Becoming green is not a one-time thing: it requires a concerted effort over time from a number of people and departments. This article will outline some recent trends in developing an environmentally responsible corporate policy, the steps to build a green program in a property or group of properties, and information about what should be covered by written policies and procedures.

Recent Trends in Corporate-Level Green Management Policies

In recent years, environmentally responsible property construction, management, and operational policies have grown extensively to include corporate-level engagement and institutionalization throughout franchises. This year Hilton Hotel Corporation announced their short- and long-term sustainability goals, Starwood developed its new franchise ELEMENT, and InterContinental established its Innovation Hotel Initiative -- showing that there has been a strong and positive shift in the thinking of corporate managers to act on and implement environmentally responsible polices within their chains. In their Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Industry Trend Study for 2008, Deloitte is also careful to point out that sustainability is "Unlike many other business issues... it is all-encompassing - involving shareholders, consumers, retailers, suppliers, employees, non-government organizations, state and federal governments, and scientific and academic institutions. Leading companies in this arena are factoring in changing technologies, emerging consumer ...