Experts from both sides of the Atlantic came together last week to discuss sustainable hospitality in a forum entitled “Sustainable Hospitality: Green Innovation in Practice.” The topic represents an important challenge for the hospitality industry today, and has also been designated a key issue at both the Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL) and New York University (NYU).

"At EHL we have integrated Social Responsibility into all  our activities, from education to operations, and a Committee tracks green progress. It was interesting to hear US perspectives and challenges as we move forward to a greener 21st century throughout the world," said Anouck Weiss, Director of Communications for Ecole hotėlière de Lausanne.

The NYU-SCPS faculty panel was represented by Constantine Kontokosta, Clinical Assistant Professor at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate and Director of the NYU Schack Center for the Sustainable Built Environment, and Sharr Prohaska, Clinical Associate Professor in hospitality and tourism management at the NYU-SCPS Tisch Center. Speakers were Claude Béglé, Ph.D., CEO of Symbioswiss, as well as Professor Frédéric Delley, head of Innovation and Creativity at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (INTEHL).  The panel was presided over by Hervé Houdré, regional director and general manager of InterContinental New York Barclay. 

Ambassador François Barras, Consulate General of Switzerland in New York, as well as Professor Ray F. Iunius, Ph.D., EHL Deputy General Director, and Robert Boland, J.D., Academic Chair and Clinical Associate Professor of NYU-SCPS Tisch Center, made opening remarks.

The faculty panel was followed by a student and alumni panel discussion on the issue of green hospitality and innovation.  Eric Ricaurte, an M.S. graduate in tourism management from NYU-SCPS, and Matthieu Chapuis, a current EHL student undertaking an internship in New York, were among those taking part.