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During 2008, Ernst & Young has conducted a report regarding eco-friendly issue of hotels & resorts ' policies and practices in eight regions including: Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East, Oceania and the U.S.. According to the report, the "greening" trend has been a top priority of hotel industry; they are making development and operational strategies from time to time to maintain the sustainable environment around. Every hotel industry in the world share the common goal but the practice and government concern are different according to each region.  For example: in Asia, the "environmental harmony" has been implemented; China has set 10,000 hotels by 2010, and the world's first zero-carbon, zeo-waste city idea was developed in Middle East, etc. And the report has pointed out some key point for hotel industry to take into account for a green environment like: energy efficiency, conservation, management; or waste water management; or design for sustainability, or partnership for sustainable development, etc.  Due to the fastest growing of the green trend in all industries in the world, this report has been very helpful for anyone who are in the hospitality and tourism industry which believe green trend is a key point to not just to outmatch their competitors but to build a sustainability society as well. 

As the world is facing a numerous of impact which is mostly concern with sustainable environment. Being green is not just all about environment around the hotel but also cut many cost for a business as well. For example, replacing fluorescent bulbs, ceiling fans, linen cards, lights out cards, motion sensors for public rest rooms, meeting rooms have proven to a much lower electric bill. And being green will promote a health & wellness issue for all the guests, employee and community around; this will not only bring back your customers but making the employee enjoy more of their workplace and contribute more of their work.

Vantage Hospitality Group is adding its first two properties of a new construction project in South Korea. LG Electronics has signed a contract to be the exclusive provider of the complete energy efficiency system for selected locations in South Korea. LG will provide "cost-saving and technologically advanced operating systems and electronics at the hotel" for better management. LG says the energy system will cut back on utility costs and energy usage throughout the facilities and recover wasted energy to heat floors and water. The company's Smart Control System will be installed thought the property and in guest rooms for them guests to adjust on a smartphone application before they arrive to check-in. LG is excited to present their new LG Vertical system that provides total energy management and cost reductions throughout the property.

This article discusses one of the topics we had in class regarding the environment in the hospitality industry. Consequently, I thought I would do an additional post for this topic. The article discusses e-cycling and what should be done with electronic devices in the hospitality industry. More and more states are passing legislation to be prohibiting the general dumping of electronic equipment. This will have an effect on hotels that are disposing of old televisions and restaurants that are disposing of old computer systems. In fact "anything with an on-off switch can be recycled". The article gives three suggestions for hospitality companies to consider when disposing of e-waste. First, consider donation to local schools and charities. Second, inquire as to whether the manufacturer has a takeback program. Third, seek out and only use a commercial recycler for disposing of the trunk equipment

The article introduced the recycling initiatives of the Palm Beach. Aluminium collection, recycling of plastic and glass; make package of cardboard for easy sold; collecting office paper for newspaper manufacturing; prevent waste cooking oil to make bio diesel fuel; using drought-tolerant vegetation to replace exotic flora; hotels` sustainability program in an aerobic composter, and "matchmaker". 

Yes a very good article. I wish more would take this seriously. When i was at the St Regis Hotels, we use to do the same thing of recycling initiatives.

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.

If you are looking to expand your horizons on eco-tourism, visiting a Dude Ranch may be a good idea for vacation. According to this article, Dude Ranches are the leader in eco-friendly tourism. Visiting the ranch is a great way to get close to the environment and learn about sustainability first hand. The article suggest that while visiting on vacation the most obvious eco-friendly item will be the food. Dude Ranch communities live off the land around them. They are very aware not to put chemicals into their land; it may "contaminate the water table" as well as their livestock. Separation of waste and recycling is part of the sustainability in a Dude Ranch. They want to reuse their natural resources, food waste is used as fertilizer. If visiting on vacation, you will see sustainability at its finest. Ranches supply the local community as well. Many Ranches try to be "as self-sufficient as possible", only using what they need keep the ranch running. This allows them to supply the community as well as local retailers with free-ranged beef as well as free-ranged eggs. Some ranches even make and sell their own specialty items, bread or wine. A few Dude Ranches have allowed Universities to use their land to expose students to re-life sustainability issues. The ranch shows them what sustainability looks like in practice and how it benefits the environment around them. This allows them to educate students visiting the ranch, and it allows for the eco-tourist to stay to learn more about sustainability and the environment.

