The Refinishing Touch Blog

A decade ago, 'green hotels' were barely on the radar. Today, they are a hot topic for the lodging industry as well as consumers, with travelers keen to use eco-friendly properties for business and leisure. Like all other industries, the hospitality industry is under pressure to take its corporate and social responsibilities seriously. And with the current economic climate, operating greener also helps to save on the bottom line. Hoteliers not only save money but also help the environment by reducing their carbon footprint.

Early this Fall, The Green Meeting Industry Council announced the 2009 dates for the "Greening the Hospitality Industry" conference, to be held at the LEED gold-certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. The conference will allow hotel industry executives, and meeting and event planners to better understand how to successfully execute green meeting practices and to implement green initiatives.

When a business is able to balance economic, environmental, and strategic business objectives as they relate to business partners, customers and stakeholders they are in a position to thrive. Senior level and C-level executives have to adopt a new way of thinking when it comes to their hotel brand and property.

As a supplier to the hospitality industry, The Refinishing Touch understands that suppliers share a collective responsibility to encourage hospitality chains, as well as government institutions, and universities nationally, to help and advise them to look at existing furnishing, furniture and fixtures as assets not as disposable goods to toss in landfills.

Many hotels today may be a shade paler than green than others but progress is being made. With chains and independents already considering more sustainable ways of running their business, events and opportunities for sharing best practices such as the Greening the Hospitality Industry are a welcome: we know that we’ll be there and taking a very active part in the discussion.