The issue of “sustainability,” in regards to event planning, surfaced about eight years ago. However, it has only been in the last couple years that a surge in interest regarding this topic has occurred. Currently, more and more companies are inquiring about hotels’ green initiatives.
How are hotels going green
In response, hotel companies have begun researching a variety of ways to create greener meetings and stay ahead of future expectations. Some hotels have even gone as far as to invest in the guidance of professional conservationists in order to receive certification for their green efforts.
One hotel that has instituted green initiatives is the Four Seasons Hotel in Denver. The installation of LED lighting in corridors, guestrooms, and residential units is estimated to save the hotel more than $70,000 a year in electricity and labor costs.
Another hotel that has gone green is the DoubleTree by Hilton in Silver Spring, Maryland, where a $3.5 million renovation took place. Hotel owners incorporated LED lighting (that uses 75% less energy than before), electric golf carts, low-flow plumbing and programmable thermostats into their renovation plans.
While events and meeting planners may prefer to support environmentally conscious hotels, at the end of the day it’s still all about availability and quality of service. But why can’t we have it all? As hoteliers learn about the increasing preference for sustainable hotels and green meetings, it will hopefully only be a matter of time before many more properties invest in renovations of their own.
One more thing to keep in mind: the more they save on the operating end, the less we pay on the consumer end. All the more reason to “go green” on your next business meeting!
