It's always fantastic to get new ideas and inputs from other sustainability gurus.
Here's a rundown of a few of the individuals I've been lucky enough to talk to in the past few weeks and a piece of wisdom each of them offers for greening the hotel industry.
Suganthi Simon -- EPA Pollution Prevention Coordinator, Region 4 (Atlanta).
Wisdom: Standardization and measurement tools are important parts of any industry's sustainability initiatives. Read more about EPA's green initiatives in the lodging industry here.
Pat Maher -- AH&LA's green guru himself. A key player in the creation of AH&LA's Green Task Force.
Wisdom: Establishing a green committee at a property is a key part of successfully executing environmental goals.
Peter Goren -- AGLHA President (American Green Lodging and Hospitality Association).
Wisdom: Sustainability isn't easy, you have to be constantly vigilant about associates, suppliers, and partners upholding their promises. In addition to energy and water savings, waste management is also a huge cost for hotels and a huge opportunity to be green and save green.
Neel Inamdar: Fund Manager, Verde Ventures, Conservation International.
Wisdom: Implementing green programs isn't rocket science, it takes good management practices. In making the shift towards sustainability you have to look at your supply chain and make the shift towards sustainability go all the way down the line.
Marriott Associates -- thank you to the Marriott properties I've talked to -- as I've learned, committment to people is the key to sustainability and great service.
Going forward, a lot more people to meet and talk to, and a lot of knowledge to be gained and give. Thanks everyone!
sustainability is always such a hard thing to implement in an organization, hard work but worth it. good luck!
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