Q: Can you tell us about your efforts in combatting human trafficking?
AHLA partnered with Marriott and End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT) to create human trafficking training for employees. The training helps hotel employees identify human trafficking and provides direction on what to do should an employee suspect human trafficking. AHLA’s No Room for Trafficking campaign provides hotel owners with a resource guide to take action to combat the problem.
Q: Can you explain your programs and relationship with Castell Project and ForWard?
AHLA’s partnership with the Castell Project advances the next generation of women leaders in the hotel industry. ForWard gathers women in hospitality together to network and learn from one another to develop and recognize the talents that women bring to the table.
Q: What are some of the initiatives and partnerships with which AHLA is involved to help hotel owners with sustainability?
AHLA is focused on four primary areas of sustainability, including:
- Energy efficiency
- Water conservation
- Waste reduction
- Responsible sourcing
As hotels work to reduce their carbon footprint, it is essential for members, large and small, to understand what resources and government incentives are available in sustainability. AHLA recently launched Responsible Stay. Responsible Stay aims to strengthen the hotel industry’s commitment to sustainability. The AHLA Responsible Stay website provides resources, including ideas for concepts to reduce the carbon footprint of individual properties, as well as key legislative wins in environmental regulations.
Q: How is AHLA helping full-service hotels reduce food waste?
Hotel Kitchen is a partnership with AHLA, World Wildlife Fund, and the Rockefeller Foundation to target food waste reduction in the hotel industry. With 63 billion tons of food wasted each year, 40% of which comes from businesses, including hotels and restaurants (AHLA, 2022), Hotel Kitchen helps all roles, from owners to the service team, work to divert food waste from landfills. By using the Hotel Kitchen tool kit, properties reduced food waste by 10-38% in 12 weeks.
Q: How can hotels get started on their sustainability journey? How can they connect with AHLA?
The hotel industry employs more than 2 million people in the U.S. and impacts virtually every jurisdiction in the country. AHLA educates members about grants and opportunities available through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, which can help to lower the cost of making properties more energy efficient. Hotel owners can connect with AHLA by becoming members or at www.ahla.com. With more than 30,000 members, AHLA advocates on behalf of members to support ESG priorities and maintain the industry’s visibility to legislators while looking for ways to reduce the cost of implementing these programs for hotel owners and operators. Since the pandemic, AHLA has increased its staffing levels by 40%, working tirelessly on behalf of members and the hotel industry.
