Expanding Eco-education

Pineapple Teams With BITAC

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. December 18, 2008

DECEMBER 18, 2008 - Pineapple Hospitality has formed an exclusive new agreement with The Buyer Interactive Trade Alliance & Conference (BITAC) to bring cutting-edge green education to what's already one of the most highly acclaimed events in the hospitality industry.

Pineapple Hospitality, the premier distributor of Green Products and Marketing Programs for the Hospitality Industry, will help BITAC formulize green-themed panel discussions, round-table sessions and other agenda items.

'BITAC is already a cutting-edge event with a unique format that allows participants to build unparalleled personal and professional relationships,' says Rich Viola, President of Hotel Interactive, the organization behind BITAC. 'In the spirit of cutting-edge, Pineapple Hospitality has been the leader in green years before green was popular.

'Being able to work together to present green alternatives will help participating lodging organizations achieve their green objectives and run their businesses more effectively.'

Pineapple Hospitality not only will help integrate powerful educational sessions into BITAC's schedule, but will bring touches of green into all sessions where appropriate. Pineapple representatives will be available to moderate panels and answer questions before and after sessions.

Because BITAC is known for its hands-on approach - an approach that has made BITAC rated 'The Best' or 'One of the Best' industry events by 92% of attendees - Pineapple Hospitality also will offer suggestions and assistance in 'greening' the meetings and events at each BITAC conference.

'We don't just want to talk about green, we want to take the initiative and demonstrate it throughout each BITAC event,' says Viola.

Setting New Standards

Pineapple Hospitality not only offers a number of industry-leading green products and marketing services, but President Ray Burger has become a much-relied on eco-consultant for the hospitality industry. He has forged partnerships with some of the top environmentally responsible hospitality suppliers, including InterfaceFLOR, T2 Site Amenities, The Refinishing Touch, Cypress Hotel & Spa, and the Vermont Clothing Company.

Pineapple's EcoRooms & EcoSuites Web site certifies the greenest hotels and is defining what it means to be a greener hotel through its rigorous 'Significant 7' criteria:

1. Green Seal or equivalent cleaning products are used in guestrooms,

2. Green Seal or equivalent paper products (facial and bathroom tissue) also are used in guestrooms,

3. Bathrooms feature amenity dispensers or small, practical amenity sizes with an attempt to either get guests to take the remainder of their bathroom amenities home or donate them to homeless shelters,

4. The property has a Linen and Towel Reuse Program,

5. Guests are provided separate receptacle cans and bags in which to deposit recyclables,

6. Energy-efficient lighting is in place in every applicable area, and

7. High efficiency plumbing - 1. 6 or less gallons-per-flush for toilets and 1.5 gallons per minute for sinks through water-efficient aerators - is installed.

The partnership with BITAC will allow Burger to spread his green message directly to some of the most prominent executives in the hospitality industry.

'Even as green has taken off, there are still so many unknowns out there,' says Burger. 'Some don't know where to start. Others are concerned that going green is going to cost them more. We refer to these as 'green conundrums.' Most of all, the entire industry is lacking the knowledge and standards we need to collectively define green.

'We're excited about the ability we'll have to educate key members of the industry through a forum like BITAC about the benefits, costs savings and resources available to help you go green the right way,' Burger adds.

This past summer, Hotel Interactive's Editor-in-Chief Glenn Haussman wrote an editorial describing the problem that many hotels have faced in going green - namely the lack of standards:

'As it stands right now, hotels that simply don't wash sheets or towels every day get the same credit with consumers as hotels that are making a top-to-bottom concerted effort to make real change. Unscrupulous green-washing is not only dishonest to travel buyers, but also to those hoteliers that are embarking on meaningful change.'

It's no coincidence that BITAC tapped Pineapple, whose EcoRooms & EcoSuites criteria are still the most stringent and credible of any certification program in the world, to lead its own green initiatives.

'You have to walk before you run, and you have to have a real plan in place before you jump into going green,' says Viola. 'In these challenging economic times, you are almost forced to look for new opportunities and consider new ideas. Working together with Pineapple, we have a really positive opportunity to present these ideas and bring together hoteliers and suppliers in a way that will bring greater prosperity to everyone.'

Upcoming Events

Pineapple Hospitality will customize the green sessions for each BITAC event being held throughout 2009. Upcoming BITAC events include:

Food & Beverage 2009

February 22-February 24

Las Vegas, Nevada

International Luxury 2009

March 22-March 24

Miami Beach, Florida

BITAC brings together the top echelon of both purchasing decision makers and suppliers while controlling the number of attendees to maximize everyone's productivity and overall experience.

Among the myriad benefits of attending BITAC events are:

1. Gaining knowledge from the sessions,

2. Interacting with peers (the top people and companies in our industry),

3. Forging new vendor relationships,

4. Stimulating ideas to improve the guest experience, and

5. Improving efficiency while reducing costs.

Key Quotes

'[BITAC] gave me an opportunity to immediately identify the value of a given product or service after meeting with pre-qualified industry suppliers.'

• Anthony S. Nieves,C.P.M., Hilton Hotels Corporation

'The focus on the different segments of the industry every four months is very helpful in staying abreast of the changes and vendors in the industry.'

• Mike Olcott, Horizon Hotels Ltd.

'The BITAC forum is fantastic! It's matchmaking at its best ... and it works! I'll take this interactive, face-to-face format over a tradeshow or cold calls made to my office any day.'

• Paul W. Davis, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

For more information visit www.BITAC.net.