Hospitality industry to show off its sustainable trends

Opening its doors on May 18 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center and Venetian Conference Center in Las Vegas, the hospitality industry’s only conference dedicated to sustainable design will be welcoming industry players from around the world.

The 2010 Hospitality Design Green Day (HD Green Day), presented by Hospitality Design (HD) magazine, is the industry’s leading event focused on idea exchange, education and trends related to sustainable design and operations. Co-located with Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo), the event will take place from noon to 4:15 p.m.

“HD Green Day provides a unique opportunity to connect with the companies and individuals who are truly writing the new rules of hospitality,” said Michelle Finn, vice president of the Hospitality Design Group. “Every facet of green design is carefully addressed and discussed during the conference including green building standards, best practices and energy-efficient design.”

Spirit of sustainable competition

One of the highlights during HD Green Day will be the unveiling of the winning design from the inaugural Sustainable Suite Design Competition, presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in conjunction with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and NEWH, Inc.-The Hospitality Industry Network.

Selected by a jury of industry experts from 65 entries, design firms WATG and IDEO will present their inventive suite, Haptik, a Greek term meaning to experience interactions based on sense of touch. The presentation will be made by WATG’s Raj Chandnani and Rhonda Rasmussen and will precede the inaugural exhibit of the winning entry at HD Expo, on display May 19 to 21, 2010.

Along with the competition, HD Green Day kicks off with lunch featuring keynote speaker Jason McLennan, CEO of the Cascadia Green Building Council and author of four books including “The Philosophy of Sustainable Design.” The luncheon features the announcement of the winners of the industry’s leading sustainability award competitions in partnership with NEWH, Inc.-The Hospitality Industry Network and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Recognizing innovation in hospitality, the third annual HD/ASID Earth-Minded Awards (EMAs) will be announced for creative accomplishments in green project and product design categories. NEWH, Inc.-The Hospitality Industry Network will also present its annual Sustainable Hospitality Student Design Competition award with matching grants to a student and his or her university. The scholarship is underwritten by JLF/lone meadow and Designtex.

To close out the afternoon, Heather Gadonniex, LEED AP, and JoAnna Abrams from MindClick SGM will lead a session titled, “Responding to Demand for Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry.” Given that sustainability is a moving target, the session will take a close look at the reality of how the hospitality industry is inundated with standards, certifications and protocols, while at the same time the influence of the USGBC, EPA and even corporations such as Walmart is changing the very definition of sustainability.

Attendees can learn what the implications are for purchasing decisions throughout the supply chain and see how leaders in the industry are responding.

For more info, visit HD Expo 2010 online.