In this episode of The Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with Michael Gulich, Vice President of Sustainability at MGM Resorts International, for a masterclass on scaling sustainable operations across one of the largest hospitality portfolios in the world.From pioneering LEED certifications for 16 million square feet of development to building the world’s largest renewable energy project in hospitality, MGM Resorts has woven sustainability into the very fabric of its business model. Michael shares the milestones, mindsets, and metrics behind their success—including stories about solar farms, food waste transformation, and how Las Vegas Formula 1 helped spark an atmospheric water innovation.But what stands out most is Michael’s grounded reminder: all of this was built incrementally over 20 years—and every hotel, no matter the size, can start their journey today.⸻🎧 Episode Highlights✅ A 20-Year Journey in Sustainability

How MGM’s CityCenter project became a global LEED milestone

Why the company shifted from green buildings to full-scale operational sustainability

The 2030 goals driving reductions in energy, water, carbon, and waste🔋 Energy Innovation at Scale

Cutting energy use per square foot by nearly 25% across the portfolio

Completing one of the largest LED lighting retrofits in the U.S.

Building the world’s largest solar project in hospitality—providing up to 90% of daytime power

Adding 115MW of new capacity + battery storage to cover peak evening use🥘 From Food Waste to Community Impact

How the Feeding Forward program donates high-quality, unused banquet meals

Over 6 million meals donated since 2016 through partnerships with nonprofits like Three Square

Repurposing post-consumer and pre-consumer waste for composting and animal feed

Why MGM avoids guest-facing recycling bins—and what they do instead💧 Water Stewardship in the Desert

Saving 18+ billion gallons of water since 2007

Removing over 250,000 sq ft of turf to combat evaporative loss

Bellagio’s fountains and Cirque’s “O” show: how they reuse water innovatively

Launching a pioneering atmospheric water generator project with Las Vegas Grand Prix

🤝 The Power of Partnership & Collective Action

Inside the Formula 1 cooling tower project turning air into track-washing water

Enhancing water rebates for 55,000 employees through public-private collaboration

Encouraging staff to extend conservation practices to their homes📈 Making the Business Case for Sustainability

The 5 value dimensions MGM uses to evaluate projects:

Revenue Generation

Cost Avoidance

Risk Mitigation

Brand Enhancement

Community Benefit

Real examples of how sustainability wins clients and improves insurance terms

Tips for hotels of any size to get started—without feeling overwhelmed💡 Advice for Hoteliers

Start small, stay consistent, and build a track record

Leverage existing certifications and rebate programs

Don’t go it alone—build local partnerships and pilot new ideas

Document your journey and share your wins to inspire others⸻

🔗 Resources & Links• Learn more about MGM Resorts• Learn more about Michael Gulich• Discover Sustainable Hospitality Solutions• Visit our sponsor Foxfold⸻👤 About the GuestMichael Gulich, AIA, LEED AP, is the Vice President of Sustainability at MGM Resorts International, where he leads strategies to reduce environmental impact across the company’s global operations. With a background in architecture and green building, Michael oversees sustainability programs spanning energy, water, waste, climate, and disclosure—driving transparency and performance across all MGM Resorts properties.⸻🎧 Subscribe & Follow

In this inspiring episode of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire talks with Michael Balcom, General Manager of the Renaissance Indianapolis North, to uncover how his hotel earned a Green Key Global eco-certification—and turned it into a catalyst for culture, creativity, and community impact.Michael shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to get certified—from engaging every department to crafting hyper-local partnerships, building a green wall, and even launching a bourbon made from compost-fed corn. The result? A more connected team, wowed guests, and a stronger business.⸻🎧 Episode Highlights:✅ Inside Green Key Certification• Why Pyramid Global chose Green Key as its go-to sustainability standard• How Michael rallied every department to complete a 100+ question audit• Turning the certification checklist into an action roadmap for continuous improvement🌱 Operational Sustainability That Sticks• Monthly “PULSE” team meetings that engage every department• Composting partnerships to divert banquet food waste• Non-refillable bulk amenities transformed by Clean the World🥃 Creativity Meets Circularity• A full-circle bourbon story: from guest meals → compost → corn → local whiskey• Branded private-label bottles and a signature Old Fashioned that guests love• Plans to grow mint from hotel compost for a signature mojito📊 Tracking Impact & Guest Reactions• How Marriott’s MESH system helps track energy, water, and waste• Green Wall metrics that engage guests and spark conversation• Feedback from top clients and group travel buyers who value sustainability🛎 Advice for Hoteliers• Why sustainability improves guest satisfaction and business metrics• The power of team buy-in and brand alignment• How sharing ideas across hotel networks multiplies innovation⸻🔗 Resources & Links:• Learn more about Renaissance Indianopolis North• Learn more about Michael Balcom• Discover Sustainable Hospitality Solutions• Become a sponsor:Reach out to kathy@sustainablehospitalitysolutions.comSubscribe & FollowDon’t miss upcoming episodes of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to join us in shaping a more regenerative future for travel.All podcast platforms⸻👥 About the Guest:Michael Balcom is the General Manager of the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel, where he has led with purpose and passion for the past four years. With a total of nine years at the company, Michael has become a champion for sustainable hospitality—driving initiatives that reduce environmental impact while enhancing guest experience. Dedicated to creating a greener future for the hospitality industry, Michael fosters a culture of environmental responsibility among staff and guests alike.

