Mr. Lobo

Eco-Friendly Practices

“Going Green” Committee Makes an Impact

By Nigel Lobo, Vice President of Resort Operations, Grand Pacific Resorts

Thinking Green is not just the ‘right thing to do;’ in the long run it is fiscally responsible and also adds to the overall guest experience.

Ever since our company launched a series of initiatives aimed at promoting environmental practices to reduce environmental impact, improve the bottom line as well as satisfy owner and guest expectations for environmentally conscious hospitality practices we have noticed a substantial rise in corporate “green” awareness and a significant impact on our bottom line. To get the job done, we adopted a number of action items. We formed a “Going Green” Committee comprised of representatives from each one of our resorts to pioneer, champion, document and create new operational strategies for implementation of these practices at Grand Pacific Resort Management (GPRM) managed resorts. As we do our part to think and act Green our Going Green Squad continually come up with great ideas and solutions, the overall effect is that the entire staff (over our 15 resorts) is now invested in the importance and results of Going Green practices.

Let’s take our company as a case study to serve as an example of how resort companies may address the corporate culture, the bottom line and the all over environment by practicing Green Initiatives on a consistent basis.

We divided our Green Initiatives program into four primary components: Water, Air, Energy, Waste. The breakdown of these elements was not our own imagination. As pointed out by Alan Schlaifer in a recent article in the Resort Trades, Andrew Winston, consultant to Fortune 500 companies and author of Green Recovery: Get Lean, Get Smart, and Emerge from the Downturn on Top, recommended four major ways “do more with less, which will save you money quickly.” He lists five key business areas that make for “quick wins and sizable savings: facilities, distribution IT, telework and waste.” In our industry these areas are easily translatable into reducing energy and tracking consumption, reducing water usage, improving air quality and minimizing waste.

• To reduce water usage we made a number of simple, effective changes. We implemented a linen and towel re-use program, shifted laundry operations to off-peak hours, and installed low-flow showerheads and water aerators. In addition we allocated funds to purchase new, more energy efficient commercial dryers and washers. To cut water consumption on the grounds of resorts, we installed satellite controlled irrigation timers and brought in drought-tolerant plants. These measures drastically reduced water consumption at our resorts.

• Air conditioning and heating use was another practical adjustment. For this energy adjustment we needed to have our guests and owners embrace the concept. So, along with standardized ambient thermostat settings we educated the real people responsible for the usage in the rooms and suites. At our regular Welcome Breakfast we remind guests to be conscious of A/C usage and remember to use alternative cooling methods (like opening windows) or to keep windows closed when the A/C was in use.

• To further reduce energy consumption we are currently testing an in-room wireless energy control solution tied to the guest room key. The system is completely wireless and will be retrofitted into our resorts. A lot of small, incremental changes add up to make a difference. In addition we have installed energy management controls on hot water systems to monitor and reduce gas usage. We made a point to retrofit lighting to compact fluorescent- CFL and replacement of existing roofs with “Cool Roof” products. Our guests seem to really appreciate our efforts in this regard and, as we are accountable to timeshare homeowner owner associations (HOAs) we can attest that all of our HOAs and Board of Directors are pleased that we continue to keep costs down through these methods.

• Waste reduction management has been the easiest transition for our properties, probably because most folks are already doing this at home in some fashion. Our recycling program includes recycle containers in each unit, as well as recycling containers at elevators and the large recycling center in the garage. For example, one of Grand Pacific Resort Management’s properties, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, reported saving 22 tons of recyclable materials and another, RiverPointe Napa Valley, ingeniously used re-purposed wine barrels to add to its décor and facilitate recycling of trash.

Other thoughtful green practices implemented at GPRM managed resorts range from recycling printer and ink cartridges to installing LEED® Certified temperature controls. We have also installed ceiling fans and compact fluorescent lights to save energy.

To round out our efforts, we focus on incorporating recycled materials with our purchases (which are of high quality and comfortable), and have started the process of getting ALL of our resorts LEED® (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) Certified. Everyone has pitched in and the team effort has proved positive from morale building to guest satisfaction.

These changes may make a huge difference in some instances, especially when measured over a period of many years. The energy controls on their boilers at eight of our Southern California resorts are producing estimated annual savings of 18-20%, and an average ROI of 297%, according to data developed by our regional maintenance manager.

To keep everyone enthusiastic and pitching with the utmost camaraderie, we have a ongoing competition held by the Green Squad to implement Green activities running from the mundane to extraordinary. Some of these include:

• Installation of new mattresses made of recycled materials.
• Ceiling fans installed in nearly all bedroom units.
• Faucets in public restrooms have been changed out to be on motion sensors to reduce excess water usage.
• Low-flow showerheads have been installed in all units.
• Organic, Rainforest Alliance certified fair trade coffee provided for guests and Owners at Hospitality Center.
• Purchase of paper products for Welcome breakfast made from renewable sugar cane pulp.
• When entering units, housekeeping and maintenance team members turn off lights and televisions when guests are absent.
• Weekly audit of irrigation system.
• Replacement appliances and televisions are all Energy Star compliant.
• Implementation of solar powered garage gates.
• Replacing plant materials with drought tolerant/or native species landscape where possible.
• Installation of blackout draperies on all windows to reduce temperature in units.

We have found that Going Green has produced multiple positive energy points, from guest approval ratings to ROI cost benefits. The applications used in this case study are just the way we have approached the issue. Each property undoubtedly has its own unique opportunities. We have uncovered a commonality of corporate spirit in this endeavor, coming together as an entity under the umbrella of benefitting our business as well as supporting the world in which we live!

Nigel Lobo has the overall leadership of Resort Operations at Grand Pacific Resorts, including Inventory Management, Owner Services and HOA Support, as well as Resort Maintenance, Design and Purchasing and new Business Development. Mr. Lobo is responsible for building and retaining a strong management team to maintain Grand Pacific Standards of Excellence across all resorts. Mr. Lobo is a hospitality veteran and has held various senior executive positions in the hotel and resort management field for various hotel brands including the Intercontinental Hotels Group, Marriott, and Hilton Brands in Asia, Europe and the United States. Mr. Lobo can be contacted at 760-431-8500 or nlobo@gpresorts.com Extended Bio...

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