Green Key Global Announces Board Members

OTTAWA (Aug. 12, 2024) – Green Key Global – the only sustainability certification designed specifically for hotels – today announced its first-ever slate of board members and the appointment of Heather McCrory, a hospitality expert with 40 years of experience in the industry, as chair.

McCrory recently served as CEO of Accor’s North American and Central American operations, and currently advises the hospitality industry as principal of Heather J. McCrory & Associates.

She joins other top hospitality professionals who will guide Green Key Global, the world’s leading hotel sustainability certification provider, which is jointly operated by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC).

In addition to McCrory, the other Green Key Global board members are:

• Marianne Balfe, vice president of sustainability, Highgate
• Claude Paul Boivin, interim president & CEO, Hotel Association of Canada
• Kevin Carey, interim president & CEO, AHLA
• Susie Grynol, market vice president, Eastern Canada, Marriott Hotels
• Brian Leon, CEO, Choice Hotels Canada
• Emilio Tenuta, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer, Ecolab

AHLA and HAC began jointly operating Green Key Global in April. Since then, some of America’s top hospitality companies have signed up for the service, which provides third-party certification for hotels’ environmental sustainability policies and processes. As of May, Green Key Global is on track to deliver significant year-over-year membership growth.

New program participants for 2024 include Marriott International, Choice Hotels, and Four Seasons, which join existing major hotel company members, such as Accor, Best Western, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Highgate, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and more.

“I’m delighted to chair Green Key Global’s first-ever board and serve with some of hospitality’s most accomplished sustainability leaders,” said McCrory. “Together, we will continue expanding the world’s only sustainability certification designed specifically for hotels throughout North America.”

“Green Key Global offers a trusted certification that assures guests and partners of their commitment to sustainability. With Heather’s multiple decades of industry expertise and the collective experience of the board, we will be able to further evolve the program and support the industry. We are excited and welcome Heather and the entire board of directors to the Green Key Global family,” said Anick Levesque, Managing Director, Green Key Global.

“We are thrilled to welcome Heather and this esteemed group of leaders to the Green Key Global board of directors,” said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. “Their experience and counsel will be vital as we bring Green Key Global’s important third-party sustainability validation to hotels in the U.S. and Canada.”

“We are delighted to see the formation of Green Key Global’s inaugural Board of Directors, an essential milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable hospitality industry. This Board will continue to drive Green Key Global’s mission to empower hotels with trusted certification, achieve their sustainable development goals and meet the growing demand for responsible travel options,” said Claude Paul Boivin, Interim President & CEO, Hotel Association of Canada.

About Green Key Global

Green Key Global, established in 1994 by the Hotel Association of Canada, is a leading environmental certification body designed specifically for the hotel industry. Best-in-class Green Key Global third-party certification programming leverages corporate social responsibility and environmental social governance, supporting sustainable initiatives across the industry to benefit the environment and improve fiscal performance. By aligning with all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Green Key Global sets a comprehensive standard for eco-friendly practices. For more information on Green Key Global: http://www.greenkeyglobal.com/home.

About HAC
The Hotel Association of Canada is the leading voice of the Canadian Hotel & Lodging industry. For over 110 years, it has worked to enhance the prosperity of the industry through strong member engagement, effective advocacy, and the provision of value-added programs and services. The Hotel Association represents more than 8,200 hotels, motels and resorts that encompass the $20.8 billion Canadian hotel industry which employs over 300,000 people across Canada. For more information, please visit www.hotelassociation.ca.

About AHLA

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide – including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels, and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support, and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at www.ahla.com.

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