT enhancement and the company’s larger Sail & Sustain environmental programme.
  • The Vero Water service will be implemented in two phases, with the first focusing on installing the onboard water service in suites, staterooms, restaurants, lounges and bars. During phase two, all guests will be provided with their own re-useable Vero Water bottle which will be theirs to keep
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  • The next phase in executing a broader reduction in our plastic packaging requires an industry-wide mandate to our suppliers to explore sustainable alternatives
  • The following month, Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) – which, like Oceania, is part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
  • ’ stable of brands – announced it will become the first luxury ocean cruise line to eliminate single-use plastic bottles, having recently got rid of single-use plastic straw
  • From 2020, IMO regulations will require ships to change from heavy sulphur fuel to more expensive low-sulphur alternatives with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5%, compared with the current 3.5%.
  • many operators are opting to install exhaust cleaning systems,
  • We continue to explore alternative fuel options, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel cells
  • The beauty of fuel cells is that they produce electricity with zero carbon footprint – the only emission is water
  • Our goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2020; through our investment in advanced emission purification systems, we have already reduced them by 25%
  • Le Commandant Charcot, will be the world’s first electric hybrid polar exploration ship powered by LNG – in addition to electric and battery power – opening up destinations hitherto only accessible to polar exploration vessels
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    Sustainability or green initiatives are becoming more popular within the cruise line industry. From icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas, to community-friendly itineraries and initiatives designed to eliminate millions of plastic water bottles every year, international cruise operators are catching up with consumer demands for more environmentally aware travel. Oceania and Regent have gone away with single use plastics by providing guests with eco friendly water system. Linblad Expeditions is asking its suppliers to explore sustainable alternatives. Regulations will require ships to change from heavy sulphur fuel to more expensive low-sulphur alternatives. WE go on to learn about different fuel cleaning processes that the cruise lines are implementing to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, Lastly we see that LNG has created an icebreaker that runs on electric and battery power when in polar exploration. These are just a few of the ways cruise lines are implementing more sustainable practices.
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    That is fantastic news that cruise lines are starting to make more of an initiative to eliminating their carbon footprint. I have been curious as to how cruise lines can take more green initiatives because they carry such a large carbon footprint that has a huge effect on our environment. Technology and ships like the Le Commandant Charcot are huge steps in reducing carbon emissions.
jfuen093

10 Sustainability Initiatives Being Embraced by Hotels - 2 views

  • Many hotels, from the budget-friendly to the luxurious, are taking steps to make their practices more sustainable.
  • Whether in central operations such as boilers, or with lighting systems, kitchen equipment, and automated energy management systems, hotels globally are working to reduce energy use while sustaining—and, whenever possible, enhancing—the guest experience.
  • Efforts range from the linen and towel reuse programs that are now an industry standard to the installation of low-flow faucets, showerheads, and other fixtures.
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  • In support of waste reduction and a higher-quality experience, many hotels are moving away from bottled water as the standard and offering unique hydration options for meeting attendees and independent travelers
  • From property-wide initiatives to guest rooms, food and beverage, or spas, event planners should be asking their hotels about what specific efforts are being made to be more sustainable.
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    It's important to build sustainability facility in the hotel. It's a future trend to build a green hotel and sustain the eco-friendly environment. There are many ways to do physical plants. Water consumption Within guest rooms, laundries, kitchens, pools, and spas, hotels continue to phase inefficiencies that reduce water and, in many cases, chemicals that are used to treat water systems and clean facilities. Efforts include the linen and towel reuse programs that are now an industry standard to the installation of low-flow faucets, showerheads, and other fixtures. Hotel Recycling and Waste Reduction With the limited exception for domestic hotels, recycling programs for the basics such as newspapers and beverage containers are becoming a basic expectation. In combination with the recycling efforts, hotels are looking for opportunities to reduce the use of paper and other disposables. Hotels and resorts that can go beyond to implement food waste composting programs can demonstrate waste diverted from the landfill upwards of 40-50%. Hotel Bath Amenities Many hotels are making a statement by offering guests custom formulated amenities. Resort companies such as RockResorts have taken it one step further with an all-natural, essential oil-based custom formulated product made without preservatives and artificial ingredients that are packaged in recyclable containers. Other midrange hotel brands are experimenting with bulk dispenser presentations.
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    This article discusses that as time continues to progress, more and more hotels, as well as other hospitality/tourism places are starting to implement more "eco-friendly initiatives" into their businesses for the satisfaction of the customers. It is important for the hospitality to be able to adapt in the sense of increasing their "green initiatives." Some hotels have begun doing so by, linen and towel reuse programs, low-flow faucets and shower heads, recycling programs, and much more. Implementing these actions can only benefit the industry/businesses in the long run.
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    This is a great summary of what event planners are looking for in hotels - "Green Initiatives" that include energy use, water bottle reduction, menu planning, waste management, recycle programs, etc. Very easy to read and recommend for green topic areas for research papers.
Charlesque Moses

