Wednesday, August 21, 2024 The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), in partnership with Questex, is bringing together the industry’s top technology and operations event, The Hospitality Show, with a strong emphasis on sustainability for this year’s edition. Among the highlights is the co-location of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Autumn Summit, set to take place in San Antonio, Texas, from October 28-30, 2024, at the Henry B. González Convention Center.
The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Autumn Summit will gather senior leaders from the global hospitality sector, including CEOs and C-suite executives from leading hotel companies, real estate owners, investment funds, technology firms, procurement specialists, marketing agencies, and representatives from legal and consulting firms. These industry leaders will engage in vital discussions on implementing Net Positive Hospitality, sharing best practices, exploring innovative opportunities, and fostering new collaborations. Sustainability is increasingly critical for hotel operations, offering cost savings through energy efficiency and waste reduction, while also appealing to eco-conscious travelers and enhancing guest satisfaction.
The Hospitality Show is committed to serving as a live case study and an inspirational resource for hoteliers looking to adopt profitable sustainable practices in their properties. AHLA’s sustainability programs, Green Key Global and Responsible Stay®, will be prominently featured at The Show. Green Key Global, operated in partnership by AHLA and the Hotel Association of Canada, is the hotel industry’s exclusive environmental certification program.
It offers hotels credibility for their current sustainability efforts and provides a strategic plan for ongoing improvements. The Responsible Stay® initiative by AHLA focuses on bringing together America’s hotel brands, owners, operators, and employees to collectively reduce carbon emissions, decrease energy consumption, conserve water, and source materials responsibly. This initiative aims to offer guests innovative and sustainable experiences and events, enhancing the overall impact of the hospitality industry.
Questex has incorporated its Quest Zero initiatives into the operations of The Hospitality Show once again this year, continuing the approach from the inaugural 2023 event. This program is a key component of Questex’s commitment to the Net Zero Carbon Event initiative and the company’s goal to achieve Net Zero by 2050. The practices include waste reduction by eliminating carpet use and reusing nearly 95% of onsite graphics, minimizing food waste through careful planning and donations, and engaging the community to reduce onsite waste and travel emissions by encouraging carbon offset donations during registration.
The Henry B. González Convention Center was specifically selected for its dedication to sustainable practices, including its LEED Silver Certification, waste reduction efforts, energy and water conservation, green purchasing policies, and contributions to the city’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050. The Show 2024 will highlight several additional sustainability-focused initiatives, including: “We’re honoured to be holding our Autumn Summit at The Hospitality Show in collaboration with the AHLA and Questex,” said Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
“It is significant to be holding our summit in the United States – a first for the Alliance since its recent rebrand with a global reach – as we look to continue growing our US-based membership. We look forward to mapping out our ambitions and actions for 2025 with our members, partners and senior leaders, charting the future of the industry. We also look forward to strengthening our relationship with the AHLA and forming a critical new partnership with Questex, as we seek to drive sustainability across the industry.
” The Show 2024 builds on the successful sustainability initiatives introduced at last year’s inaugural event. Notable sustainability achievements from The Show 2023 include:.
