Late in 2008, Ernst & Young released a report entitled, “Hospitality Going Green.” I strongly recommend reading through the 16-page document. (A link to it appears at the end of this column.) The report explores some of the major trends and programs initiated around the world to encourage industry participation in sustainability efforts.

“Hotel companies are increasingly encouraging environmentally friendly practices and embracing sustainability through both developmental and operational strategies,” the report says. “With initiatives such as education programs, reforestation programs, eco-resorts, the implementation of energy-efficient practices, and the development of buildings that comply with government-defined standards, the ‘greening’ of the industry is a trend that is here to stay.”

The report says that hotel companies are being prompted to go green by rising energy costs, government pressure, consumer expectations and the competitive landscape.

With this being the last Green Lodging News e-newsletter of 2008, I would like to wish all of you a very happy and prosperous new year in 2009. The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and set goals for the year ahead. It is also an ideal time to stop and say “thank you.” So, to all of the readers, guest writers and advertisers who supported Green Lodging News in 2008, thank you very much! Green Lodging News would not be possible without you.

With the holiday season upon us, there is no better time to reflect back on the year that has gone by. And what a year it has been for our industry—for the bad and for the good. Fattened by several record years, it is not teetering on the edge like the automobile companies, but it still took a beating in 2008 and will continue to do so in 2009.

As goes the economy, so goes the recycling markets. Have you heard any grumbling yet from the companies that collect your recyclables? The market for recyclables such as cardboard, plastic, newspaper, mixed paper and metals has collapsed.

This past week I had the opportunity to visit the site of the U.S. tourism industry’s largest solar installation. It is located in California in Death Valley National Park, the sunniest place in the country, and meets more than one-third of the annual electricity needs of Xanterra Parks & Resort’s Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort, golf course and employee offices and housing.

Last week, Joie de Vivre, operator of 29 boutique hotels in California, launched Joie de Vivre Green Dreams, a new portal on its website. Joie de Vivre Green Dreams is also the name of the company’s environmental program. Be sure to check out this new website. Its design is appealing, user friendly and worth emulating.

I was fortunate to attend the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston for two days last week. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it is the annual conference and trade show of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the creator of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification program. When Greenbuild was first held in 2002, 4,000 people attended. Last year in Chicago, the total attendance was approximately 22,000 people.

This past week I had the opportunity to attend the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) in New York. For those of you who did not attend, you missed a great opportunity to learn about steps you can take and products you can purchase to increase your property’s profitability during these difficult times.

“Hush hush.” I heard that phrase several times while talking to suppliers of products that help to address bedbug infestations. Hotel, motel, resort and inn operators like to keep bedbug problems quiet and out of the news media, and off of the many websites that allow visitors to comment on their stays. I wouldn’t blame anyone at all for wanting to be silent; the little critters are a potential financial, public relations and legal nightmare.

Almost everyone who reads Green Lodging News is in one form of sales or another—whether one runs a lodging establishment or sells a product or service. As a sales representative for your company, you have to be constantly mindful of sales and networking opportunities. If you are doing your job well, you already have a great website, make sales calls relentlessly, are a member of the various local, state and national industry associations (and actually attend their meetings), and exhibit at and attend trade shows where purchasing decision makers congregate.