Are "Green Initiatives" in Hotels Bogus? Hotel Workers Think So : TreeHugger - 0 views

  • The hotel users get a few bucks back because they are not paying for services that they don't feel they need; the hotel saves a few bucks and a lot of water and electricity; everybody wins except the guys at the bottom who do the dirty work.
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    This article contains the belief that the "green initiatives" of the hotels are more for saving the company money than saving our planet. The article continues to tell how some hotels give their customers rewards for not requiring housekeeping assistance. This leaves the question of whether this initiative is actually saving the company money or harming the employment of the housekeeping staff. I believe that going green is a proper step to take, especially looking at today's economy. Going green could improve our environment. However, this is not what I am seeing in today's companies. The companies are too reliant on profit. So, they use the green initiative as a way to actually cut costs, without actually going green. Companies should focus more on how the green initiative will affect the world as a whole in the future instead of completely focusing on profiting for now. Focusing on profit and covering it with the supposed green initiative will only drive up unemployment and create more problems with today's economy.
Marcos Oliveira

LEED Certification and Other Green Initiatives Can Be Hotel Marketing Coups , by Carl R... - 0 views

  • from becoming airborne. Green Seal is a non-profit
  • prevent particles from becoming airborne. Green Seal is a non-profit, third-party certifier
  • n the United States, hotels represent more than 5 billion square feet of space, nearly 5 million guest rooms, and close to $4 billion in annual energy use
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  • January 2010, only 40 hospitality properties have achieved so-called LEED
  • certification.
  • LEED is a voluntary, third-party green building certification program that awards points to buildings for satisfying certain green building criteria. In order to be LEED-certified, a building has to implement a plan to reduce building operating costs, its environmental footprint, and resource consumption such as water and energy use.
  • developed by the U.S. Green Building Council
  • non-profit organization
  • intended to provide building owners and operators a basic framework for identifying and employing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions
  • LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance are the programs which have the most applicability to hospitality projects.
  • In addition, each rating system, including LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, is organized into six credit categories
  • sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality and innovation in operations.
  • Once the essential prerequisites are satisfied, developers can thereafter chose which optional credits to pursue in order to obtain certification. Certification levels start at Certified and increase to Silver, Gold and Platinum designations.
  • first hotel to receive LEED Platinum Certification was the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Proximity Hotel uses 39% less energy and 33% less water then a comparable sized hotel. In addition, the Proximity Hotel was able to recycle 87% of its construction debris
  • By using highly reflective concrete and/or open grid pavers, hospitality companies can help reduce the summer cooling loads for their building, which in turn reduces energy use and pollution generation.
  • installation of 100 solar panels on the roof, which heat about 60% of the hotel and the hotel restaurant’s water; use of geothermal energy for the restaurant’s refrigeration equipment; and installation of the Regenerative Drive model of the Otis’ Gen2 elevator which reduces net energy usage by capturing the elevator’s energy and then feeding it back to the hotel’s electrical grid
  • Many hospitality companies have already introduced green initiatives, such as the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, offering linen and towel reuse programs as well as various recycling programs
  • Not only are these green initiatives environmentally responsible, but should a hospitality company at some future point seek LEED certification, these green initiatives would earn them points in furtherance of the certification process
  • Paving Parking Lots with Highly Reflective Materials or Open Grid Pavers
  • purchased 40% of the building materials and 90% of its furniture locally and even restored 700 feet of an adjacent stream. Proximity’s most impressive features, however, include:
  • Installing High-Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures
  • Landscaping with Native Plant Species
  • native plants reduce more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than traditional mowed grass due to their extensive root systems and increased ability to retain and store water
  • Green Cleaning – Using Sustainable Cleaning Products, Materials and Equipment
  • A green cleaning program may include the use of Green Seal Certified household cleaners, Green Seal Certified laundry products, micro-fiber cloths, and dual motor vacuum cleaners with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters that prevent particles from becoming airborne. Green Seal is a non-profit, third-party certifier
  • third-party certifier
  • Using Local Materials and Goods
  • While not every hotel or hospitality company may be in the financial position to seek LEED certification or undertake costly capital expenditures, there are numerous green initiatives that each and every hospitality company should be considering to improve their efficiencies while also attracting green conscious consumers
  • A simple Google search of “hotels” and “green initiatives” returns more than 27,000,000 hits
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    In the United States, hotels represent more than 5 billion square feet of space, nealry 5 million guest rooms and approxiamtely $4 billion in annual energy use. As of January 2010, there were only 40 hotels that were LEED certified. The acronym LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a voluntary, third party green building certification program that awards points to buildings depending on their sustainable practice being implemented which includes building improvements, environemntal footprint and water and energy use. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization. Its main purpose is to provide building owners and operators with a basic framework for developing and implementing sustainable practices. The first hotel to ever be certified according to LEED criteria was the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC. This hote received Platnium status for being able to recycle 87% of its construction debris, purchasing 40% of the building materials and 90% of its furniture locally. Installation of 100 solar panels, use of geothermal energy for the restaurant's refrigeration equipment and instllation of a Regenerative Drive model for its elevators made the Proximity Hotel a benchmark hotel. There are several practices that can make a hotel conserve energy and make it sustainable such as using flourescent lightbulbs, offering linen and towel reuse programs, paving parkig lots with highly reflective materials or open grid pavers, installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, landscaping with native plants and using local materials and goods. These will not necessarily lead to LEED certification but will definitely earn points towards obtaining that accredidation. The use of sustainable practices not only helps conserve the environment but also saves money in the long run. Through water conservation techniques, recycling and linen and towel reuse programs, the hospitality industry wins two-fold,
delaneyverger

