Pulse Legacy Archive March / April 2013 | Page 31

Embracing SUSTAINABILITY Motivations, Challenges and Rewards of Going Green By Giannina Smith Bedford The sustainability movement seems to be everywhere you turn. The spa industry is no exception. From big names like the Mandarin Oriental in Washington D.C.—which recently became one of the largest luxury hotels in the nation’s capital to be 100 percent windpowered—to smaller spa companies with just one location, eco-conscience is king. While sustainability can lead to a more positive public image or long-term cost savings, many spas and companies claim to be adopting green tactics simply because it is the right thing to do. March/April 2013 n PULSE 29