WSPPN

WALKABILITY – a measure of pedestrian safety, accessibility and friendliness
Date:         Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Time:         10:00 AM – 11:15 AM PST, noon – 1:15 PM CST

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/779407682

Automobiles are a source of many air pollutants. They are the second largest source of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the in the US, and CO2 represents over 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions causing global warming. More than half of our CO2 comes from vehicles. For every mile of driving eliminated, one pound of carbon dioxide is kept from the atmosphere.

Carol Perry, Trip Reduction Specialist for Regional Transportation Commission will give a presentation on “Walkability: What is it and why you should care?” Learn how businesses can promote healthy lifestyles, save money, and increase morale and productivity among employees.  Learn how communities can reap numerous benefits of better planning for pedestrians and bicyclists.  Learn about ride-sharing and other programs RTC has underway to reduce C02 and increase access.  Learn how walkable communities reduce our carbon footprint.

Feed-In Tariffs – A Renewable Energy Model for Everyone
Date:         Friday, March 18, 2011
Time:         10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT, noon – 1:00 PM CST

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/227794603

Analyst Bob Tregilus, organizer of the Feed-in Tariffs for Nevada (FIT4NV) initiative, co-chair of the Electric Auto Association of Northern Nevada, and steering committee member of the Alliance for Renewable Energy, will provide a basic overview of how a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) policy tool can create a predictable marketplace all along the renewable energy value chain.  Successful feed laws have been adopted in over sixty nations and jurisdictions including: Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, the Canadian province of Ontario, the state of Vermont, Hawaii, Oregon, and the city of Gainesville, Florida.

FITs reduce risk by paying any operator a fair ‘tariff’ (rate) to ‘feed’ renewable energy into the electric grid. Bob will explain the global phenomenon of FITs and talk about his experiences getting a FIT instituted in the state of Nevada.

U.S. EPA Regions 4 & 5

U.S. EPA Regions 4 and 5 Present a FREE Two-Part Sustainable Hospitality Webinar Discussion.  If you work in or with the lodging industry — you need to attend these important webinars!

Hear from the experts on how to get ahead of potential bed bug infestations and manage bed bugs in an environmentally sustainable way.  (Note:  it is helpful, but not necessary, to participate in Part I before participating in Part II).

SAVE THE DATES and REGISTER NOW:

Part I – Preventing Bed Bugs . . . or at Least the Next Closest Thing

March 23, 2011
2:00 – 3:30 Central
Register by clicking here:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/496591824

Part I will discuss: bed bug basics, getting ahead of bed bug infestation through early detection and maintenance, training lodging staff to be your first line of defense and educating guests on their role in preventing the spread of bed bugs.  Speakers include: Kevin Maher, American Hotel and Lodging Association; Rick Cooper, Rutgers University; and Ray Hobbs, Senior Vice-President Kelco Management & Development, Inc.

Part II – Don’t Let the Threat of Bed Bugs Compromise Your Sustainability Program

April 27, 2011
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Central
Register by clicking here:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/162870825

Part II will discuss: integrated pest management of bed bugs and working with your pest management professional, developing guest response protocols for cases of reported bed bugs, and creating a comprehensive Bed Bug Action Plan that includes environmental factors.  Tentative speakers include: Steve Kells, University of Minnesota, and Ray Hobbs, Senior Vice-President Kelco Management & Development, Inc.

David Hansen is Director of Engineering for Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe that is part of the Hilton Hotel Chain. Getting his management to invest in greening operations during a downed economy was just the first step in this inspirational story. Now David is leading the way towards resource reduction and energy efficiency in the entire Hilton Hotel Chain.

How do you get the world’s largest hotel chain to go green? Tim Burns, Hospitality Management Trainer will explain programs and best practices Best Western, The World’s Biggest Hotel Family, is implementing to encourage their hotels to go green.

Andy Bray, Project Manager for Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA) will talk about P2Rx’s National Sustainable Lodging Network, an online community of sustainable hospitality practitioners and a clearinghouse to support the work of this community.

Title: Successes and Challenges in Greening Hotel Chains
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/623606050

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Learn from your hospitality peers and other experts about opportunities to reduce operating costs, reduce your impacts on the environment, ensure your lodging establishment’s long term sustainability in the community you work in, manage regulatory and corporate/brand expectations and generate public goodwill– all without diminishing the guest experience! This webinar is the sixth in the  “Sustainable Hospitality” webinar series.  Webinar speakers to include: Scott Larsen–General Manager, Holiday Inn Select, San Antonio Texas.

