Today’s episode provides listeners access to a session from Hospitality Sustainable Design Collaborative that Dan Ryan recently got to speak during. The webinar emphasizes the importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry. Collaborating with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Highgate Hotels, the initiative aims to educate industry professionals on climate health, equity, and carbon footprint reduction. The session highlights the significant environmental impact of packaging and showcases how companies like Berman Falk are innovating by using recyclable materials, reducing waste, and lowering carbon emissions. The broader discussion includes the financial and operational impacts of climate change, the role of sustainable practices in mitigating these effects, and how industry players can contribute to long-term environmental and economic resilience.

Takeaways: 

• Focus on initiatives that make travelers feel cared for while incorporating sustainability into your operations. This shows your commitment to both hospitality and environmental stewardship.
• Partner with major brands and contribute to educational programs that train your staff on climate health and equity.
• Implement tools like MindClick to simplify sustainability assessment. Evaluate products based on their entire life cycle and use this intelligence to make more sustainable choices in design and purchasing.
• Recognize and support leaders within your organization and industry who champion sustainability, such as those leading efforts in major hotel chains. Share their successes and innovations to inspire others.
• Establish clear metrics to measure the impact of your sustainability programs. Track engagement and success rates from educational initiatives and incorporate these learnings into your strategic planning.
• Break down complex sustainability information into manageable insights for your team. Use simplified frameworks and tools to make sustainability a more approachable and executable component of your operations.
• Transition to more sustainable packaging options, such as honeycomb cardboard, to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Clearly communicate these changes to all stakeholders involved in production and logistics.

Quote of the Show: 

“Every hotel provides an experience for our guests and the ability to not only tell a story through design but tell a story that has a purpose and intention with respect to addressing the challenges that we all face with climate change.” - JoAnna Abrams

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindclickinc/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannaabrams/ 
• Website: https://www.mindclick.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• MindClick https://www.mindclick.com/ 
• Marriott https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 
• Hilton https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/hilton-hotels/ 
• Hyatt https://www.hyatt.com/ 
• Highgate https://www.highgate.com/ 
• BermanFalk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ 
• PI FineArt https://pifineart.com/ 
• Moore & Giles https://mooreandgiles.com/ 
• Conde Nast Traveler Magazine https://www.cntraveler.com/ 
• Sonesta https://www.sonesta.com/ 
• IHG https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/reservation 

Ways to Tune In: 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419
• Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/