Better World Shopping Guide

We all know that our consumer habits have some impact on the environment. Now, Dr. Ellis Jones, who teaches sociology at UC Davis, has developed a shopping guide that helps us make better choices for the planet and humanity.

The book is called "The Better World Shopping Guide" It ranks every product on the shelf from A to F so you can quickly tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys” — turning your grocery list into a powerful tool to change the world.

As an example, I've attached the rating for airlines. To find out more, you can buy the book ($10) and see other ratings at www.betterworldshopper.com

Study Shows Guests Think Kimpton Has Best Green Brand

Based on questions added to the Market Metrix Hospitality Index survey, performed by Market Metrix LLC, guests weighed in on the importance of green initiatives and which brands in their eyes have the best green programs.

As more hoteliers get on board the sustainable operations movement, their efforts are not only improving the environment, but cutting their electricity costs and other expenses. Based on the survey, “Eco-friendly” or "green" initiatives are most compelling to Luxury hotel guests with 20% of these travelers claiming these programs are “Very Important” when selecting a hotel.

Least affected by these program are guests in the Midscale w/o F&B segment (9% consider these programs “Very Important”). Therefore, it appears that customers who can afford to care about green are more willing to change their behavior. Across all hotel segments 12% of guests rate these programs “Very Important” when picking a hotel. This level of general market acceptance signals an opportunity for brand differentiation, especially among lower priced hotels.

Market Metrix

For More Information on Green Hotels, Go To Greenlodge.Org

Hotel Uniforms Made of Recycled Plastic Bottles?

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is going "green" by going plastic...Starting this fall, front desk employees and other staffers who interact with guests at select locations will start to wear uniforms made with polyester fibers spun from plastic beverage bottles. All such employees chainwide will be required to wear the new uniforms by the end of 2009. Housekeeping and back-of-house workers will be donning the new duds by 2010. The apparel, which does not require professional laundering or chemicals to clean, is designed and manufactured by Cintas, Cincinnati.

"As part of our quest to find new and innovative green practices, we challenged Cintas to design a program that reflected our three Wyndham brand-defining pillars of innovation, personalization and flexibility," Faith Taylor, vp of sustainability and innovation at Wyndham Worldwide, Parsippany, N.J., said in a statement. "Cintas answered the call by selecting trendy, eco-conscious garments that are machine washable, easily modified and mixed-and-matched for a more personal look. The end result is fashionable suit that is cost-effective and extremely comfortable."

The material is made from recycled plastic products, including beverage bottles, which are processed into flakes, then into filaments, which are spun into yarn that is woven into these soft fabrics. The uniform program will join other green initiatives that are becoming common in the hospitality sector like the use of compact fluorescent lights, low-flow water practices, and giving guests the option to reuse linen and towels rather than changing those items during each day of a stay.

Wyndham incorporates several ecologically-friendly initiatives, including use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting, low-flow water practices and an "Earth Smart" guest linen reuse program.

Wyndham also offers Wyndham ClearAir, a program launched last month that features rooms that are 98% allergen-free thanks to a cleaning regimen and an air purification system designed by Pure Solution, New York. Wyndham properties will be required to convert 10% of room inventory into ClearAir rooms by the end of 2009.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

For More Information on Green Hotels, go to Greenlodge.Org

Amtrak sets record ridership

Amtrak ridership in July Fiscal Year 2008 increased to 2,750,278, nearly a 14 percent increase, marking the most passengers carried in any single month in Amtrak's 37 year history. Total ridership for the Fiscal Year to date — October 1, 2007 - July 31, 2008 — reached 23.7 million, topping the 21.3 million from the same period last year. Total ticket revenue for the fiscal year to date reached $1.4 billion, a 14.1 percent increase over the same period in FY07. For the month of July, ticket revenue increased by 18.6 percent to $168 million.

"Increasing fuel prices, highway congestion, airline issues and environmental awareness continue to make intercity passenger rail extremely relevant and popular," said Alex Kummant, President and CEO of Amtrak. "In addition, we continue to work on service improvements and better on-time performance, which draws more ridership and revenue each month.

"Our record-setting ridership and ticket revenue in the month of July alone indicate we will end the year with approximately three million new passenger trips in FY09," he added.

InterContinental Chicago O'Hare Utilizes 100% Renewable Energy

The new 556-room InterContinental Chicago O’Hare, is going above and beyond in its quest to lighten businesses’ impact on the environment. Not only does the sophisticated, design-forward property utilize 100% renewable energy credits from wind, but the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare also features a green roof, recycles all materials used throughout its hotel and convention area, and helps businesses and organizations support sustainability with its “Green Meetings” program.

“The InterContinental Chicago O’Hare is dedicated to significantly lessening our carbon footprint on the earth, as well as raising awareness in our community about the importance of preserving our natural resources,”said David Hall, general manager of the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare. A contemporary destination for business and leisure travelers alike September 8, 2008, the property is managed by Portfolio Hotels and Resorts, which also operates one of the first LEED-certified hotels in the U.S.

The InterContinental Chicago O’Hare’s eco-savvy measures include:

* Utilizing 100% Renewable Energy Credits from wind via Constellation New Energy in Baltimore, MD. This is equal to saving more than 390,000 gallons of gasoline annually and removing 631 cars from the road.

