Canadian green hotel program expands into the U.S.

Canadian-born green hotel certification program, Green Key Eco-Rating Program (Green Key), has officially expanded its operations into its southern cousin, the United States.

Being one of the first of its kind to rank and certify lodging based on sustainable, “green” practices, Green Key was developed by a leading environmental engineering firm with support from the Canadian Government to withstand the scrutiny of a wide-range of environmental experts, and has been repeatedly praised by the U.S. Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE), the Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and the Rainforest Alliance.

“The Green Key Eco-Rating Program is the only one of its kind that addresses the specific needs of hotel operators,” said Arthur Hall Adams, a LEED Accredited Professional and CEO of the environmental architecture and design firm AHAdams & Company. “This program is sound environmentally and fiscally and is an exciting addition to the ‘green’ movement.”

Green Key is also listed in the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AH&LA) Green Resource Center.

“Our research indicated that a robust third-party audit verification process was crucial to transition the program to the United States,” explained Tony Pollard, President of the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC). “LRA Worldwide was a natural partner for this function based on the firm’s stellar global reputation for hotel quality assurance inspections.”

Recent studies show that nearly 60% of potential hotel guests consider a property’s environmental program prior to booking. Green Key-rated hotels can benefit financially from increased bookings and reduced operating costs, as well as fulfill a widespread corporate responsibility mandate throughout the hospitality industry to lessen one’s environmental footprint.

Fairmont and Hyatt in on the action

“As a true leader in environmental stewardship, Fairmont sees value in working with like-minded partners to reduce its environmental impact and promote operational sustainability,” said Sarah Dayboll, Fairmont’s manager of environmental affairs. “Expanding the Green Key program to our U.S.-based properties supports Fairmont’s brandwide commitment to minimizing its impact on the planet, as it provides our hotels with another tool to audit, benchmark and also enhance their environmental activity.”

The partnership between Green Key and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, an environmentally progressive hotel group with close to two decades of experience greening its operations, dates back to the original development of the program in the mid-1990s.

“As a recognized leader in Canada and globally in terms of sustainable hotel practices, we are very pleased that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has made this commitment as we launch Green Key in the United States,” explained Tony Pollard, president of Green Key Global.

“Grand Hyatt New York has been a Green Key member since December and in that time we have been able to improve our environmental management by actively working on recommendations received from the audit,” explained Diana Beltran, Environmental Development Manager for Grand Hyatt New York.

“We are excited to continue our involvement with the Green Key program, as we share the same values: improving in the three P’s – Planet, People and Profit,” added Beltran.

Armed with a new website, www.greenkeyglobal.com, the program offers a comprehensive evaluation for lodging properties -  a 140-question audit that is self-administered by the staff at the participating property, with answers configured to award the property a ranking of 1 to 5 “Green Keys.” The property also receives a comprehensive report that includes recommendations, best practices and potential areas for improvement and savings.

Green Key also enforces random, on-site verification of audit results, mitigating the risk of score inflation.

The initial audit covers the following operational areas and sustainable practices:

• Corporate Environmental Management
• Housekeeping
• Food & Beverage Operations
• Conference & Meeting Facilities
• Engineering
• Energy conservation
• Water conservation
• Solid waste management
• Hazardous waste management
• Indoor air quality
• Community outreach
• Building infrastructure
• Land use
• Environmental management

For more information visit www.greenkeyglobal.com.

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American Hotel & Lodging Association, Canada, corporate responsibility, hospitality, Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), Hotels, Hyatt, LEED, sustainable tourism, U.S., United States