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Name: Elaine Strunk
Title: Director of Green
Hotels: The Lenox and six other hotels within the Saunders Hotel Group
Companies: The Saunders Hotel Group and EcoLogical Solutions, Inc.
Primary responsibilities: “I work on sustainability efforts within various departments in the Saunders Hotel Group—developing outreach programs for guests and staff.”
Hotel group’s most significant environmental accomplishment so far: “Helping to pioneer eco-hospitality in the U.S. lodging industry. The Saunders Hotel Group began its environmental efforts back in 1989 when few hotels were thinking about sustainability.”
Our biggest environmental challenge: “Constantly working to create behavioral change so that sustainability becomes intuitive within our organization.”
What I like most about what I do: “I enjoy discovering how to get our employees to participate in our green programs. I also like doing research and staying on top of current trends and technologies.”
What advice I would give to someone considering starting an environmental program: “Understand why you are starting a green program. Form a green team. Work on a mission statement. Bring people into your business who believe in what you are trying to accomplish. Having a strong leader is important.”
BOSTON—As director of green for The Lenox hotel and the other properties that the Saunders Hotel Group manages, Elaine Strunk is in an enviable position. The family she works for has led the lodging industry’s effort to go green for two decades, winning multiple awards along the way. Owner and manager support is a given and Strunk gets to work in a team-based environment where sustainability is part of the culture. In fact, whereas most green hotels have just one green team, The Lenox hotel where she is based has two.
Strunk says her position is the result of an expansion of the environmental coordinator position that previously existed within EcoLogical Solutions, Inc. That company is led by Tedd Saunders, president, who is also director of environmental affairs for the Saunders Hotel Group. Strunk did not have a hospitality background prior to starting at The Lenox but her work in environmental policy in government, for a nonprofit and in the private sector prepared her for her challenging job.
The Arizona native and Michigan State graduate has been in her current position for a little less than two years. She has had an opportunity to work on numerous environmental initiatives, many of which have been launched at The Lenox. One example is the eleventh floor of The Lenox—now known as “Heaven on Eleven”—which consists of Pure Allergy Friendly Rooms. These rooms include an allergen filtration system, bedding encasements, and undergo special cleaning and treatments to ensure an allergen-free environment. Guests pay a premium to stay in the rooms.
“They are working out fantastic,” Strunk says. “We have had great feedback. There is an appreciation from people with allergies.”
Switch to Single-Stream Recycling
Strunk, who is working on a proposal for extended commissioning of The Lenox, took part in an effort to replace the boiler at the hotel, a step that has resulted in a 30 percent energy savings. A recent transition to single-stream recycling at the property is expected to result in the tripling of the capture rate of recyclables from 30 tons a year to 100 tons a year.
For The Lenox and Comfort Inn & Suites Boston/Airport, Strunk says she is part of a team looking into hotel certification programs. She is also researching technologies such as solar thermal and green roofs. (To access a list of the some of the environmental accomplishments at The Lenox, click here. Also click here.)
Strunk is unique in her role as director of green, as many hotel companies still have not dedicated a full-time employee to environmental programs.
“A dedicated person can be very valuable, making sure ideas are actually being implemented from day to day,” she says. “It is wise to have someone making sure you are fulfilling your commitment. Green programs can also help generate additional revenue.”
Strunk says she always has had a love of the outdoors and the importance of caring about the environment was instilled in her at a young age. Now, as part of the Saunders Hotel Group, she has an opportunity to help the company further reduce it carbon footprint while building a more profitable business at the same time.
Go to The Lenox and the Saunders Hotel Group.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
