Setting a great green example: Associations in the hospitality industry

After 35 successful years in the furniture refinishing business, we have seen our fair share of industry trends and shifts. However, one trend we are happy to see gain serious momentum and traction over the past couple years is sustainability. As a furniture asset management company that offers hotels, government bodies and universities a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to purchasing new furniture, it’s great to see organizations across so many industries embracing wide-spread sustainable initiatives, ranging from linen reuse programs to planting trees to combat deforestation.

SustainabilityOne industry in particular that has continued to advance its efforts in sustainability is hospitality. Recently, we’ve even seen a number of non-profit organizations spear-heading such initiatives. Some of the most notable include:

–  Green Hotels Association: this 20 year-old non-profit brings global hotels together for a common commitment of environmentalism and sustainability. The association offers hotels affordable environmentally-friendly products such as linen reuse placards, toilet tank fill diverters, and hygiene product dispensers.

– World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): a group with a mission to improve the quality of tourism around the world, and tourism’s positive effects on sustainable development. The WTTC has lead the way in carbon emissions mitigation through its partnership with the International Tourism Partnership (ITP) and the creation of the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative.  To date, twelve major hotel chains have committed to the initiative, including Hilton, Marriott and Starwood.

– 10 Million Trees Initiative: An initiative to combat deforestation and global warming, this was launched by the Four Seasons, which committed to planting ten million trees across 34 countries in celebration of its 50 year anniversary.

While these are only a few associations and initiatives aimed to improve sustainability, we hope all organizations, regardless of industry, will continue to implement solutions designed to save money and our environment.

For more information on how The Refinishing Touch’s furniture refinishing services can help your organization decease your carbon footprint and money spent, go to our website at www.therefinishingtouch.com, or request a free quote here.