New York Hotels Make a Green Pledge - The New York Times - 0 views

  • Marquee properties like the Waldorf Astoria New York, Grand Hyatt New York, Loews Regency New York and the Peninsula New York recently joined the NYC Carbon Challenge, a program Michael R. Bloomberg started as mayor in 2007 with the city’s universities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
  • This initial group of properties — accounting for more than 11,000 guest rooms — has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions from their buildings by 30 percent or more in the next 10 years, a move that could reduce emissions by more than 32,000 metric tons and save $25 million of energy operating costs.
  • Similar to the Grand Hyatt, other NYC Carbon Challenge hotels may have to financially invest in energy conserving upgrades, but their leadership realizes that they will save money in the long run.
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  • Like the Waldorf, tackling the issue of greenhouse gas emissions was already a priority for several of the properties before becoming a part of the NYC Carbon Challenge, but now they’re intensifying their efforts.
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    This article talks about a group of New York City hotels that have pledged to become greener. Seventeen hotels have joined the NYC Carbon Challenge, an initiative originally created to get the city's universities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These hotels have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% in the next ten years, which can significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the city's buildings. This is all in an effort to reduce the city's overall greenhouse gas emissions 80% by the year 2050. The Office of Sustainability worked with the Hotel Association of New York City, a coalition of hotels in the city, to get this first group of hotels involved with this green initiative. The hotels that have already started working towards making their property greener are already on the right track to meeting their goals and these implementations will involve minor construction and little hindrance to guests. The article talks about some of the changes that these hotels are making, such as changing to LED light bulbs, installing more energy-efficient elevators, implementing sensors that turn off bathroom lights after a certain period of inactivity, and using an energy-conserving air-conditioning system. Although these changes will cost the hotels a hefty sum of front, they also know that these changes will save them money in the long run. Most of these changes will not be visible or known to guests, but people who want to stay someplace that is environmentally-conscious can educate themselves about what these hotels are doing.
cmogu001

