Plan Your Meetings

Straight talk about sustainability with Kimpton Hotels’ Scott Morgan

In last month’s article we heard from meeting and events planner, Jaime Nack, regarding ways planners can implement sustainable practices. This month, we are asking the same questions of the hotel industry.

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Scott Morgan, Director of National Group Sales
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant Group, LLC
11-year hospitality industry veteran
5 years’ experience implementing sustainable practices (Kimpton has 23 years)

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What do you see as the greatest influence of change within the meetings industry towards sustainable meetings?

I think the greatest influence of change is the amount of resources available, and the industry’s focus and commitment to reducing [its] carbon footprint. The Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council (CIC), is developing and implementing industry-wide accepted practices which will create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry.

In this process, APEX is aggressively pursuing the development of best practices for green meetings. Two key partners in this effort are ASTM International and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  APEX is currently in the process of developing recognized standards and certifications as a benchmark for green meetings through the help of many volunteers.

If a meeting planner could focus on only one area of sustainability, where should they get started?

If a meeting planner can only focus on one area as it relates to meetings, I would recommend concentrating on the 3 Rs: Reduce – Reuse – Recycle, with an emphasis on the following:

• Water conservation
• Waste management/pollution prevention
• Energy conservation and renewable energy
• Habitat management/local geographic factors
• Environmental management (leadership, education and communications
• Supply chain/environmental purchasing/local sourcing community impact and outreach
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

If you would like to get involved and learn more about how you can make a difference in the hospitality industry, join the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC), a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. GMIC promotes green practices globally by offering educational programs in the form of training workshops and online resources. The council is in the process of partnering with educational institutions to develop an accredited curriculum at the university level for green meetings, and it’s also leading the meeting industry in improving meeting management by supporting collaboration and the development and dissemination of resources and opportunities that improve the environmental performance of meetings and events. [Editor's note: It's also helping the EPA, ASTM and APEX/CIC develop green standards for the industry.]

In your opinion, which is better, composting or recycling? How does a meeting planner choose which to implement?

That is a great question. The most environmentally sound management of trash or garbage is achieved when these approaches are implemented according to the EPA’s preferred order:

• Source reduction first
• Recycling and composting second
• Disposal in landfills or waste combusters last

From a supplier’s perspective, implementing a composting method on site at a hotel or venue can be a complex process. A solution is to partner with a company that offers food composting services to food-related businesses. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, contribute to cleaner local water ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, and promote healthier living and communities.

How important are metrics? Can you explain which measurements a planner should focus on?

At the end of the day, sustainability is all about accountability and being compliant. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ EarthCare program (established 1985) has pioneered new ways to reduce guest impact on the environment, while ensuring the high quality hotel experience our guests expect. I recommend meeting planners focus on the following areas, as Kimpton has seen the following results:

• Use of non-toxic cleaners: Eliminated over 48,596 Gallons (974 bathtubs) of toxic cleaners from our water supplies.
• Cardboard recycling: Recycled and reused over 117 tons of cardboard, which would fill 1.25 Olympic sized swimming pools.
• Use of organic and shade grown coffee: Preserved over 40,000 acres (18 football fields) of pesticide-free sustainable agriculture.
• Use of recycled paper: Saved over 253 trees and eliminated 18,000 pounds of unnecessary waste by printing on recycled paper.
• Recycling coat hangers: Recycled over 52,000 coat hangers, preventing the use of over 1.8 tons of steel and metal.

In your opinion what is the greatest challenge faced by meeting planners trying to implement green practices?

I think the greatest challenge is where to start and how to have the most impact as it relates to reducing a company’s carbon footprint from meeting. I recommend identifying a long-term goal as it relates to sustainability and build a business model around key initiatives to achieve this goal. Focusing on the 3 Rs (Reduce – Reuse – Recycle) as it relates to each meeting is essential, [as is] incorporating a Corporate Social Responsibility element. Once the following has been identified, implementing green standards will contribute to the overall success of the planner’s meeting generating the highest rate of ROI.

What do you see as the biggest misconception of implementing sustainable practices?

I think the biggest myth is that implementing sustainable practices are expensive. The reality is that implementing sustainable standards, as they relate to meetings, increases economic and environmental efficiency by minimizing the use of resources and reducing the amount of waste produced from meeting activities.

At Kimpton, our philosophy on environmental responsibility and sustainability is about embracing behavioral change and making a difference. Being sustainable is not a one-day job. It is a commitment that Kimpton started in 1985 and is dedicated to for life. Kimpton’s 12 environmentally responsible practices are now mandatory for every event at every hotel.

What are those 12 practices?

Ranging from communications procedures to banquet operations, practices include:

• All banquet water is U.S. sourced, if requested by client
• All water is served in pitchers with reusable/washable glassware
• All sales collateral, meeting notepads and coasters are made of 100% recycled paper
• All napkins are made of cloth or recycled paper
• Paperless services: electronic distribution of sales proposals, catering menus and banquet event orders
• Internal paperless standards: all 10-day and group resumes are e-mailed prior to staff meetings
• Every event includes a recycling bin for paper
• At least four organic tea options are available at all coffee and tea stations
• Plastic/wood stirrers are eliminated and replaced with reusable spoons
• Styrofoam/disposable cups are eliminated and replaced with reusable cups and mugs
• Individually packaged condiments are eliminated and replaced with large containers
• Plastic silverware in boxed lunches is replaced with recycled plastic ware and lunches are packaged in recycled paper bags or bio-pak boxes

Do you include language in your RFPs and contracts when working with new vendors?  If so, can you give an example of this?

Kimpton has taken extreme measures in implementing an environmental purchasing policy. As a result, every hotel adopts standard environmentally friendly products and practices with high-impact and benefit to our planet. A few [examples] of our efforts include:

• All rooms cleaned with environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• All corporate collateral is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink.
• Property-wide printing is on recycled paper.
• All complimentary lobby coffee is organic, locally grown, shade grown and/or fair trade.
• Guests have the opportunity to do their part to reduce energy and detergents required for daily washings with a towel/linen reuse program.
• Back of house recycling programs divert glass, bottles, paper, cardboard, etc., from landfills.
• Back of house lighting retrofitted and audited to ensure energy efficient bulbs are in place.
• Implementation and auditing of low flow systems for faucets, toilets and showers to conserve water.
• At any hotel you may find environmental best practice activities such as recycling of coat hangers, elimination of styrofoam cups, paperless check-ins/outs, organic flowers, etc.
• In-room designer recycling bins encourage guests to participate in reducing our environmental impact.
• Honor bars include organic snacks and beverages.
• Instead of being thrown away, unused amenity bottles are donated and used by local charities.

Another great resource is The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC), which has compiled information that will assist purchasers in their efforts to establish or maintain an environmental purchasing program.

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Lindsay Smith is the Sustainability Program Manager for Denver’s Colorado Convention Center and a member of the Green Meeting Industry Council.