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Cap and Trade: On the Horizon for Hoteliers?
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By Bill Cowern
President
Hawaiian Mahogany Inc. 
January 2009
The new administration�s environmental policy is a work in progress, but it is clear there will be major impact on businesses�including hotel companies�as the new term progresses.  The incoming president�s �New Energy for America� emissions campaign policy statement includes an �80 percent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050� and a �100 percent auction to ensure every ton of carbon is paid for.� It is likely that hotel operators will be affected by these �cap and trade� mandates proposed during the election campaign.
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Hawaiian Mahogany has captured and sequestered approximately 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide in woody biomass and mineral soil on former sugarcane plantation land since June 2008.
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Cap and Trade

These policies would limit�set a cap on�an organization�s carbon dioxide emissions, or carbon footprint.  Companies that create more CO2 than the limits, will have to trade, or buy, carbon offset credits to compensate for their overage.  Businesses that emit less than their allotted cap, including forestry enterprises and other green concerns whose products remove carbon dioxide from the air, would be allowed to sell or �trade� the excess carbon credits to carbon emitters. Europe has already imposed a cap and trade program under the Kyoto Protocol, the international climate treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the result is a reputable, multi-billion dollar worldwide carbon offset credit market.

Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. to make cap and trade a reality here; most notably the proposed S. 2191, the Climate Security Act introduced in 2007 by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA).  Australia, New Zealand and South Korea also are discussing cap and trade policies.

What does this mean for the hotel industry?

To put it frankly, the days of �greenwashing,� of paying lip service to green initiatives, are over. Savvy hoteliers understand this, and are making significant investments to increase their commitment to environmental responsibility.

  • In California, Xanterra Parks and Resorts installed a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system last year at its Death Valley operations, with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1.53 million pounds each year.
  • In Chicago, the Green Hotels Initiative is pushing area properties to obtain their Green Seal Certification, which requires certain levels of energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management.
  • The New Yorker Hotel, one of the oldest Art Deco structures in New York City, recently replaced its heating and cooling system to reduce energy consumption by 30-40% and achieve an internationally recognized energy conservation standard.
At the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) last January in Los Angeles, 3,000 people at had an opportunity to attend a green seminar track for the first time in the conference�s 11-year history. At this year�s ALIS, January 26-28 in San Diego, the subject of green hospitality will be the focal point of keynote addresses on opening day.

Smart strategy, smart money

Taking action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions before caps are set is smart business. Companies like Nike, Bosh, Allstate, Delta Airlines, Polaroid, and Dell all buy carbon offset credits from major brokers like the Chicago Climate Exchange, and now is the time to do so before the promised cap and trade policies push prices up. Making the investment now is about more than escaping higher prices.  Being prepared for change counts in business. Hotels that established tech disciplines in revenue management and business intelligence fared better after 9/11 and are holding their own better than their comp set in today�s economic climate.

Travelers reward green businesses. Witness the 2008 Deloitte study that found 34% of travelers seek hotels that are environmentally friendly and 28% said they would be willing to pay 10% more to stay in a green lodging facility.

Taking serious steps to go green demonstrates more than global responsibility. Under the new administration it will likely be an indicator of a more far sighted business strategy. Investing in carbon offset credits before the government requires it�particularly with U.S. companies whose approach is sustainable and whose credits are verifiable�is a more intelligent way for hotels to operate in the coming years.

About Hawaiian Mahogany, Inc.
Hawaiian Mahogany Inc. (HMI), founded in 1996 and based in Kauai, Hawaii, is an award-winning, pioneering tree farm and certified carbon offset credits provider. HMI manages over 3,200 acres of reclaimed sugar plantations on Kauai, propagates and maintains over one million tropical hardwood trees, and sequesters approximately 130,000 tons of carbon per year. The company developed an integrated cycle of sustainable processes to produce sustainable lumber, bio fuels, on site hydroelectric power, organic fertilizer, and cattle feed. HMI�s processes and carbon sequestering metrics are certified by Winrock International and through the Voluntary Carbon Standard program. Its offset credits offer the highest value currently possible with total verifiability. A domestic company, Hawaiian Mahogany�s processes are a compelling option for renewable energy sources within the American market.

Contact:

Bill Stepchew, Operations Manager
Hawaiian Mahogany Inc.
[email protected]
(808) 212-9490
http://www.hawaiianmahogany.com

Media Contact: 
Julie Keyser-Squires, APR 
Softscribe Inc. 
[email protected]
(404)256-5512 
http://www.softscribeinc.com
 

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Also See: Softscribe® Inc. Signs Hawaiian Mahogany Inc. ; Softscribe to Provide Green Marketing and Internet Public Relations, Carbon Credit Promotion to Hoteliers for U.S.-based, Award-Winning, Pioneering Tree Farm / December 2008
Softscribe to Sponsor Youth Birding Competition for 4th Consecutive Year; Committed to Helping Young People Build Lifelong Learning Habits and a Respect for Nature, PR Firm Helps Georgia DNR Program Soar / November 2008
Softscribe® Inc. Renews Five Existing Hospitality Clients; Trust, Partnership, Futuristic Thinking and Increased Sales Cited as Renewal Reasons / July 2008
Softscribe® Inc. Execs Identify Key Hospitality Trends: New Media, 'Green' Top the List; High level trends from three 1Q'08 Conferences are: New media creates online communities; Green is the new luxury; Hoteliers are tasked to make foreign visitors feel welcome / April 2008
Softscribe® Inc. Boosts Sales for New Client Flyte Systems with Benefit Message Campaign; Public relations strategy aids Flyte Systems to surpass forecast / March 2008
Softscribe Inc. Spins Off Keyword Research, Website Optimization as Standalone Products; Hoteliers can increase online bookings. Clients JDA, Aptech deploy new keywords, optimized Web pages to boost search engine visibility, increase sales / June 2007
Softscribe® Inc. Wins Two New Clients; MEGA International, The Rainmaker Group Boost Visibility, Growth / September 2006
How a Flattening World Impacts Hoteliers / John Burns, Julie Keyser-Squires and Michael Squires / July 2006
Softscribe Inc. Launches College Intern Program; Adam Travis, business major at Georgia State University, tapped as first intern / June 2006
Softscribe Inc. Sponsors Georgia�s First Youth Birding Competition; Team Event for Teens Develops Professional Abilities: People Skills, Goal Achievement, Respect for Nature / May 2006
Five Tips for Driving Sales through Search Engine Optimized Public Relations Writing / Polly Wade / February 2006
Customer Stories Drive Sales and Reduce Marketing Costs / Julie Keyser-Squires / January 2006
Leading Tech Vendors Drive Sales with Online PR / Softscribe Adds Online PR Product to Fuel Technology Clients� Sales Growth; Debuts New Website / November 2005

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