I found an interesting article about how the big computer companies can recycle the computers. This can solve some of the main problem about the recycling. The article is referring to idea that computers may become bigger size but easier to recycle. In other words we might wanna make a step back in the past, when we was able to just replace one detail from the computer instead of throwing it away.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has been in the green initiative game for over five years now. Hyatt plans to set higher goals to benefit the environment by 2020. They have set up three focus areas which are done by each sole property. Firstly, they have goals regarding the consumption of less water, less waste and opportunities to recycle. Additionally, corporate sets goals for individual properties to follow. Secondly, Hyatt wants to make sure that they are building environmentally conscious hotels that are efficient. They will start new construction in 2015 and continue with renovations. They hope for every property to reach LEED certification. Thirdly, Hyatt wants to innovate and inspire, they want to create awareness about environmental sustainability and the benefits to society it can have. Hyatt hopes to create waves in the hospitality industry and at the rate they are going they should be seeing success in the future. Hyatt is definitely going in the right direction when it comes to green initiatives. Setting goals and reporting deadlines will help Hyatt and there large number of properties reach the goals they have in place for a more sustainable future.

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.

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.

The hospitality industry is recognizing how imperative it is to run your hotel in a way where it will not only benefit you and your business but for the environment as well. Many hotels are making an effort to making an effort to become certified by means of having a going green business. In addition to certification, businesses in the hospitality industry are contributing to this go green effort by seeking specific goals and priorities. Hotels for example are focusing on how to save energy and water conservation, solid waste management, land use and indoor air quality. Changing basic hotel equipment such as toilets, solar heating, washing machines/dryers, refrigerators to "green products" can create a big difference in hotel energy costs and help save the environment as well. When a hotel owner applies for certification they are carefully inspected to verify compliance on how well the hotel manages their business efficiently by saving energy, water and disposing wastes properly for example. Even something so small as using the right cleaning supplies can have a positive impact on the environment. Not only does going green lower hotel costs but they also receive tax rebates, zoning permits and other incentives to persuade hotels to go green.

In todays world, where ecoturism is the fastest growing market in the hospitality industry, hotel managers and owners realize the importance of running their properties in an environmentally responsible way. These initiatives usually translate in to greater customer recognition and loyalty. Some of the ways they achieve this is thru certifications, such as LEED which focuses on improvements to buildings and structures in order to maximize operations such as energy performance, conservation of water and other resources.

In an effort to become more environmentally conscious, many hotels and resorts have taken major steps, from pre construction to customer requests, to reduce their "carbon footprint". These establishments understand the value of "going green" not just to increase their long term profits but also to cater to a growing demand for more environmentally friendly recreational outlets. Going green is more than just a fad. Therefore, it is imperative, to stakeholders, within the hospitality and tourism industry to make the necessary changes to maintain a competitive edge.

This article discusses how a convention manager for a Chicago planning firm keeps the SIGGRAPH convention happy every year the convention takes place. It explains that SIGGRAPH brings in 30,000 to 50,000 graphic artists and software designers to the convention, so it is important that planning company keeps their technology up to date. There is a positive side to SIGGRAPH convention goers, which is they understand that small glitches in technology do occur and they do not get frustrated when those glitches do occur. They had to implement a technology that will occur in real time, so they do not have to waste time inputting information, this is something that the SIGGRAHPH convention required if they were going to continue their business with the planning company. The software they developed allowed for everything to be in real time, all the staff had to do was review to make sure all the registration for their conventions were correct. I think that this article is a great example of why event planning firms should stay up-to-date on technology that will aid them in the planning process and keep clients returning.