* Lighting costs cut approximately 40% by using compact fluorescent light bulbs, dimmable fluorescent bulbs, and LED lights.

* Property-wide recycling of all glass, paper, cardboard, batteries, aluminum, and compact fluorescent bulbs, including recycling containers in all guest rooms.

* Green roof is covered with a reflective coating that significantly cuts down the building’s cooling costs, and will soon be home to drought-resistant plants.

* Biodegradable water bottles made from corn are placed in all guest rooms and are available for group meetings and events.

* InterContinental Chicago O’Hare’s management and associates are committed to the hotel’s “I CARE” program, which stands for, “I Care, I Conserve and I replenish the Earth”, a partnership with the local community to create awareness of energy efficiency and the environment.

* “Green Meeting Package” - Meeting and event planners can participate by selecting organic and sustainable local meals, recycled paper and pencils,LCD projectors and screens, biodegradable water bottles, biodegradable centerpieces, and other amenities.

InterContinental Chicago O'Hare

For More Information on Green Hotels, Go to GreenLodge.Org

Organic Wines in California

Looking for a green winery? Several have popped up on the scene but Parducci Wine Cellars (now part of Mendocino Wine Company, www.mendocinowinecompany.com) has perhaps set the bar so far. Parducci was the nation’s first carbon neutral winery and is entirely powered by solar and wind. This green power is equivalent to taking 172 cars off the road per year. Parducci also helps the environment by buying grapes from local farmers, using bio-diesel fueled tractors and earth-friendly packaging.

Recognizing Parducci’s leadership role in both the industry and the Mendocino community, the State of California awarded Parducci the 2007 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).

Mendocino Wine Company’s other wines are also making inroads into sustainable wine-making. Several of their other brands are certified organic and they are converting more of their acreage towards organic strategies each year.

Does sustainably-produced wine taste good? Apparently so, the Parducci wines have recently obtained 90+ scores in several wine publications. Next time you are heading to a dinner party, try taking a bottle of earth-friendly wine and see what your friends think.

Florida plans Green Lodging Conference

Officials of the 248-room Hilton University of Florida Conference Center today announced it will be the host hotel for the inaugural Florida Green Lodging Conference from November 10-12, 2008. Entitled “Being Green, Saving Green & Making Green,” the conference is sponsored by VisitGainesville and the University of Florida TREEO (Training, Research & Education for Environmental Occupations) Center.

“Designated as one of the first green hotels in Florida, the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center is an ideal location to host this first-of-its-kind event,” said Roland Loog, CDME, executive director of VisitGainesville. “With the passage of Governor Crist’s Executive Order 07-126, state agencies now are required to contract meeting and conference space with facilities that have the Department of Environmental Protection DEP Green Lodging Designation.

The Hilton University of Florida Conference Center is the only Green Certified hotel in Gainesville. To receive this certification, the hotel implemented a number of state-mandated procedures related to water conservation, including utilizing low-flow features on shower heads, faucets and toilets. Additionally, the hotel uses energy-efficient dimmer switches in conference rooms, compact fluorescent bulbs and window tinting to reduce air conditioning requirements. All possible materials are recycled, from office papers to shipping pallets. The hotel also incorporates “green messaging” into its employee training and communicates its environmental initiatives to its guests through placards in guest rooms.

“Since implementing these eco-friendly programs, we have been able to recycle an average of 2.7 tons per month — or a total of more than 100 tons — since 2004,” said Nanci Haley, general manager. “As we continue to review and assess additional programs, we hope to double these results in the coming years.”

The conference — coordinated and managed cooperatively with VisitGainesville, UF/TREEO, the UF Department of Conferences and FDEP — is sub-divided into two main tracts: front-of-house (sales/marketing and management) and back-of-house (the technical and engineering) issues.

Florida Green Lodging Conference

For More Information on Green Hotels go to Greenlodge.Org

EnviroCar Provides Chauffered Hybrid Transportation

EnviroCar, launched in Phoenix, Arizona, provides companies and individuals with scheduled transportation utilizing a fleet of ultra fuel efficient hybrid vehicles. The company states that they make it easy for customers to have a positive impact on the reduction of greenhouse gases and their global warming effect without sacrificing efficient, professional car service.

For now it looks like EnviroCar just covers the Phoenix metro area but its great to see new green businesses that can be complimentary to the travel industry. It would be a great opportunity for green hotels to partner with companies like EnviroCar for their airport transportation.

EnviroCar

For More Information on Green Hotels and the Green Travel Industry, go to Greenlodge.Org

Green Airline flies passengers from Portland to Seattle

Portland, Oregon-based SeaPort Airlines just launched in June and uses a fleet of three small planes to shuttle passengers between Portland International and Seattle's Boeing Field. The Start-Up has partnered with the Columbia Land Trust in the Pacific Northwest to offset all emissions generated by its flights.

Rather than buying into a offset provider, SeaPort is getting green by donating the cash that it would otherwise spend on offsets to the Columbia Land Trust's local Working Forest Initiative, which works to save large tracts of forests in the Northwest from commercial development.

The PC-12 fleet, built in Switzerland, excel in their fuel consumption, or rather their lack of fuel consumption. The average flight burns just 51 gallons, which means that even a small upstart like SeaPort can afford to pay for its emissions.

SeaPort Airlines