This bulletin provides guidance to employees of agencies subject to the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to enhance travel cost savings and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This guidance will improve management of agency travel programs, save money on travel costs, better protect the environment, and conserve natural resources. Other agencies not subject to the FTR are also encouraged to follow this guidance and incorporate these strategies into their travel management policies, procedures, and activities related to official travel.

NEWMOA is currently in Phase 1 of a Sustainable Hospitality Metrics Project as part of an overall effort on the part of the Pollution Prevention Research Exchange (P2Rx) to advance sustainable hospitality efforts.  Phase 1 of this project involves developing a series of formulas for calculating environmental outcomes from sustainable hospitality practices.

The draft document, “From Behavior Change to Environmental Outcomes in Sustainable Hospitality: Metrics, Formulas, Variables, & Assumptions,” represents the culmination of this work.  All of you were invited to review and comment on this document as part of the project, as well as provide references for information and NEWMOA has received several comments.

The purpose of the Webinar will be to review the comments received and discuss any unresolved issues and next steps.

For more information about NEWMOA’s Hospitality Metrics Project, or to sign up to download the draft documents, please visit: www.newmoa.org/prevention/projects/hospitality/measurement.cfm.

Please note that the deadline for submitting comments is September 27, 2010.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has introduced a 10-step green meeting program for its properties and is encouraging planners and attendees to take the pledge by offering a limited-time 3 percent rebate on their master bill.

Designing a green program for your hotel is just the first step in developing an environmentally-friendly property. After that, you must bring your owners, senior management and staff on board; and communicate your achievements to your guests and potential customers. Join us as we discuss new ideas to engage staff and guests in your green efforts. Learn how to develop a communications plan that demonstrates your hotel’s environmental commitment – helping to heighten public awareness and gain market share. Hear from your peers who are communicating their successful green efforts to internal and external audiences, and learn about helpful resources, including ENERGY STAR.   Confirmed speaker– Elizabeth Delens, General Manager, Sheraton Four Points (Washington, D.C.).
https://energystar.webex.com/energystar/k2/j.php?ED=139530487&UID=1141635067&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D&FM=1

Session 3: Everyone on Board! Effective Communications to Promote Your Hotel’s Green Practices August 24, 2010, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Eastern Time)
Designing a green program for your hotel is just the first step in developing an environmentally-friendly property. After that, you must bring your owners, senior management and staff on board; and communicate your achievements to your guests and potential customers. Join us as we discuss new ideas to engage staff and guests in your green efforts. Learn how to develop a communications plan that demonstrates your hotel’s environmental commitment – helping to heighten public awareness and gain market share. Hear from your peers who are communicating their successful green efforts to internal and external audiences, and learn about helpful resources, including ENERGY STAR.
https://energystar.webex.com/energystar/k2/j.php?ED=139530487&UID=1141635067&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D&FM=1

Developing Measures for Environmental Sustainability in Hotels: An Exploratory Study
Source: Cornell School of Hotel Administration, Center for Hospitality Research

Hoteliers’ efforts to improve the environmental sustainability of their operations would be promoted by having a consistent industry-wide measure for benchmarking current operations and tracking the effect of environmental sustainability initiatives. This type of measure can also assist external stakeholders, such as the hotel guests and regulatory entities, to gauge hotels’ environmental sustainability efforts. This report presents the results of an exploratory study that develops such a measure, using resource consumption records of 984 U.S. hotels over a period of eight years. The measure is based on an analysis of resource consumption–related expenses found in these hotels’ year-end operating statements, for electricity, water and sewer, maintenance other expenses, and laundry, linen, and supplies for both the rooms and for food and beverage services. Using a multivariate data analysis technique called exploratory factor analysis, the measure developed in the stu! dy consists of two parts: an operating factor that comprises large weights from electricity, water and sewer, and maintenance expenses, and a behavioral factor, which is largely driven by laundry, linen, and supplies for both rooms and F&B operations. In general, costs found in the operating factor are under management control, but the costs in the behavioral factor are subject to guests’ activities. By normalizing the average of each of these two factors at zero, hotels that score above zero on each factor are spending more than other hotels, and those with a score below zero are more efficient than others. These factors can be compared according to various hotel characteristics, such as chain segment, the involvement of a third-party professional management company in the operating structure, location (both in terms of the degree of urbanization and climate zone), and whether the hotel offers F&B service. For instance, the above-average costs of providing F&#0! 38;B are clearly depicted in these measurements (as compared w! ith limi ted-service operations).

+ Full Report (PDF)

Free registration required.

Marriott International, a green leader in the hospitality industry, plans to grow its portfolio of eco-friendly properties to a total of 300 LEED-certified hotels in the next five years, the company said today.