Mr. Fears

Meetings & Conventions

Conference Centers Clear the Smoke on Trend

By Bruce Fears, President, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging

People all over the world are taking a breath of fresh air - or at least trying to - and the trend toward smoke-free establishments has exploded throughout the U.S. and worldwide. This trend is fueled partly by local, state and national government agencies which are proposing strong smoke-free initiatives to allow its citizens to breathe easier and safer.

Furthermore, four countries have now established national laws prohibiting smoking at work and in public places. In 2004, Ireland became the first country in the world to ban smoking in all enclosed places of work, followed by Norway, New Zealand and Bhutan. In addition, 14 U.S. states, nine Canadian provinces and territories, seven Australian states and now Scotland have all approved smoke-free legislation.

The trend has even run to the extreme with one Michigan-based company, Weyco Inc., a health care company, which has forced its staff to quit smoking or else risk being fired from their jobs. Under the new policy, the firm conducts breath tests to check employees for tobacco use. Four employees so far have been fired for refusing to take the test.

Although hotels, conference centers and meeting planners may not be taking the smoke-free phenomenon as far as the Michigan firm, they are finding that going smoke-free is quickly becoming the norm. Some companies in business and leisure industries are taking the lead and acting on the health concerns of its delegates. This year, the Westin hotel chain, for example, officially implemented the widest-spread complete smoking ban in the hotel industry, making 77 of its properties completely smoke-free.

The conference center industry is also closing in on the trend.

Conference Centers Step up to Ash Out

As one of the nation's leading hospitality brands, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging (AHL) is renowned for maintaining uncompromising guest standards for meetings and accommodations. The company prides itself on staying ahead of advancements both within and outside the industry. With more than 50 conference centers in its portfolio, AHL offers several properties across the United States that are either mostly or completely smoke-free.

AHL's Mission Bay Conference Center at the University of California San Francisco, for example, is 100 percent smoke-free. In fact, the UCSF's entire campus has prohibited smoking, according to Bruce Gorton, general manager of Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF, making it one of the few university campuses in the U.S. to implement a campus-wide smoking ban.

Partly because of its university affiliation, the Mission Bay Conference Center is known throughout the world for hosting a variety of progressive conferences in medical and biotech topics. "Stem cell research, anti-aging studies and other amazing discoveries are at the heart of UCSF and San Francisco, and these are the types of conferences that are held at our center," Gorton explains. "Non-smoking is not just an added bonus, it's an expectation for the doctors, scientists and researchers who attend the cutting-edge seminars here." He says it's an important selling point when conference planners are looking at the center to host an event.

Many of AHL's other properties are also 100 percent smoke-free facilities, such as the Babson Executive Conference Center in Wellesley, Mass. and the Hilton Garden Inn in Temple, Texas. Additionally, several other AHL locations such as the Harrison Conference Center at Lake Bluff in Chicago, Ill., are mostly smoke-free, only allowing smoking in very limited areas and in some cases the ability to smoke on property only after 5 p.m.

Although the nonsmoking movement may be just catching on to the meeting and conference industry, the trend is nothing new to the health industry, which has done extensive research to show that smoking can damage people's health.

Additionally, the recent death of Dana Reeves, wife of Christopher Reeves, who was exposed to cigarette smoke in the clubs she was a singer at throughout most of her life, also raises speculation about the repercussions of secondhand smoke.

Scientific studies conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that secondhand smoke accounts for as many as 35,000 deaths from ischemic heart disease annually in the United States.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) additionally reports that secondhand smoke is also linked to other health problems, including lung cancer, ear infections and other chronic respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia. The EPA also states that secondhand smoke can trigger asthma episodes and increase the severity of attacks. Gorton says that individuals should consider this when planning meetings.

"There's nothing more irritating to someone than walking into a thick cloud of cigarette smoke, especially if you don't smoke," he says. "But it can be a dreadful experience if someone has to be given medical care because of an asthma attack brought on by secondhand smoke."

In addition, the non-fatal but serious effects of cigarette smoke can dramatically impact the overall experience of your delegates. For one, conference attendees are deterred from staying focused during their meetings and can end up with headaches and nausea. Smoke can also cause burning in your attendees' eyes and noses, and it can have a negative impact on morale, productivity and well-being.

Besides the health concerns, Gorton also points out some of the other advantages of smoke-free conference centers. "For one, the simple cost-savings factor in maintenance and facility wear and tear is enough of an incentive to go smoke-free," he says. "Visionary operators will look to the future to see how they can maximize this potential as an important advantage in the industry."

The documented health risks, dramatic cigarette tax increases and stringent smoking laws have undoubtedly motivated thousands of smokers to quit, but it's not exactly a dying trend. According to the American Heart Association, there are an estimated 25.5 million U.S. men (24.1 percent) and 21.5 million American women (19.2 percent) who still smoke today.

"So far, nobody has complained about not being able to smoke during a conference break here," Gorton reports. In fact, he says it's not even an issue in California, where so many people are already used to the nonsmoking laws there. The state set a national precedent in 1998 when it was the first to ban smoking in restaurants and bars. Since then, some California coastal towns have even forbid smoking at public beaches.

International conference planners and attendees don't see it as an issue, Gorton says, because it really is becoming the standard worldwide. Even smokers appreciate not having to smell the foulness of ashtrays and stained draperies during their stay at a hotel or conference center resort.

The trend will eventually catch on for all hospitality businesses throughout the world until each region passes legislature for clean air. Gorton says some locations will pick up on the movement before others. For instance, he says, the Midwest will probably not be as swift as California has been on passing laws.

ARAMARK Harrison Lodging has been a leader in providing successful training and learning events at its conference center properties for years. The company is dedicated to offering unique learning environments to its clients and guests and operates more than 50 conference centers, corporate training centers and specialty hotels in educational environments.

Recently, AHL merged its parks and resorts and conference centers businesses to better provide customers and guests superior learning and training environments, enhanced accommodations and unique destinations located throughout the U.S. The integration significantly expands AHL's hospitality services and offers its customer base an extraordinary range of lodging choices for both business and leisure.

As President, ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, Bruce Fears is responsible for operations at over 50 conference centers, corporate training centers and specialty hotels in educational environments, as well as 14 state parks and other resort operations. He assumed his current position following the integration of ARAMARK’s conference center, corporate training business with its parks and resorts business. Mr. Fears received a BA from Bridgewater College and participated in programs at University of London’s School of Economics and University of Florida’s School of Management. Mr. Fears can be contacted at 425-957-9708 or fears-bruce@aramark.com Extended Bio...

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