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In preparation for this week’s Democratic National Convention, the “Mile High City” has been staging “greening workshops” for hundreds of hotel managers, caterers and managers. “It’s the new patriotism,” says Mayor John Hickenlooper.
But in addition to keeping it green, Denver underwent the largest hospitality training program in the city’s history. Other seminars are teaching hoteliers and hospitality workers how to treat the conventioneers who are on their way.
“From airport TSA employees to taxi drivers, from restaurants to rental cars, we have reached out to every front-line tourism employee who could possibly have contact with a DNC delegate or visiting media,” says Jayne Buck, vice president of tourism for the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Environmental consciousness is long-standing here, but the impending Democratic National Convention may be turning the trend into a frenzy. Even to the point where Denver has created a new and somewhat controversial position of director of greening.
Perhaps that should come as no surprise, however. The conventioneers coming here this week are expected to spend about $150 to $200 million. But exposure from the media in terms of future business is also critical -- and is second only to that received for hosting the Olympic Games, according to The Washington Times.
Hotels have also been caught up in an effort to put on what the mayor predicts will be “The greenest convention in the history of the planet.”
“They’re all very excited,” says Ilene Kamsler, Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association president.
The Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau says nearly all the area’s 42,000 rooms are booked by convention attendees, vendors or press. Some of the top suites are going for around $6,000 a night during the last week of August, according to the bureau.
“Everything is going to look sparkling. No one wants to disappoint anyone coming to Denver,” says Kamsler.
“That means hotel beds are being made over with high-thread-count sheets, box TVS are being swapped for flat screens, soothing metallics and earthy greens and blues are overtaking dark and dated colors,” says denverpost.com.
“Just about every one of the hotels is jumping on the green bandwagon,” Kamsler says.
Some hotels are installing news kiosks in lobbies for pick-up and recycling instead of the traditional room-to-room delivery. Denver Water will be distributing brochures requesting that hotel guests re-use towels instead of freshly washed linens every day. Local waste companies will also be leaving recycling bins on nearly every hotel floor.
“Visitors are sure to have a lot of water bottles and paper given to them during the convention,” Kamsler predicts.
Denver lodgings have been spending millions to spruce up for the convention crowd. For example:
- The Magnolia Hotel underwent a $7 million remodeling that includes new paint, carpet, furnishings, linens, bedding, décor and fixtures. Kohler porcelain sinks and marble tiles were installed. The hotel’s 10,000 square meeting space was also revamped in teal blue and burnt orange colors.
- A $3.9 million suite renovation at the Grand Hyatt Denver includes custom crown molding and woodwork complemented by patches of bright colors. The goal is for a high-end feel in a classical-property, according to Hyatt.
- The Ritz-Carlton (a former Embassy Suites) has been transformed with a “design vision that married the majestic beauty of the West with the down-to-earth cosmopolitan delights of this fast-growing city,” according to its designers. The building now has spacious guest rooms in warm mountain tones of deep coral and buttery gold. Suites were appointed in silvers, blues and greens to resemble Rocky Mountain rivers.
- The Westin Tabor Denver has new leather seating in the lounge and coffee bar areas, new teal and tan carpeting, new furniture and 18-foot drapes. The hotel was also one of the first hotels in the area to implement food-waste composting programs.
- The Warwick Denver is completing a $25 million renovation that includes renovated guest rooms. New carpet and Italian drapes are among the changes, as well as leather chairs. “Everything has been replaced in the rooms, from furniture to fixtures,” says general manager Don Woodin.
- The Bumsley punched up its historic identity by giving its penthouse suites an upscale retro makeover. Modern furnishings in these rooms frame the building’s 17-story-high views of downtown Denver. Guests can now watch TV from their tubs in two-story, spiral staircase suites.
Hoteliers are playing their part in what might be called the “greening of Denver.” But the effort has not always gone smoothly.
The green director is long-time environmental activist Andrea Robinson. She has said her job is to make the event as sustainable as possible.
One of her first efforts was to organize a trash brigade of 900 volunteers to make sure waste is picked up and recycled efficiently. Normally innocent balloons are being evaluated for their greenness. Campaign balloons, a convention celebration requirement, are being tested for their biodegradability potential.
Even the food is being closely watched. Fried foods are out. Vendors have received “lean and green” catering instructions that encourage the use of locally grown ingredients and healthy meals.
Xcel Energy Inc., the nation’s top wind-power providers, is being used and conventioneers are being encouraged to use bicycles to cut down on traffic and gas use.
Some green “extremes” planned by the city have brought ridicule. The host committee for the Democratic National Convention wanted 15,000 back packs for volunteers. But they had to be made of organic cotton. Not only that, but another requirement was that they be created by union labor in the US.
Official merchandiser Bob DeMasse unsuccessfully scoured the country to find there was no such thing.
The same was true for baseball caps.
“We have a union cap or an organic cap. But we don’t have a union-organic offering,” he says.
To test whether celebratory balloons advertised as biogradeable would really decompose, Robinson buried samples in a steaming compost heap. She hired an official carbon adviser who is measuring gas emissions.
The 900 volunteers who will hover at waste-disposal stations have detailed instructions to make sure delegates put each scrap of trash in the proper bin. If a fork, for example, slipped into the wrong container by accident, the volunteers would poke through the trash and return it to its rightful place. “That’s the only way to make sure it’s pure,” Robinson says.
Another controversial element of the green movement: Every meal should also include “at least” three of these colors: red, green, yellow, blue/purple and white.”
Garnishes could not be counted toward the colors. Each plate had to be 50 percent fruits and vegetables. “As a result, caterers are shying away,” said the Associated Press.
There have also been reports of mismanagement. Plans to renovate the inside of the Pepsi Center for Democratic usage went millions above budget, for example.
Originally run by the Democratic National Committee under the leadership of Howard Dean, presidential candidate Obama Barrack’s staff recently took over after various complaints of renting expensive office space and other problems.
Barama’s staff dispatched 10 people to Denver to “help get a handle on the budget and make hard decisions” about various issues, said Bill Burton, a campaign spokesman.
Even some members of the hospitality industry who have long been green supporters are skeptical of some of the city’s efforts.
Nick Agro, head of Whirled Peas Catering, questioned whether requirements for local organic food could be met. “These were fantastic ideas, but I question who is willing to pay for these extra costs,” he says.
As for the balloons: They will be there but the exact numbers are still being determined.
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Credit
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David Wilkening
Associate Editor
Hotel Interactive, Inc.
Bio: David Wilkening is a writer specializing in travel and business-real estate writing. His work has appeared in dozens of publications and dot coms. He never met a trip he didn't like. He is a former newspaperman who worked in Chicago, Detroit, Orlando and Washington, DC, where he was a writer and editor covering a wide variety of subjects ranging from politics to feature stories.
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