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February 05, 2005
Why Don' t Green Hospitality Properties Advertise That Fact?
Environmental stances and issuess are a corporate social responsibility in the hospitality industry. Making the decision to be environmentally friendly, to conserve water and energy and to recycle, is wonderful. Taking the steps to accomplish those goals is even better. Telling the world why you are tackling environmental pollution and increasing your environmental protection through your green program, is just as important a step.
I've been doing lots of research lately on green hospitality properties, getting ready for my new pages on ECOnomically Sound, and have noticed that many of them don't promote their green-ness. I just don't understand why someone would go through the time and effort to get certified and then not shout it from their roof top.
I was talking with a hospitality consultant peer today about the greening of the hospitality industry and shared my curiosity at the observation of how few green hospitality venues share their green-ness. His immediate reaction was that some owners/managers go through the certification process for themselves only. Of course! But that had never occurred to me.
I'd like to state what to me has been the obvious, but clearly isn't obvious to everyone. Just as I never thought about someone "going green" because they wanted to, not just to garner more guests, I have to think that some owners/managers haven't thought that being green will attract more guests. So let me boldly state my observation: there are lots of travelers looking for green properties to utilize so it's important to let the world know you are green.
Make it readily evident on your website that you are green and make it clear what green steps you take. You will benefit financially from promoting your green actions. And you will encourage more hospitality venues to "go green" and promote their green steps too. We'll all win!
Posted by Kit Cassingham