Apple is using recycled materials in their new phones and hopes to eliminate the need to mine new materials for future devices through their new Green policy

The article titled "Deciphering ROI from tech investment can be complicated", explores how technology can be challenging within the hotel industry. It is important to note that hotels need to understand what components they need to include, and which are simply a waste of money. According to the author, "Some technology trends are elements that hotels need to survive, while some technology is simply a fad". It is important to keep an eye on consumer trends to filter out what will actually enhance guest experience. Nowadays, guests and staff need mobile needs to optimize their work processes. For some processes and technologies, the ROI may be almost immediate, but for others, they still require more time to see the investment. In terms of investing in technology, do you think room automation is always necessary? In my personal opinion, the more perks a room has, the more it may enhance the customer experience. Ultimately, it all depends on the hotel, its size and its investment opportunities.

This article discussed how to pick the best technology for your company thus maximizing your ROI. Some technologies are necessary while others are just a fad and it is important to determine what your company needs. Guests are also demanding more tech advancements from hotels, the personal touch is not as important anymore. Mobile and digital payment tech is becoming more and more important. Lastly it is important to note that technology will not always fix a problem, it is up to the company to determine what the issue is and then learn how to implement technology that will assist, not just expect it to resolve on its own.

Very interesting article that makes us question whether specific technological add-ons are must haves versus nice to haves to separate us from our neighbours. It also shows us that we cant often times quantify from an ROI perspective. It begs the question, does technology really set a hotel apart and how.

3 ways in which you can properly recycle your old electronics. Bring to recycler, donate it, or take it to a tech firm who offers a recycling program.

The article reports the state of Hawaii's hospitality and tourism industry is beginning to become more aware of how going green initiatives will effect the economy in a positive way. A management member of a consulting firm stated the efforts the hospitality and tourism industry need to be known to the community, guest and the staff of the hotels. He feels the research, figures and strategies need to be posted so everyone understands their role in the advancement of the states main industry's desire to become more sustainable. Hawaiian Airlines along with various hotels are reducing waste and sourcing more local items with in their outlets.

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.

The article addresses a big issue that we are currently facing worldwide, what to do with all the electronic waste? This Time article focuses on 20 different ways that can revert this situation and help to reuse some of the precious metals and parts for future electronic devices. Algae biofuel, thin-film solar power, smart meters, new electric cars, and rooftop wind power are just some of the examples the article shares on how green technologies are already being used to help us make the life on our planet to last longer. Extensive research has been done on many different areas and now it's just a matter of countries and companies to enforce such technologies, in order for us to preserve our natural resources.

Today we will discuss the 6 ways that a cloud based system could change the impact of retail forever. This update will make specific information available in real time, and make the experience better for the guests and the staff members. 1. The system will be able to track the live data from the actual floor of the store. For example, it would be able to tell the items that are actually being tried on, and the ones that are bought. This will be a great advancement in marketing, because it helps the business to figure out what it is that their demographic is attracted to. Second, the employees will have access to this data while they are working. This will make it easier to market items to guests, instead of wasting time trying to figure out what it is that they might be looking for. Third, have a track record of their inventory. Employees will have in depth information of their inventory and the inventory of other stores, all real time. This will allow for custom orders and greater guest satisfaction. Four, the system will be able to track the sales associates who are creating the best sales. The store can use this to create contests and provide rewards to the winners. This increases employee motivation and will to work. Five, mobile point of sales system. We had discussed the convenience of a mobile system with the cloud PMS, and now we can see it with a POS. This will have associates engaging more with guests on the floor, and the guests might not even have to wait a line to receive their products anymore. Lastly, it works for any sized company or store. Pricing and accessibility adapt to the size of the location, and is indeed less expensive than bulky software and hardware.

There are so many alternatives to disposing of electronics. Instead of just giving it to a company to recycle, one can donate it to other that are less fortunate then them and just have a company delete all the information on it a restore it. Also, companies like Best Buy will take old technology with their take back programs.