Editorial Board   Guest Author

Ms. Holowka

Taryn Holowka

Senior VP of Marketing, Communications & Advocacy, U.S. Green Building Council

A skilled communicator, storyteller and multi-market brand strategist, Taryn Holowka brings 16 years of experience in building multinational brands. Currently the Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Advocacy at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Ms. Holowka heads up all global marketing, communications and public affairs efforts for USGBC and its popular LEED green building program. She is also responsible for a variety of other B2B sustainability brands at the Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI), including PEER, WELL, SITES and EDGE.

Ms. Holowka is responsible for the successful development, implementation and measurement of product and mission-marketing initiatives both in the U.S. and internationally while managing a dynamic staff of 30+, covering all market sectors of USGBC's broad membership and aligned organizations.

Ms. Holowka's core areas of expertise are strategic communications planning, messaging and product and brand management; project and people management; business development and analytics; emerging technologies; and leadership. Ms. Holowka was also awarded PR News' PR Person of the Year in 2008 and nominated for Marketing Executive of the Year in 2014.

Ms. Holowka holds a Masters in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University and a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York College at Geneseo. She has been a LEED AP since 2004. Prior to joining USGBC, Ms. Holowka worked at the National Environmental Policy Institute (NEPI) overseeing an EPA grant as part of the Clean Air Act. She also was at the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA).

Please visit http://usgbc.org for more information.

Ms. Holowka can be contacted at 202-828-1144 or tholowka@usgbc.org

Coming up in January 2020...

Mobile Technology: Meeting Tech Expectations

What once seemed futuristic is now the norm, owing to the escalating developments in mobile technology, and hotels must continue to innovate in order to meet guest expectations. In a recent study from Mower, 65 percent of guests said they would gladly pay more for a hotel that provides the mobile technology they deem essential. The same study shows that 44 percent of travelers are more likely to book a smart hotel, and nearly 7 in 10 want to use smart devices provided by the hotel. And how do guests wish to use all this technology? A majority expressed a desire for mobile check-in and check-out, and mobile payment options. They also want to be able to stream content from their phone to the TV; to make service requests of the hotel staff; to control in-room lighting, temperature and sound; to order food and beverages; and to request a wake-up call - all from their mobile device. Guests also expressed preferences for robust wi-fi and convenient device charging ports throughout the hotel. They also appreciate the use of hotel branded apps which allow a guest to book a room, access loyalty programs, receive discounts and rewards, and even use the app to choose the room, floor and view they prefer. Some hotel apps also allow a customer to track their charges throughout their stay, rather than waiting to receive a bill at the end. Finally, mobile tech lounges are popping up more frequently in some hotels. These lounges offer guests the opportunity to perform tasks like airline check-ins or access to local info guides, but they also provide a place where guests can comfortably get some work done outside their room. The January Hotel Business Review will report on what some hotels are doing to meet their customers' expectations in the mobile technology space.

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