Now, here’s the story:

Three years ago, the leadership team at the Radisson LAX made the decision to become a Green Seal™ Certified hotel.  We knew that committing to operating the hotel under the Green Seal requirements would improve our hotel’s environmental performance and reduce the impacts of our operations.  What we didn’t know at the time is that it would lead to a community-wide initiative that would reduce the overall environmental impact of the Gateway to LA business district.  Here’s what happened.

Going through the process of meeting Green Seal’s strict requirements under the GS-33 standard proved to be a challenging but achievable endeavor.  We realized that the learning curve was sharp, and that if we were willing to share our experiences, other hotels might participate and become certified as well.  After all, the goal of being a green business is not just to gain a marketplace advantage; it is to protect and sustain the community that makes doing business possible.  So we shared our experience with neighboring businesses, offering workshops and assistance to interested participants within our business district.  And guess what – it worked.  The Gateway to LA business district now boasts five Green Seal Certified hotels, combined that’s 3,969 hotel rooms, which is one of the largest concentrations of Green Seal certified hotel rooms in the country.

In addition to the moral of the story we noted at the beginning, what we also learned is:

• See the Big Picture, and lead by example;
• What’s good for the community is good for business;
• The impact of being green is bigger (and more effective) when shared.

You can read more about the Gateway to a Greener LA initiative at this link:

Gateway to L.A. Continues the Greening of the Century Boulevard Hotel Corridor

We believe that all humanity has a responsibility to ensure the sustainability of our resources for future generations. And we take this responsibility seriously! Therefore, we have initiated a Green Effort at the Radisson LAX, to do our part to minimize our environmental footprint.

SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?
We’ve initiated many policies and procedures to help us achieve our green goals. Here are some of them:

1. Recycle! – Offices, meetings, public space, guestrooms, everywhere!
2. Composting food and yard waste
3. Copy and print double-sided (save paper, save a tree!)
4. Purchase items in bulk when possible
5. Donate leftover food
6. Donate partially used guest amenities
7. Minimize use of disposable food service items
8. Switch existing equipment with energy efficient upon replacement
9. Use energy efficient lighting throughout hotel
10.  Preventive maintenance on HVAC, laundry, and kitchen equipment
11.  Water conserving plumbing fixtures throughout hotel
12. Landscaping that is drought resistant and watering procedures that conserve
13. Towel & Linen reuse program (allowing guests to participate)
14. Fill washers, dryers and dishwasher to full capacity for each use
15. Use of environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry products
16. Chemical storage and mixing areas with adequate ventilation and drainage
17. Purchase items that are environmentally friendly
18. Use of recycled content paper products
19. Use of durable goods for longevity
20. Select vendors who are committed to environmental consciousness

Our ideals are only as good as the effort we put into it. We rely on ALL of our employees to help us achieve our green goals. Each employee is encouraged to think about the impact of every task they perform and consider how we can improve our environmental performance as a company.

We also encourage all of our guests to participate with us. To learn more about how hotel guests can reduce environmental impacts of travel, check out the Green Tips for Travelers from the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

We recognize that there are many ways to be an environmental steward.  This year, we are encouraging our employees to strive for ZERO WASTE for at least one day this month.  What does ZERO WASTE mean?  Zero waste is a strategy that aims to significantly reduce the amount of waste we create by:

1. reducing our overall consumption and the inevitable waste that results,
2. reusing or repurposing items that might have ended up on the trash, and
3. recycling and composting all discards.

We believe that if we really think things through in advance of our purchases, we can achieve ZERO WASTE.

Here’s the challenge:

For one day, think about everything you throw away.  Then, think about what you could do differently that would eliminate that waste.  For example, select items that have little or no packaging and be sure that packaging is recyclable.  If it isn’t, select something else!

Imagine if everyone in America had a zero waste day, for just one day.  Not only would it reduce pollution, it would save energy, water and carbon emissions.  Please consider joining us and take the Zero Waste challenge, and be part of the solution.

Happy World Environment Day!

However, we realize that air pollution is not limited to the air we breathe outside, it can exist indoors as well.  Since people spend 80-90% of their lives indoors, it is important to focus on protecting the quality of our indoor environment.

