Industry NewsGreen Key Global Names First Board Members and Chair

Green Key Global Names First Board Members and Chair

WASHINGTON—Green Key Global announced its first-ever slate of board members and the appointment of Heather McCrory, a hospitality expert with 40 years of experience in the industry, as chair.

McCrory recently served as CEO of Accor’s North American and Central American operations and currently advises the hospitality industry as principal of Heather J. McCrory & Associates.

She joins other hospitality professionals who will guide Green Key Global, which is jointly operated by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC).

In addition to McCrory, the other Green Key Global board members are:

  • Marianne Balfe, vice president of sustainability, Highgate
  • Claude Paul Boivin, interim president and CEO, Hotel Association of Canada
  • Kevin Carey, interim president and CEO, AHLA
  • Susie Grynol, market vice president, Eastern Canada, Marriott Hotels
  • Brian Leon, CEO, Choice Hotels Canada
  • Emilio Tenuta, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, Ecolab

AHLA and HAC began jointly operating Green Key Global in April. Since then, some U.S. hospitality companies have signed up for the service, which provides third-party certification for hotels’ environmental sustainability policies and processes. As of May, Green Key Global is on track to deliver year-over-year membership growth.

New program participants for 2024 include Marriott International, Choice Hotels, and Four Seasons, which join existing hotel company members, such as Accor, Best Western, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Highgate, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and more.

“I’m delighted to chair Green Key Global’s first-ever board and serve with some of hospitality’s most accomplished sustainability leaders,” said McCrory. “Together, we will continue expanding the world’s only sustainability certification designed specifically for hotels throughout North America.”

“Green Key Global offers a trusted certification that assures guests and partners of their commitment to sustainability. With Heather’s multiple decades of industry expertise and the collective experience of the board, we will be able to further evolve the program and support the industry. We are excited and welcome Heather and the entire board of directors to the Green Key Global family,” said Anick Levesque, managing director, Green Key Global.

“We are thrilled to welcome Heather and this esteemed group of leaders to the Green Key Global board of directors,” said Carey. “Their experience and counsel will be vital as we bring Green Key Global’s important third-party sustainability validation to hotels in the United States and Canada.”

“We are delighted to see the formation of Green Key Global’s inaugural Board of Directors, an essential milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable hospitality industry. This Board will continue to drive Green Key Global’s mission to empower hotels with trusted certification, achieve their sustainable development goals, and meet the growing demand for responsible travel options,” said Boivin.

RELATED ARTICLES

Accor Reports Q1 2025 Results

Accor reported Q1 2025 results. Highlights include: Revenue up 9.2 percent to €1,349 million RevPAR up 5 percent versus Q1 2024 Pipeline up 4.9 percent over the...

Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore Announces Opening of Oceanfront Hotel

KAHULUI, Hawaii—Hampton Inn & Suites Maui North Shore, operated by Springboard Hospitality, announced the opening of its newly built 136-room oceanfront hotel. Located on the...

Choice Hotels International Introduces Mews Cloud Technology as Property Management System Option

AMSTERDAM—Choice Hotels International is introducing Mews as a property management system (PMS) option for international franchisees. The platform is designed to connect with Choice Hotels' proprietary...

Urban Catalyst and Island Hospitality Celebrate Opening of Marriott TownePlace Suites in San Jose

SAN JOSE, California—Urban Catalyst announced the official opening of the Marriott TownePlace Suites. The project was developed in collaboration with Island Hospitality Management. Located in...

Lodging Econometrics: U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline Grows in Q1 2025

As seen in Lodging Econometrics’ (LE) Q1 2025 U.S. Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report, at the close of the quarter, the pipeline consisted of 6,376...

Palette Hotels Awarded Management of DoubleTree by Hilton Washington Meadow Lands Casino Area

WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania—Palette Hotels announced that it has been awarded management of the 140-room DoubleTree by Hilton Washington Meadow Lands Casino Area in Washington, Pennsylvania....