GOING green in the hotel industry is good for business and profits can be increased by reducing, reusing and recycling, according to Vincent M Joyner, ceo of Hospitality Investment Partners in Africa.

He was speaking at a recent meeting in Cape Town of a regional tourism industry partnership termed JAMMS (Joint Association Members Meeting Sessions) comprising Cape Town Tourism, Fedhasa Cape, SAACI and SATSA Western Cape. JAMMS meets quarterly to discuss issues of common concern in the province. Quoting the American Hotel & Lodging Association (www.ahla.com), he listed 11 minimum guidelines for ‘Going Green’ in hotels. They are: * Each hotel should form an environmental committee that is responsible for developing an environmental Green Plan for energy, water, and solid waste use.
* Hotels should manage their environmental performance by monitoring the electric, gas, water and waste usage on a monthly and annual basis.
* Hotels should replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps wherever possible.
* They should install digital thermostats in guestrooms and throughout the hotel.
* They should implement a towel and/or linen reuse programme.
* They should install water-saving showerheads and toilets in all guestroom baths and employee shower areas.
* They must implement a recycling programme,  including public spaces.
* They must implement a recycling programme for hazardous materials found in fluorescent bulbs, batteries and lighting ballasts through licensed service providers.
* They should purchase energy-saving appliances and equipment.
* All office paper products should have 20% or more post consumer recycled content. He said according to the AH&LA, the top 10 green things hotels could improve on were: 1. Having occupancy sensor controls for the thermostat in guestrooms
2.  Recycling food waste
3.  Using indoor paints that are low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) or green seal certified
4.  Using low-energy lamps in corridors
5.  Giving preferential treatment to vendors/suppliers who offer recycled products
6.  Using environmentally friendly daily cleaning chemicals
7.  Using low-energy lamps in back of house
8.  Tracking generation of solid waste on a monthly basis
9.  Having a recycling programme in guest rooms
10. Having a recycling programme in recreational areas.