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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Hotels Find Green Shows Up as Black on the Books

It’s not easy being green, but an increasing number of hotels in the state are going the eco-friendly route. The summer edition of California Lodging, the official publication of the California Lodging Industry Association, declared that the state is leading the emerging green movement in the industry. Two of only five hotels in the world to receive certification by the nationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System are in California. Moreover, green hotels will be a focal point at the upcoming Americas Lodging Investment Summit at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The benefits of going green have certainly not been lost on Bert Seneca, general manager of the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North Hollywood. There, not only are recycling and energy-saver light bulbs de rigueur, eco- friendly practices are incorporated into everything from the type of vegetation featured in the garden to the type of carpet used inside. “From a landscaping standpoint, we’re looking to change to more drought resistant plants,” Seneca said. When it’s time to re-carpet, yarn material is used, as it can be easily recycled. And that’s not all. Guests who stay at the hotel for more than one day will not immediately have their linens laundered. Guests may request to have sheets laundered every third day, however. “Many hotels are doing this, so we can minimize water usage and the chemicals that impact the environment,” Seneca said. At the Beverly Garland, every attempt is made to conserve energy as well. The hotel recently renovated 17 suites, and, in the process, methods by which to conserve energy were identified. Air conditioning is always set on low in unoccupied rooms, but not on the fan setting. That way, “when you walk in as a guest, it’s not hot, but it’s not cold,” Seneca said. “In many hotels, housekeeping will keep it cranked on high.” Thermostats are also programmed to prevent staff from manipulating it to frigid, energy-consuming levels. Seneca believes that, regardless whether somebody believes in global warming, it makes sense to adopt an energy conservation point of view, as the financial benefits can be tremendous. “Using energy saving bulbs, you’re looking at using 15 watts of energy versus 75,” he said. “That’s a huge difference, given the number of lights in a given room. With ten to 15 lights per room and 255 rooms, plus the number of days they are rented,it adds up quite a bit, very impressive numbers.” Nikki Leondakis, chief operating officer of Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants of San Francisco, who will present a panel on green hotel operations at the ALIS conference, agrees with Seneca. “There’s a very good business case for all of this, as well as saving the planet,” she said. “We found that recycling cardboard alone can save a hotel $21,000 a year.” At Kimpton Hotels, materials are printed on recycled copy paper and printers are set to double-sided printing. In addition, to reduce paper usage, phone books are distributed in rooms by request only. As at the Beverly Garland, fluorescent lights are used. Recycling is also a priority, with items from hangers to electronics, such as televisions, DVD players and stereos going into the recycling bin. Kimpton is also now in the process of implementing water efficient toilets. “Conserving energy saves money; conserving water saves you money,” Leondakis said. Yet many hotel owners are reluctant to incorporate green practices because they’re afraid of the expenses that will be incurred or that being environmentally friendly will compromise the guests’ experience. But Leondakis believes just the opposite is true. She said that a percentage of guests specifically choose Kimpton hotels because they are environmentally aware. “There’s a benefit to customer attraction and retention,” she said. “People feel more connected to our brand as a result of our eco practices. Our hope would be that what we do inspires our competitors to do the same and keep up.” While finances are a factor, Deirdre Wallace, president and founder of the Santa Monica-based Ambrose Group, said that implementing eco-friendly practices ultimately reduces expenses. Wallace will also be a panelist at the ALIS conference. “All those things have a direct correlation to the bottom line,” she said. Wallace estimates that fluorescent lights take about three months to pay off, “but if you’re going to install solar panels, the payback on that is five years or eight years, but then you’re basically not paying anything after that,” she explained. “Every approach has a different cost and payback.” Ambrose is in the process of attempting to be the first Southern California hotel to receive LEED certification. “That’s probably the best benchmark for going green at this time, if you want to be able to call yourself a green hotel and have credibility,” Wallace said. With the help of a company called Sustainable Works, Ambrose has examined everything from the types of paints to cleaning supplies used. Employees are even encouraged to bike to work, shower on the premises and then change into company attire to cut back on vehicle use. According to Seneca, there is always room for improvement when it comes to being eco-friendly. At the ALIS conference, it will be Wallace’s goal to motivate hotel industry insiders to brainstorm the many ways they can be greener.

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