Cleveland hotels reserve space for green practices

The Plain Dealer
GREEN INC.
October 13, 2008
by Sarah Hollander
Plain Dealer Reporter

• Four Cleveland hotels took part in a program this year to learn how to reduce waste, increase energy efficiency, buy green products and other environment-friendly fundamentals.
• Each developed a plan to put the lessons into practice.
• Some ideas are already being used. Others are being planned or considered for the future.

Hoteliers across the country are thinking of ways to green the hospitality industry as more chains adopt progressive philosophies, and guests care more about the impact of their visits.

In Cleveland, four hotel operators are leading the way, pushing ahead with ideas for better handling of everything from old newspapers to laundry, cleaning supplies and cooking oil. In addition to the Crowne Plaza, the Hyatt Regency at the Arcade, the Radisson Gateway and the InterContinental graduated this year from a program devised by Entrepreneurs for Sustainability.

The E4S program focused on fundamentals -- including waste reduction, energy efficiency and green procurement -- and asked each hotel to create a plan. "We`re looking into almost everything we can do to not only save money but reduce our carbon footprint," said Sheila Flack, executive administrative assistant at the Crowne Plaza and a member of her hotel`s green team.

As with many other businesses, recycling is often a starting point for hotels. The Crowne Plaza now buys recycled paper, which it encourages employees to use on both sides when possible and then recycle again. It has added cardboard recycling for the dozens of boxes that in which everything from toner to produce is delivered to the hotel. "I didn`t realize just how much cardboard there actually was until we started doing this," Flack said.

The 142-room Radisson introduced recycling last fall. The program covers everything from office paper to the newspapers given to guests every morning. The hotel recycles about 60 percent of its paper now, director of sales and green team member Megan Joyce said. The goal is to reach 75 percent in the next couple of years.

In the past month, the InterContinental expanded the recycling program at its main hotel, the 299-room InterContinental Hotel and Conference Center on Carnegie Avenue, to its two other properties -- the 162-suite InterContinental Suites Hotel on Euclid Avenue and the 232-room Cleveland Clinic Guest House Hotel. By the end of the year, it hopes to expand the program into meeting and banquet space, which, at 35,000 square feet, is the second largest hotel meeting space in the city.

Energy efficiency is another target area. The Radisson decided to unplug mini-fridges in guest rooms. The fridges cost about $26 a year in electricity when constantly plugged in, Joyce said. The hotel also unplugged all hair dryers. Major changes in laundering started about four years ago, general manager Carla Gold said. "It was astronomical what we saved," she said, estimating the savings at $30,000 a year in utilities and products. The hotel went from washing bed linens every day to every third day unless requested more frequently by guests. Guests also have the choice of using towels for extra days before sending them to the laundry. The Radisson also eliminated two types of aerosol cleaners for guest rooms and replaced them with sprays in refillable bottles.

Renovations and appliance replacements will open additional opportunities, said Scott Gerlach, director of sales for the InterContinental and president of the hotel`s recycling committee. The hotel looks for energy-efficient appliances and green products whenever possible, he said. And it`s thinking about the best ways to dispose of old carpet and furniture.

Positively Cleveland, the region`s convention and visitors bureau, also graduated from the E4S sustainability program. The bureau is thinking about ways to promote examples of green efforts from around the city, including area hotels. Convention planners are asking more and more about environmental efforts, Brewer said. Business travelers and tourists care as well, he said.

According to a poll by the travel Web site Orbitz, more than two-thirds of Americans surveyed cared about the eco-friendliness of a destination. "Travelers are reassessing how they travel, where they stay and the impact they leave behind when on vacation," the survey said. Future developments could head in many directions. The Crowne Plaza, for one, is thinking about offering free parking for guests who drive hybrids.

E4S has suggested potential for everything from food composting to co-op laundry facilities to generating heat for showers, laundry and pools with solar thermal units. "You have to take baby steps," Flack said. "Once something works, you keep going."

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