Save the money, save the time, save the planet… staycation.

School is out and summer is here. It is about time for that well deserved vacation or just a weekend away. But where to? Florida? Bermuda? How about the Catskills? I know what you are saying, “how can you compare Bermuda to the Catskills?” But have you taken the time to explore this stunning getaway located less than a gas tank beyond your backyard?

Local vacations (also known as “staycations”) are a means of escaping the doldrums of daily living without having to leave your local area. Before the days of convenient and accessible airline travel, New York City residents would take the train into the countryside or down to the shore for a summer holiday. With the rising cost of gas, increasing airfare and shorter vacation periods, vacationing locally is returning as a steadily growing trend. Plus, it is much better for the environment and it gives us the opportunity to become more knowledgeable of the region we call home.

HospitalityGreen LLC is a consulting firm specializing in environmental and operations consulting services located in the heart of the Catskills. Over the past two years, HospitalityGreen has been working on the Green Concierge Project. Through funding from the Empire State Development (ESD) and the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC), the Green Concierge Project has enabled HospitalityGreen to provide free operational, economic and environmental assistance to over 150 tourism and lodging facilities throughout the Catskill Watershed Region.

Over the next few months, we here at HospitalityGreen will be providing you with some great tips and suggestions for “staycationing” in the Catskill region. Traveling back and forth to 150 of the regions facilities through the Green Concierge Project has given us a good idea of what the Catskills has to offer and we would love to pass on some of our favorite Catskill destinations, events, and activities to you. We hope that our tips will help you make the most out of this home not-so-far-away from home.

Interested in a staycation in the Catskills? Here are a few links to get you started:

Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
http://www.greatwesterncatskills.com

Greene County Chamber of Commerce
http://www.greenecounty-chamber.com/

Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce
http://www.schohariechamber.com/

Sullivan County Visitor’s Association
http://www.scva.net/

Ulster County Alive!
http://www.ulstertourism.info/

HospitalityGreen's Green Concierge Project Seeks Two Summer Interns

Immediate opening for Two Summer Interns to work with hospitality businesses throughout the Catskill Watershed

HospitalityGreen LLC (HG) is providing an excellent opportunity for two interns to learn and gain experience working with owners and operators in the hospitality industry, promoting and implementing sustainable business practices. Our interns assume a diversity of responsibilities including: answering and researching questions regarding sustainable hotel operations, serving as an HG representative throughout the business community, developing informational material for blog postings, conducting on site assessments and trouble shooting.
There are also multiple opportunities for the development of special projects and PT and FT work depending upon the interest and qualifications of the chosen candidates.

Qualifications
• Must have an insured car and a valid driver’s license
• Educational background in the natural sciences, the hospitality industry, sustainability management, environmental education, or related field.
• Previous experience working with businesses.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, comfortable speaking with business and facility operators, and a professional appearance
• High level of organizational skills to effectively administer the diverse demands of the job, as well as work independently and keep detailed records and receipts
• Motivated, enthusiastic, creative, and willing to work with large and small businesses and independently travel throughout the Catskill Watershed
• Must be able to execute in depth internet research and be facile in MS Word, excel and ppt.
• Familiarity with the Catskills or map skills a plus and love of mountains and clean streams a MUST!
Position: Green Concierge Summer Interns (2)
Location: 35 Main Street, Mountaindale, NY 12763
Position Dates: late May – late August
Work Schedule: 20-24 hours per week / flexible schedule is acceptable
Compensation: Reimbursement for all travel and client visit expenses, private apartment in Mountaindale, $500 stipend, academic credit, extensive B to B experience, opportunity to attend all HG trainings w/out charge, chance to spend the summer traveling throughout and working in an incredibly beautiful place!
Closing date: April 22, 2011 or until filled
For more information or to apply, please email or mail a resume and a brief letter of inquiry or interest to:
Evadne Giannini, Green Concierge Program Director
HospitalityGreen LLC
PO Box 222, 35 Main Street
Mountaindale, NY 12763
e.giannini@hospitalitygreen.com
www.hospitalitygreen.com

Spring - Spruce up that Recycling Station

Need Bins?

Great BINS and now SIGNS that you can customize.

Call 1-877-715-1712
Speak to Michele

Make sure you provide her with your Green Concierge ID#.

www.buschsystems.com

Berkshire Community College Offers Green Facilitiy Training

BCC Again Offers Green Facility Training

In today’s economy, taking advantage of the cost savings associated with being a “green” business is important to a healthy bottom line. Many Berkshire County businesses have undergone energy audits and started recycling programs, but most facility managers and green leaders need help to institutionalize other sustainable practices.

To address that need, Berkshire Community College is again offering an intensive two-part workshop on “Green Facility Training for Operations and Management.” The class will be held on April 19 and 26 at BCC’s Intermodal Education Center in Pittsfield.

This training provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainability. Resources, information, and practical lessons from professionals will guide participants to complete a comprehensive facility assessment, develop an improvement plan, and conduct a site audit. Topics will include: source reduction; quantifying resource usage; green policy, purchasing, and marketing; immediate results; troubleshooting; and compliance, verifications/audits. Learn how to cut resources and not jobs. Green facility certifications, the new Green Meeting Standards and LEED EB Requirements are covered. Course tuition includes a subscription to on-line checklists and measurement tools.

For more information or to register, call 413-236-5251 or email elapierr@berkshirecc.edu. Berkshire Chamber of Commerce members are eligible for a 15% discount.

Green Concierge Project Update

Many of the 40 Watershed region lodging establishments participating in Phase 1 of the Green Lodging Certification Program attended a January 26 workshop at Belleayre Mountain to meet one another and get information from vendors of environmentally responsible materials. Dory Alport (right) of Aquabella, distributors of water saving plumbing and heating fixtures, described a “twin-flush” toilet mechanism to (l. to r.) Peter Molnar of Margaretville Lodging; Eric Goettsche of the Thompson House, Windham; Ruth Christman of Christman’s Windham Inn and Golf Resort, and Elizabeth Winograd-Iwinski from Copper Hood Inn and Spa, Shandaken. This “Green Concierge” program is funded by the CWC and Empire State Development, and is coordinated by Hospitality Green, a consulting firm based in Sullivan County. Participating businesses are being assisted in implementing environmentally sustainable practices and in promoting themselves to travelers who seek out “green” inns and hotels.
Article Courtesy of the Catskill Watershed Corporation's E Newsletter - February 2011

37 Properties Have Signed up for HospitalityGreen's Green Concierge Certification Program in the Catskill Watershed

Green Cleaning What You Need To Know to Clean or Buy Green - Nov.10th - 9:30-12:30 - SUNY Sullivan