Google's Green Initiative: Environmentally Conscious Technology - 1 views

  • Progress depends on radical innovation
  • the company still released information detailing the progress of its environmentally-friendly initiatives.
  • an application plug-in that would help automobiles determine where you are going,
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  • This technology, called Prediction, maximizes fuel and power consumption, which effectively reduces carbon emissions
  • Google has made its environmentally-conscious initiatives well-known
  • French authorities have used Google’s mapping services to determine agricultural regions that should face water restrictions.
  • Google would be nowhere without its data centers.
  • managing to half their data center energy use through practical thinking, using the excess energy to power office complexes, Google has effectively cut down on its environmental impact.
  • Google is now providing information to indigenous tribes on deforestation, giving them the ability to track and prevent the atrocity from taking place.
  • cutting down on the emissions of data farms or having goats roam Google’s campus to eliminate the need for fertilizer and lawn mowers, the company has always strived to cut down on greenhouse gases.
  • Google’s long-term goal of running entirely on renewable energy is growing closer and closer.
  • Google is constantly searching for ways to ensure that it never consumes excessive gas.
  • Instead of trying to purge carbon from its systems, Google invests in “off-setting” its carbon emissions by investing in green initiatives that would not have the funding to survive otherwise.
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    This article expounds how Google is contributing to the future green advancements of the world by implementing them in their every day operations. Although developing next-generation consumer electronics is an extremely lucrative sector of technology, Google has shifted their thinking away from the immediate consumer electronics field, moving towards the development of green technology. The article further mentions Google's wide-range of environmentally-friendly initiatives which includes the development of an application plug-in that would help automobiles determine where the driver is going that in turn reduces energy use, incorporates renewable energy, and offsets carbon emissions. Also, despite the large amount of Google data centers, Google has managed to cut their energy use in half through practical thinking that included purchasing a wind farm in Iowa with plans of running entirely on renewable energy in the near future. The company also made it a point to cut down on greenhouse gases by having goats roam their Google campus to eliminate the need for fertilizer and lawn movers. In conclusion, by adopting unconventional techniques for effectively lowering its environmental impact, the company has become a model example for more companies to think outside of the box and focus on implementing green technology in an efficient and innovative manner.
Patty Ferrer

Hotel operators step up their green initiatives - Travel Weekly - 0 views

  • Our desert surroundings require that we be strong stewards of natural resources, especially water," Dumont said.
  • LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the council's rating system for measuring the effectiveness of environmentally efficient buildings. LEED ranks buildings on a 100-point scale measuring energy and atmosphere, the sustainability of a site, efficient use of water and the use of environmentally responsible materials and resources in the building's construction and maintenance. It also awards six points for innovative design and four points for embracing regional priorities in products and services. The resulting levels are Certified (40 to 49 points), Silver (50 to 59 points), Gold (60 to 79 points) and the greenest category, Platinum (80 points or more).
  • he approximately 5 million hotel rooms in the U.S. rack up almost $4 billion in energy bills a year, or about $800 per room annually, according to Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Green Building Council.
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  • MGM Resorts is among an expanding number of hotel operators looking to capitalize on growing environmental awareness among travelers by getting their hotel owner-developers to invest in systems that cut energy usage, save water and reduce waste.
  • The trend in consumer green consciousness has grown important enough among travelers that Sabre Holdings, one of the world's largest GDS operators, has taken notice. Last month, Sabre launched its Eco-Certified Hotel Program, making it what the company claimed was the first GDS to break out a list of "environmentally responsible accommodations."
  • MGM Resorts has cut its electricity usage by an amount that could power more than 12,000 homes.
  • Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah's Entertainment) set a goal of cutting its carbon emissions by 10% between 2007 and 2013. So far, the Las Vegas-based company has replaced 65,000 halogen light bulbs with LED bulbs, which use about 90% less electricity, and has recycled more than 60,000 pounds of soap for Clean the World, a nonprofit that sanitizes the soap and sends it to low-income areas of the U.S.
  • The trend in consumer green consciousness has grown important enough among travelers that Sabre Holdings, one of the world's largest GDS operators, has taken notice. Last month, Sabre launched its Eco-Certified Hotel Program, making it what the company claimed was the first GDS to break out a list of "environmentally responsible accommodations."
  • T he approximately 5 million hotel rooms in the U.S. rack up almost $4 billion in energy bills a year, or about $800 per room annually, according to Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Green Building Council
  • MGM Resorts is among an expanding number of hotel operators looking to capitalize on growing environmental awareness among travelers by getting their hotel owner-developers to invest in systems that cut energy usage, save water and reduce waste
  • "We have had the Travelocity Green Hotel program since 2008 and noticed increasing demand and supply of green hotels," said Leilani Latimer, director of sustainability initiatives at Sabre. "Additionally, there is increasing interest on the corporate side as more and more businesses are integrating their overarching sustainability programs into their managed travel programs and looking for significant ways to promote sustainable procurement practices
  • "It's very difficult for hotels to be truly green by their nature," said Bjorn Hanson, divisional dean of New York University's school of tourism and hospitality management. "Daily cleaning consumes chemicals and energy, and public spaces are 30% to as much as 70% of the square footage of a hotel and must be lighted, cooled and heated."
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    With sustainability at the forefront of hotel operators and investors hotels are becoming conscious of the guests needs as more and more travelers are requiring and are staying at properties that are serious about environmental conservation. The article highlighted the fact hotels are big consumers of energy, therefore have construction that are LEED certified will not only benefit the environment but also the bottom line of investors.
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    Travel Weekly takes a look at hotels taking real initiatives to their commitment to going green, especially in Sin City. Hotel groups are looking not to save money through transparent initiatives asking guests to simply reuse their towels, rather the article looks at "hotel owner-developers to invest in systems that cut energy usage, save water, and reduce waste". It seems in addition to other environmentally conscious west coast cities, Vegas has set a standard by setting goals for increased recycling, decreased energy consumption, switching over to LED bulbs, composting food waste, reducing overall carbon footprint and emissions. In light of continuing green development, Sabre Holdings has launched an Eco-Certified Hotel Program taking the lead out of the other four major GDS's to tip their hat to eco-friendly hotels. As travelers, GDS's, hotels, travel websites, and developers alike place greater emphasis on the preference for environmentally conscious lodgings, the more likely the industry is going to continue adopting these measures.
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    Hotels are becoming more green world wide. MGM hotels is on board with a green initiative. Hotels electricity and water add up because they have to cool a building , clean and maintain the hotel. IT costs about 800 per room annually in electricity and water costs. MGM hotels reduced the electrivity they use which can help power 12, 000 houses. HOtels are also trying to reduce its carbon emissions. Although as the article states " its very difficult fot hotels to be trully green by their nature" every little bit helps.
Melissa Krajewski

