Meeting News - March 9, 2009 - (Page 24)

Planners Guide to Florida Interest in the Sunshine State’s Green Lodging Program Ripens First ‘Green Lodging Conference,’ tied into the program, coincides with Florida’s ballooning roster of green hotels In its first year, the Florida Green Lodging Conference drew 230 attendees and more than 30 exhibitors to Gainesville Nov. 1012, suggesting sustainable hospitality has taken firm root in the state. Both suppliers and planners listened to case studies and advice on green meetings. Herve Houdre, general manager of the Willard InterContinental Washington (DC) wowed conference-goers with his keynote address on what his property has done since 2006 to move into sustainability, using what he calls the “Three Ps”: profit, people, and planet (Feb 16 MN, p. 19). Houdre was cautious about implementing a green agenda when he first arrived at the Willard in 2004 because of the hotel’s premium reputation. He didn’t want to risk appearing cheap by asking high-roller guests to reuse towels and bed linens. But, he said, “I decided I could ask them to make sacrifices if we put the resulting savings toward good causes.” The hotel now uses 100-percent wind-powered electricity through renewable energy credits, offers hybrid cars for guest use, and asks guests to donate $1 per night to help supply fresh water in South Africa and in Indian reservations in South Dakota, among many other projects. Many conference attendees were Florida suppliers interested in joining the state’s Green Lodging Program, which has been in place since 2004 but more than doubled its number of certified properties in 2008 alone. Planner Jan Sneegas, director of general assembly and conference services for the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, cautioned attendees on greenwashing, which sometimes occurs when suppliers make pitches for her business. “Don’t tell me what you’re going to do—tell me what you’ve done,” said Sneegas. She asks hotels to back up their claims with documentation on practices, percentage of materials recycled, the types of materials used to deliver food service, and the amount of organic meetings several years ago when her boss told her to consider them. Sneegas worried, as many planners do, that acknowledging shortcomings in her existing practices would require her to overhaul her entire system—something she hardly had the budget for. But, Sneegas quoted her boss: “Nobody’s asking you to do everything at once. All we’re asking is that you start taking the right steps.” That admonition, Sneegas said, freed her toward sustainable practices. —Brad Crawford food served, for example. If that seemed hard-line, Sneegas herself resisted sustainable MeetingNews Q & A: Lauderdale Moves Casually Upscale Christine Tascione, convention and group sales director for the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, says destination will surprise with its continuing evolution from Spring Break hub Though there’s likely to be a slowdown in hotel development across the nation in the coming months, there’s a host of newly opened hotels, as well as some planned properties, springing up in Fort Lauderdale. MeetingNews recently spoke about the destination with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau’s convention and group sales director, Christine Tascione. She provided insight into the city’s strong growth and its transformation from Spring Break haven to a sophisticated, international beach destination. Can you describe the mix of hotel properties in the Fort Lauderdale area right now? Q A What surprises meeting attendees the most in Lauderdale? Q A Unless they’ve visited Fort Lauderdale in the past five years, they simply can’t comprehend our transformation. Because of our new luxury properties and upscale development, our ambience and attitude are literally, and figuratively, between the feeling of Palm Beach and South Beach. A casually upscale and welcoming vibe permeates Fort Lauderdale’s culture and conscience. What are your main challenges in today’s climate? We have options ranging from an intimate beach setting to a convention destination resort, and everything in between. Among the destination’s 30,000-plus rooms are new hotels, recently renovated properties like the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort; Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale; and Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club, as well as, later this year, the W Fort Lauderdale, Trump International Hotel & Tower, and Westin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale. Q A In light of the current state of the economy, many of our hotels have shifted their focus to different types of business, and to increasing their mix of group business. One area we’re particularly focusing on is the association market, both professional and nonprofessional. continued on page 26 24 MeetingNews March 9, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - March 9, 2009

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