Live it, Breathe It
Jim Carmody brings up an excellent point when he talks about Seaport Hotel’s bees—guest-facing sustainability measures are also having a positive impact on the property’s staff. By being able to interact with guests around a program that both parties feel passionately about makes the staff feel more connected with the property and their jobs.
“We’re engaging our employees constantly in discussion regarding how they can practice more green initiatives in their everyday lives. And, in turn, those employees act as watchdogs and let us know if we’re doing something operationally that they don’t think is appropriate. They keep us on the straight and narrow,” Carmody says.
McGuinness agrees and adds that by introducing guests and staff to green products in the hotel, it allows for a deeper connection that also leads to improved guest experience. “We think there’s a huge opportunity in educating our guests and our staff about going green,” he says. “It’s not an easy thing. We love that our employees and guests are now telling us, ‘I didn’t realize I could get the low-flow shower head from the room in my house!’ This means that we’re making incremental changes to improve our world while also providing a great experience to our guests.”