One important step we’ve taken to improve indoor air quality is to reduce the amount of hazardous chemicals we use.  Our cleaning products are Green Seal™ certified; they are non-toxic and contain no phosphates.  All of our paints meet specific requirements for VOC content.  And, we ensure that our chemical storage and mixing areas are secure and provide adequate drainage and ventilation.

Every month, we distribute a “Green Tip of the Month” to all of our employees.  In May, our focus was on clean air.  There are many individual actions we can take to protect both our indoor and outdoor air quality.  When everyone contributes, the combined effort can make a big impact.

One unique conference highlight was the Bl!nk presentations, where individuals gave a “rapid fire” presentation allowing them 2-5 minutes to share something about themselves, something that inspires and ignites their passion, allowing attendees to get to know each other in different, meaningful ways and discover new connections.

Our presentation was entitled “Sustainability Comes in All Shapes and Sizes” and highlighted the five Green Seal™ certified hotels within the Portfolio Hotel Group.  The general message is that it doesn’t matter the size, brand, or city of a hotel, sustainability is a winning proposition for all.  Check out the video of our presentation.

Employees were encouraged to submit a response during Earth Week, and representatives from our Green Team selected the finalists and ultimately a winner. We had 40 fantastic entries! Below is the winning Six Word Essay:

“Bestow awareness globally thru environmental devotion.”

Congratulations to Antoinette Romero from our Sales department for submitting the winning essay!

Check out the compilation of the Six Word Essays in the video below.

Below is a photo slideshow of our team interacting with the students.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Check out the action in our “Week 2” video.

We’d like to encourage you to join us in this important effort. Participation is free and easy – simply turn off your non-essential lighting at 8:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, March 31.

Dinner by candlelight will be served in Palmira Restaurant during Earth Hour, with a special prix fixe menu option featuring a “Grow in the Dark” starter, “By Land and By Sea” entrée, and “Flambé” dessert.  Concorde Lounge will highlight dark beers and rich red wines to complement the mood lighting.

To learn more about Earth Hour, please take a moment to watch the Earth Hour 2012 video at www.youtube.com/earthhour.

Many of us rarely think about where our water comes from – we take our water source for granted.  Every time we turn the faucet handle, the water is there for us.  Yet, almost a billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, and 2.5 billion live without sanitation.  Although the human race needs water to survive, many water sources are polluted and overexploited, threatening our ecosystems and limiting access to safe water in the future.

In general, hotels are extremely large-volume users of water.  In fact, according to California Green Lodging Program statistics, a typical hotel uses approximately 218 gallons of water each day per occupied room.  We think that’s too much!  So, we’ve taken steps to reduce our water consumption and protect water sources.  Our efforts have helped us to reduce our average usage to 137 gallons per occupied room.  We are committed to continually seeking out new ways to conserve at the hotel, and will do our part to spread the message of water conservation to our guests and employees.

Some of our water conserving efforts include:

• Low-flow plumbing fixtures – conserves up to 30% more than traditional fixtures
• Drought-resistant landscaping – requires less water and chemicals
• Scheduled watering of landscaped areas during evening hours – reduces evaporation
• Running dishwashing and laundry machines only when full – uses water more efficiently
• Optional guest towel and linen reuse program – reduces water used daily for laundry
• Staff training to:
  • Turn off running water when not in use
  • Report and repair leaks immediately

Other conservation efforts we’ve implemented that have an impact on water include:

• Using both sides of paper  – it takes more than 2-1/2 gallons of water to make a sheet of paper
• Recycling – recycled materials saves a significant amount of water to produce than virgin materials
• Offering vegetarian meal options – meat requires a significant amount of water to produce compared to grains and vegetables (learn more at  National Geographic)
• Using environmentally-friendly cleaning products  – reduces water pollution from toxic chemicals being washed into our water streams

We encourage everyone to learn more about water conservation.   Visit OneDrop.org to get ideas for what you can do, and check out this video from UN – World Water Day.

