PODCAST: Sustainable Hospitality and Travel with Greg M. Poirier

Episode Title: Sustainable Hospitality and Travel with Greg M. Poirier

Guest: Greg M. Poirier, MBA, Global Director of Sustainable Hospitality Certification Programs at Audubon International

Summary:

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Greg Poirier to discuss how hotels and resorts can operate more sustainably and how travelers can reduce their impact on the road. Greg shares his path from dishwasher and night auditor to hotel general manager, and how his interest in sustainability and social equity led him to Audubon International. He explains the origins of Audubon International — founded in 1987 as a certification body rooted in the legacy of the New York State Audubon chapter — and walks through how its hospitality certification program works, from membership and a detailed designation application to on-site, third-party audits. Greg and Cory dig into practical sustainability opportunities in the industry, including waste tracking, energy savings, refillable programs, and the emerging trend of planned sustainable resort communities.

Key Topics Discussed:

•  Greg’s career journey through independent hotels and into sustainability leadership
• The history and mission of Audubon International across golf, communities, and hospitality
• How hospitality certification works: membership, the 33-page designation application, and on-site audits
• Why Audubon International does not use virtual audits or fourth-party certifiers
• Waste as the single biggest untapped opportunity for sustainability in hospitality
• Using tools like EZ3 Data to track haulers, containers, and waste metrics
• Smart thermostats and occupancy-based energy savings of 20–40% on electric bills
• Refillable water programs, filtered water stations, and moving away from single-use plastic bottles
• The nuance of bulk shampoo/conditioner dispensers and the role of Clean the World
• Sustainability as a driver of profitability, staff retention, and community connection
• Case studies: Populus in Denver, Ritz-Carlton Denver, Hilton Paris CDG, Cabot developments, Black Desert (Utah), and Puerto Rico resort projects
• Audubon International’s four certification levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum
• Advice for travelers on how to choose and advocate for more sustainable properties

Resources Mentioned:

• Audubon International
• EZ3 Data (waste tracking platform)
• Clean the World (bulk amenity recycling program)
• Populus Hotels (Denver, Seattle)
• Ritz-Carlton Denver
• Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle
• Cabot developments
• Black Desert Resort (Utah)

Contact:

Listeners can learn more or reach out to Greg directly:
– Website: auduboninternational.org
– Email: greg@auduboninternational.org

Closing Thoughts:

Cory and Greg emphasize that sustainable hospitality is both a responsibility and a competitive advantage — driving lower operating costs, stronger staff culture, and deeper guest loyalty. They encourage travelers to ask properties about their sustainability programs, support certified hotels, and bring simple habits (like a refillable water bottle) on every trip.

Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors!

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