The American hospitality industry is leading the way in helping America go Green. "Hotels, convention centers, and convention and visitors bureaus are leading the way in the United States when it comes to environmental compliance and sustainability efforts," according to Thomas Hinton, president of the American Consumer Council.

Mr. Hinton made his comments at IMEX, one of the largest hospitality industry trade shows in the world held annually in Frankfurt, Germany. The show attracts hundreds of hospitality companies and nearly 2,000 buyers who place meetings and events for companies and non-profit organizations around the world.

Hinton stated that, "The bad news is the United States lags behind Europe and several Asian countries including Singapore and Malaysia when it comes to championing sustainability and environmental compliance. But, we're making progress."

Hinton added, "In the United States, hotels, convention centers and convention and visitor bureaus have witnessed the growth of meetings and events in Europe as a result of their commitment to going Green. Now, American hospitality companies want a share of this business. This is why they are moving quickly to go Green and implement Sustainability practices that attract consumers." Hinton also observed that nations like China, Brazil and Mexico -- although far behind in their Green efforts -- were beginning to recognize the value of environmental compliance and were now making a commitment to protect their natural resources and people through Green initiatives.

The American Consumer Council administers the Green C Certification program which is recognized as one of the most progressive green certification initiatives globally. The Green C Certification program is awarded to companies and organizations that meet a rigid criteria and demonstrate their commitment to environmental compliance and corporate social responsibility.

In his remarks at IMEX, Hinton said, "It's interesting to note that in the United States, hotels and conventions centers are saving millions of dollars every year by implementing green practices. Now, other businesses and multi-national companies in the U.S. are seeing the benefits of going Green. Companies have concluded this is not only good for their bottom line, but it is also good for their brand and image. After all, consumers want to support green businesses. So, it makes good sense to embrace Green practices and promote your Green accomplishments."

Hinton mentioned Florida, Oregon, and several cities in California as the recognized leaders of America's green movement. Hinton also applauded the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a role model for encouraging hotels and companies to embrace Green practices in the Sunshine State. One hotel that Hinton singled out for its Green practices and cost savings is the TradeWinds Resort located in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Hinton said, "Any hotel that questions whether it can save money and win the loyalty of its guests by going Green should talk to the TradeWinds Resort. They are a shining example of how to do it right and shave hundreds of thousands of dollars from the bottom line."

Hinton has been a frequent speaker to companies and business groups on the topics of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. The American Consumer Council, based in San Diego, California, is a non-profit organization with over 86,000 members in 34 states. It launched its Green C Certification program in 2008.