Year after year, locally sourced and locally grown products have consistently been among the top food trends in the hospitality industry. Yet, without adequate information about why and how to go local you may view it as daunting and beyond your reach. From the distinction in freshness and quality that local products offer to the positive economic impact on your business and your community, there are valuable reasons for local purchasing. Once you're committed to going local, it's necessary to understand what it takes to successfully integrate local buying into your procurement strategy. Defining what local means for your business and learning how to effectively work with suppliers are among the key goals you should set. READ MORE

One of the world's most desirable destinations, Riviera Maya has become a hub of ecotourism thanks to its biodiversity and varied landscapes along the Caribbean coastline. As the Mexican Caribbean has become one of the. fastest growing tourism destinations globally over the past 20 years, organizations and hospitality partners have implemented programs and practices encouraging sustainability and environmental responsibility. El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma is a leader in this sector, integrating employee and guest education as well as property-wide initiatives and the installation of the region's largest greenhouse, which spans 100,000 square feet. READ MORE

We are a transient society. Whether for business or leisure, Americans spend a great deal of time on the road, in spite of the promises of the digital revolution. And we are not alone: while the U.S. Travel Association projects that total domestic travel will grow by 3% this year over 2012, international inbound travel is projected to grow 4.3%, with 7.1% growth in spending by these international travelers. With so many of us spending an increasing number of nights away from home, it's only natural that we would want our hotels to feel like a home away from home, and more and more hotel patrons are factoring indoor air quality (IAQ) into their choices. READ MORE

With rising energy costs, government regulations, consumer expectations, and requests for proposals asking for environmental metrics, sustainability efforts are an increasingly top priority for hospitality companies around the globe. With countless strategies and tactics aimed at reducing environmental impact, effective measurement can make the difference between assuming you are making progress, and knowing you are making progress. Such distinctions are especially critical at a time when resources are tight, and every dollar counts. READ MORE

According to the TripAdvisor 2012 Industry Index, cost reduction is the number one reason for implementing eco-friendly hospitality practices. The survey received more than 25,000 responses from hoteliers around the globe of which 66% chose cost savings. Other reasons mentioned were because it is an industry trend (51%), guest demand (29%), marketing and public relations purposes (25%), because the competition has it (13%), regulation (7%) and to increase room rates (3%). READ MORE

It's a real pleasure for guests to spend time in a well-run hotel. From the greeting at the front door, to the efficiency of the people behind the front desk, to your nice clean room and a place to eat and drink, sometimes it's not as good as home - it's better. It takes a real commitment to operating excellence to achieve that guest experience. Think about it - your hotel runs 24 hours a day, and of course you have to make sure everything run smoothly in rooms, meeting areas, restaurants and bars, in fitness centers and pools. All of that without even mentioning the areas that most guests never see but rely on like the laundry facility that cleans their sheets and towels and the mechanical rooms that heat and cool the property. READ MORE

Perhaps no other industry is as deeply rooted in the delivery of a quality customer experience than hospitality. Yet, while other industries such as financial, healthcare and retail have senior level customer experience officers within their companies, hotels do not. Are we better or worse for it? Reading about the anticipated rise of customer experience management (CEM) in 2013 got me thinking about its potential impact on hospitality. In an industry built so squarely on creating customer experiences, how do we even define customer experience management? READ MORE

We are going to be seeing more and more hotels change flags this year as loans come due and many franchisors stop giving out "hall passes," to properties with no money to renovate. These franchisors are tired of waiting for properties to live up to current standards and are going to insist on fulfilling the Performance Improvement Plan or changing the flag. READ MORE

LEED certification. For some in our industry, the mere mention causes a reflexive reach for wallets amidst protestations about ROI and guests who don't care, don't understand and won't pay for it. In 2008, we at Concord Hospitality Enterprises had many of those same concerns about incremental costs and value to consumers when we embarked on our first LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) project, the Settler's Ridge Courtyard by Marriott in Pittsburgh, Pa., And indeed, it did cost over $500,000 more to build, but the annual savings exceeded our expectations so we persevered in figuring out how to minimize cost to maximize our returns and make sustainability as much a part of our company's culture as any of our cornerstones. READ MORE

The hospitality industry has seen significant change as green initiatives and sustainability have taken a more prominent role in today's world and in the consciousness of our guests and our staff. Hotel operators across the globe are held increasingly accountable to a “worldwide global citizenship” standard. This is a term that our team fully embraces here at The Westin Verasa Napa. We understand how significant this responsibility is and the importance of sustainability on a long-term basis. As a community leader, we are committed to positively contributing to our environmental well-being now and in our future endeavors. READ MORE

In response to the nation's Honeybee shortage and as part of the hotel's environmental stewardship program, Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown welcomed 105,000 Italian honeybees to their new home in May of 2009. The rooftop of Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown is abuzz with four large honey beehives and their ecologically important residents. The bees enhance the hotel's culinary program, as does its interior courtyard garden which provides fresh herbs, edible blossoms, plants, trees and flowers to the surrounding Georgetown neighborhood. READ MORE

Sustainable Development is a fairly new concept in the hotel industry and though many hoteliers have included it in their strategy, it does not yet have the recognition it deserves in view of the better revenues and margins it can develop. The challenge comes from lack of concerted engagement of industry stakeholders, from owners to suppliers, from employees to customers. The Sustainable business model is still in its infancy and there is a long journey ahead, so let's be positive and Let's Get Engaged! READ MORE

Since opening our first hotel in 1957, Hyatt has always believed that the way we manage our business and operate our hotels defines who we are and what we stand for. With nearly 500 properties in 45 countries, it's critical that we conduct our business in a responsible way that that minimizes our environmental impact, increases value for our shareholders and makes a positive difference in the communities where we operate. In 2011, Hyatt formalized this long standing commitment with the launch of Hyatt Thrive, our company's global corporate responsibility platform, which is designed to help make our communities places where our associates are proud to work, our guests want to visit, our neighbors want to live and owners want to invest. READ MORE

In today's economy, staying within budget while keeping a landscape looking beautiful can seem impossible. But a healthy, attractive landscape does not have to break the bank. In the article "Hotel Gardening: Tips to Keep the Green in Your Lawn and Wallet," U.S. Lawns President Ken Hutcheson discusses how hotels can help preserve a healthy landscape that retains its maximum value while generating cost savings over the long-run. Ken's article provides tips that can help hotel owners and managers can stay within budget while still showcasing a property in its best light. READ MORE

As the international tourism industry grapples with increasingly complex matter of sustainability reporting, a series of roundtables and studies developed by the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research focus on the "material items," that is, the practices and products that count the most in a hotel or restaurant's carbon footprint. These material items are the key issues for stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and regulators, and these items have the greatest impact on a company's sustainability profile. While there is some variation in the material items for various businesses, the most important issues are remarkable similar across different industries. READ MORE