Going green in Monte Carlo - Travel - MiamiHerald.com - 0 views

  • The Société’s environmental successes range from banning red (bluefin) tuna to the recovery of ink cartridges in a sophisticated recycling program that reclaims six different kinds of waste.
  • What’s noteworthy about Monaco’s firm resolve for environmental protections is that it enhances the vaunted Monte Carlo experience, from the quiet serenity of its piney beaches to the lively buzz of the Place du Casino, arguably the hub of Monte Carlo’s dazzling nightlife, where the iconic Belle Epoque casino and Hôtel de Paris still glow dramatically every night, albeit with low-power floodlights.
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    Hotel de Paris in opulent Monte Carlo, Monaco pleasantly surprises as a forerunner in the hospitality industry's green revolution. Prince Albert II leads by example after having a 'sustainably' lavish wedding using local and fair-trade products. Even though "mullet carpaccio" does not sound delectable to me; I am sure world renowned Chef Alain Ducasse knows how to transform the ordinary into extraordinary. Prince Albert II went so far to even have his cows supply the milk for his ice cream dessert, I call that dedication. With such excellent leadership and funding in the green initiative the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation addresses three major environmental issues: climate change, biodiversity and water consumption. Because of the Foundation visitors to Monaco participate in the green initiative with or without their knowledge. The casino, four hotels, several restaurants and spas all educate their staff on how to "be green." Hybrid shuttles, organic farming, reclaimed watering, on-site herb gardens and the banning of bluefin tuna are all examples of how the hospitality industry in Monaco has gone green. Monaco's will and initiative in the green revolution is inspiring. I hope that every hotel worldwide can try to adopt some of these practices and look to Monaco as a role model.
Ruoxi Wang

Environmental Initiatives - Marriott News Center - 0 views

  • The company formed an Executive Green Council in 2007 to catalyze sustainability beyond water and energy conservation and collaborated with Conservation International, a global environmental NGO based in Northern Virginia, to set the following goals:
  • Marriott’s Spirit to Preserve® Goals:  • Further reduce energy and water consumption by 25 percent per available room by 2017;• Expand our green hotel development ten-fold in five years;• Green our multi-billion dollar supply chain;• Educate and inspire associates and guests to support the environment;• Address environmental challenges through innovative conservation initiatives including rainforest protection and water conservation.
  • In China, Marriott is helping to safeguard fresh water. The company is investing $500,000 over two years to support a vital water conservation program that helps protect the largest source of fresh water on the planet.
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  • Marriott believes its commitment to social responsibility contributes to its growth and development, as well as the company’s culture. Marriott has been ranked one of Newsweek's "The Greenest Big Companies," and has been recognized for its environmental leadership in the hotel industry by several groups, including Ceres, an alliance of investors and environmentalists; the non-profit organization ClimateCounts.org; and Travel + Leisure magazine.
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    This article described the goal of Marriott's environmental initiatives goals and what did they do in all over the world. Marriott plays a leading role in the environmental initiatives in the industry. It can reduce wastes and costs. What's more, it can improve the image of the firm. I think other hotel chains should learn form Marriott and set up their image. This can not only help protect our world and life but also make a great contribution to the development of the company.
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