Consider:

• It’s a great place to get started: Hotels employ many young workers, first-time workers, and part-time workers.
• It’s a great place to grow: Hotels often fill supervisory positions by promoting from within.
• It’s a great place to shine: Hotels provide opportunities and recognition for those who take on new assignments and demonstrate a strong desire to serve others.

During a time when companies are downsizing and jobs are scarce, the Radisson LAX was able to both promote and cross-train employees who expressed a desire for growth and commitment to serve.

Ana Martin, promoted to Assistant Housekeeping Manager

In 2011:

Eight employees were promoted from within to higher level positions and salaries.

Eight employees were cross-trained into new departments to help advance their careers.

We also provide support to ensure these employees are successful in their new positions by conducting a “First-Time Supervisor Skills Bootcamp.”  Even our long-term managers and supervisors choose to take part in this worthwhile training session to brush up on their skills and interact with new supervisors.

Providing career advancement opportunities is an important part of our Responsible Business Program.  It’s good for our people, good for our community, and good for our business.

Here’s how it works:

When a guest enters their room, they insert their keycard into a wall-mounted keycard reader and the room activates “comfort” mode, placing the control of lighting, televisions and room temperature into their hands. When the guest leaves the room, they take their keycard with them, initiating the room’s “energy efficient” mode whereby all the lighting devices and televisions are powered down, and the thermostat is set back 5 degrees.

Response from our guests so far has been positive.  We find that our guests approve of our efforts to conserve energy while allowing them full control of the guestroom environment while occupying the room.

So far the installation is complete in about one-third of our 580 guestrooms.  We look forward to completing the project this year in the remainder of our rooms!

It was surprising to hear some of the concerns voiced by women veterans regarding their challenges in securing work.  We find it amazing that employers fail to see how the skill sets these women bring directly apply to many positions they are trying to fill.  As an example, in hospitality we search for the following attributes in a job candidate:

• Team-oriented
• Strong work ethic
• Passion to serve
• Pride in a job well-done

These are the traits that are engrained in every veteran, and the traits that these individuals are eager to apply to their next position.

In addition, military service teaches dependability, respect, decisiveness, integrity and loyalty.  We believe these are the characteristics of a model employee as well as an ideal representative of our hotel to our guests and clients.

At the Radisson LAX, we want to help bridge the gap between veterans and jobs.  Last November, we launched our recruitment plan to strategically work with the Veterans Affairs office, the California Employment Development Department, Community Development Department, WorkSource/One-Stop centers, and Veterans support organizations to educate and train veterans to be hired into hospitality managerial careers.

We are grateful for the dedicated service of our veterans, and are committed to providing career transition opportunities.

Josephine “Joy” Banzon began working at the Radisson LAX in May 2002, serving our guests for many years as a front desk agent.  In 2011, Joy transitioned into the position of concierge, a role in which she excels, leads, and owns.  She is a master of welcoming guests, thanking them for staying with us, and doing everything within her power to ensure each one is completely satisfied with their lodging experience.  Her undying enthusiasm makes her a favorite with both guests and co-workers; her positive greetings have a way of bringing a smile to the face of even the weariest of travelers.  Without a doubt, Joy is an inspiration for all levels of staff and management, as she personifies the “Yes I Can” promise and always strives to “Do the Right Thing,” even when nobody is looking.

Last week, Joy’s efforts were recognized in person by Carlson Executive Vice Presidents Javier Rosenberg and Raj Rana.  She was presented with a letter of thanks and congratulations, as well as the Crystal Pineapple Award symbolizing Excellence in Hospitality.  We are very thankful to have Joy serving as an important part of our amazing team at the Radisson LAX!

For a review of all of our initiatives and key accomplishments over the past year, click the picture below!

Here at the Radisson LAX, we believe that every action we take at the hotel must be done with the consideration of how it will affect the sustainability of our business from the perspective of our guests, clients, employees, owners, partners and the environment.  This blog will be a resource to help us communicate our initiatives to all of our stakeholders.

We hope that you will visit often to read about current events, browse our photos and videos, and encourage us in our responsible business endeavors.   And, we want this to be a dynamic and interactive site, so your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated!