HAC aims for 1,500 Green Key hotels

OTTAWA—The Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key Eco-Rating Program is  about to break the 900 mark, with 896 properties registered as of press time. Of these, 246 have registered in the past year alone.

And the association has big expansion plans, with a goal of 1,000 hotels by the end of 2008, and 1,500 hotels by the end of 2009, according to HAC director of business development, Walter Willett, who is responsible for the program.

The  Green Key program is a graduated rating system designed to recognize hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental performance.  Based on the results of a comprehensive environmental audit, hoteliers are awarded a one to five Green Key rating.
 
Key program benefits

Hotels are flocking to the Green Key program due to a number of key benefits, according to Willett.

o    The HAC Green Key Eco-Rating Program is unique in that it is administered entirely on-line and is therefore easy for hoteliers to access. Once a hotelier has registered for the program, they are granted instant access to the member section of the Green Key website which includes the online audit as well as educational tools and best practices case studies.

o    A major benefit is that the program was designed by hoteliers, for hoteliers. The common terms and descriptions used in the program are applicable specifically to the industry.

o    Green Key offers a number of marketing advantages such as recognition of Green Key hotels in  the Canadian Federal Government Accommodation Directory, as well as partnerships with organizations such as the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, Meeting Planners International, Natural Resources Canada and the Green Meeting Guide.

o    Finally, an outstanding benefit is return-on-investment for hotels. Joining the program costs hoteliers less than $1 per day and their investment in the Green Key program can lead to energy and utility savings, increased bookings and improved environmental performance for the hotel.”

“The Green Key program now has an 11 year track record and our credibility continues to grow and be recognized not only in Canada, but also internationally, as one of the best environmental programs for hotels in the world,” says Tony Pollard, HAC president.

“We are very excited to be close to achieving a major milestone of 1,000 hotels registered in the program in addition to signing our first US-based hotels. With a major expansion plan of the program into the US market in the works, we feel Green Key can become the global platform for excellence for hotels and we look forward to adding more partners and features on to our program in the near future.

Hotel green initiatives

The HAC recently launched an e-newsletter initiative for Green Key members titled the ‘Green Scene’, which will provide members with updated tips, suggestions and resources to improve the environmental performance at their hotels. For the Spring 2008 edition they asked hotels to send in their stories on initiatives they had worked on for the annual ‘Earth Day Canada’ event. Here is a sampling of some of the stories presented, which gives an indication of the level of commitment of hotels and the hospitality industry around the country to do their part for the environment.

Deerhurst Resort’s Green Team covers a lot of ground in Muskoka, Ontario completing seasonal clean-ups of the municipal roads surrounding the property’s 800 acres. They have also adopted a section of the nearby Highway 60, which leads to Algonquin Provincial Park. Over 20 bags of garbage, 10 bags of recyclables and other discarded items and trash were collected while enjoying the sunshine and a few sprinkles of rain during last year’s event.

The Fairmont Château Lake Louise in Lake Louise, Alberta, held an Earth Awareness Day on March 20 in their staff cafeteria, where they featured a 100 per cent organic menu (even the mayonnaise was made in house from organic eggs and oil). Their resident Green Team stepped up to the plate to serve that day. On March 29, they also hosted two electricity-free events for Earth Hour (one for colleagues and one for guests). The front of the majestic lake was lit entirely by ice luminaries.

Staff of The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, Quebec took part in cleaning up their neighbourhood last year in celebration of Earth Day; this year they plan on continuing that trend. They encourage employees to leave their cars at home, and to bike/walk/carpool to work. Those who participated last year were entered into a draw for a monthly public transportation pass. Staff at the Queen Elizabeth also sold plants (grown by one of their chefs), put money towards their Green Committee, and donated office supplies, clothing, paint, lightbulbs, dishes, etc. to local shelters and charitable organizations.

Pine Bungalows, Jasper National Park, is the proud recipient of the 2007 ‘Greenest in Jasper’ award, the Parks Canada “Park Environmentally Responsible Citizen (Perc) Award”, and in 2002 they won the Jasper National Park Heritage Excellence Award. Twice they have been runners-up for Alberta Tourism’s ALTO “Sustainable Tourism Award.” To encourage guest participation in their environmentally friendly ways, they have a ‘blue recycle box’ in each room. In addition, they have also installed low energy light bulbs, and have planted native grasses that require less watering.

The Sawridge Inn in Jasper, Alberta has participated in Jasper’s annual “town clean up” for many years. Management and staff actively partake in cleaning up several hectares of public land around their property.

Trout Point Lodge of Nova Scotia has been selected as a Nature & Kind Trusted Partner, the first Canadian hotel chosen for inclusion in the prestigious Travel Collection of this Battersea, England based company. The Nature & Kind Travel Collection is a by-invitation only, international marketing alliance of boutique accommodation, tour operators and retreat specialists who focus on healthy living and sustainable travel.

The “Green Team” staff at the Best Western Parkway Inn, Cornwall, Ontario, volunteered their own time on Earth Day in April to undertake a Spring clean up of the public outdoor areas of the property.