Conference: Going green makes business sense

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 May 2011 09:46 Written by Mary Linehan Wednesday, 18 May 2011 09:14

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE -- Local college officials hosted a conference on the greening of the hospitality industry last week, reinforcing the modern mantra: green is good.

Atlantic Cape Community College hosted the event at its Cape May County campus, pulling in nearly 50 local business men and women to hear from energy industry executives, representatives from state agencies and other businesses.

To sum it up: green generates green in the hospitality industry.

"JD Power and Associates tracks hotels with green programs and has reported higher guest satisfaction scores for those companies that have introduced sustainable initiatives. Also, Dow Jones, Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance and others are tracking sustainable statistics," said Faith Taylor, Vice-President of Sustainability and Innovation for Wyndham Worldwide.

"This has become a factor is how individuals and companies choose to spend their money. These changes deliver economic benefits, conserve resources and prevent pollution," she said.

Taylor delivered the keynote presentation, offering local business owners a view of green solutions within the hospitality industry.

"I feel lucky to have this job," said Taylor. “It didn't exist 10 years ago. This has been an incredible journey, for me and for Wyndham Worldwide."

"I get to do good; do good for the environment and do good business," she said.

Wyndham has been rated among the top 100 greenest companies in America and among the top 10 in the entertainment and travel industry. Wyndham Hotel Group includes 7,200 hotels in 65 countries.

“What you are seeing here is a 'megatrend.' Our industry focused first on quality - with improvements like air conditioning… then on technological innovations for our guests and ways of doing business, like in room entertainment options and internet; and now sustainability is the focus,” she said

“This is a global trend built out of local markets,” said Taylor.

Wyndham's environmental initiatives include front desk staff's uniforms, which are made from recycled plastic bottles; to the use of biodegradable laundry bags, energy efficient lighting, and alternative energy sources.

"These changes cut operational costs for hotel owners by saving water and energy, showing that going green is good business,” said Taylor, who noted that the company's New Jersey headquarters is "…not just talking the talk, but is walking the walk" to lead the company.

“We are Silver LEED interior certified and purchase 100 percent of our electrical energy from wind power,” according to Taylor.

LEED stand for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" and is an internationally-recognized green building certification system. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

"Yes, we are here from the government and we are here to help," said Mark Staub, director of sustainability at the state's Office of Economic Growth and Green Energy, in opening remarks. "We want to help green this industry. If we support these practices up front, there will be less need for enforcement…and we can encourage reasonable and sustainable growth of the practice in the hospitality industry."

The recently formed Economic Growth and Green Energy office is part of the state's Department of Environmental Protection.

"We are the Administration's voice for sustainability and are charged with balancing environmental stewardship, economic growth and social equity to help build New Jersey's economy," according to Staub.

Staub said that the state was applied for federal grants to expand its work with the hospitality industry. The department's objectives are to support continued development of green and clean energy, foster economic growth, provide resources on sustainability, promote sustainability within the state government and foster environmental and energy innovation.

The conference was presented by the Green Education Institute at Atlantic Cape.

Local hotel owner Mark Kulkowitz joined Taylor and representatives from the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore for the panel discussions on sustainability.

Kulkowitz and his wife, Pam Huber, own and operate Carroll Villa Bed and Breakfast Hotel in Cape May, a late 19th century hotel that has moved into the 21st century with green upgrades throughout the historical building, including energy efficient shower heads in guest rooms; a recycled glass bar countertop in the 125 seat dining space; and 38 solar panels on the building's roof.

According to the hotel's information, the panels generate 10,293 kilowatt house a year in electricity -- offsetting nearly 8,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.