What if investing in your building could transform not only the guest experience, but also the lives of employees?In Part 4 of our Wellness Series, host Kathy Sue McGuire speaks with Rachel Hodgdon, President & CEO of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Rachel shares how WELL Certification helps hotels and hospitality businesses create people-first spaces that improve staff wellbeing, reduce turnover, and enhance profitability—while elevating the guest experience.Discover the 10 core concepts of the WELL Standard, from air and water to nourishment, acoustics, and community connectivity. Hear real-world examples of hotels improving employee retention, guest satisfaction, and financial performance through healthier environments. Learn why focusing on employee wellness is becoming a competitive advantage in today’s hospitality industry.About the GuestRachel Hodgdon leads IWBI’s global movement for healthier spaces, with WELL adopted across nearly 6 billion sq. ft. in 135+ countries. Previously, she founded the Center for Green Schools at USGBC, mobilizing $275B+ in LEED-certified projects worldwide.👉 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Z3 Data

• Learn more about Rachel Hodgdon• Discover Sustainable Hospitality Solutions• Become a sponsor:Reach out to kathy@sustainablehospitalitysolutions.comSubscribe & FollowDon’t miss upcoming episodes of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to join us in shaping a more regenerative future for travel.All platforms: https://linktr.ee/sustainablehospitalitypodcast

What if hospitality could go beyond “doing less harm” and actually restore the places it touches?

In Part 3 of our Wellness Series, host Kathy Sue McGuire speaks with Professor Dr. Willy Legrand to explore the concept of regenerative hospitality. Together, they examine how hotels, resorts, and destinations can learn from nature, heal ecosystems, and create guest experiences that leave people and places better than before.

This episode is sponsored by Feelgoodz Hospitality, leaders in eco-friendly in-room slippers that reduce waste and turn a simple amenity into a lasting memory.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The difference between sustainability and regeneration in hospitality

• How lessons from nature, including photosynthesis, can inspire business models that benefit communities and ecosystems

• Practical ways hotels can embed regenerative practices into guest experiences and local partnerships

• Why siloed thinking holds back progress and how whole-systems thinking changes everything

• The barriers to adoption in hospitality, from short-term mindsets to regulatory gaps, and how to address them

• Why redefining luxury as connection, wellbeing, and meaning is key to the future of travel

About the Guest

Professor Dr. Willy Legrand is a leading academic voice in sustainable and regenerative hospitality. Based in Germany, he has authored multiple books on sustainability in the industry, chairs the Hospitality Net World Panel on sustainability, and lectures internationally on ESG, regenerative tourism, and hospitality management. He is currently co-editing two forthcoming handbooks: ESG in Hospitality and Tourism and Regenerative Tourism and Hospitality.

Resources & Links

• Learn more about Prof. Dr. Willy Legrand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-willy-legrand/

• Explore Feelgoodz Hospitality: https://feelgoodzhospitality.com

• Discover Sustainable Hospitality Solutions: https://sustainablehospitalitysolutions.com

Subscribe & Follow

Don’t miss upcoming episodes of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube to join us in shaping a more regenerative future for travel.

Wellness in hospitality is far more than spas and fitness centers. In this episode, Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with Oxana Spivey, VP of Wellness and Standards Development at Wellness in Travel & Tourism (WITT), to explore how hotels can embrace holistic wellness certification that goes beyond the surface.Oxana shares:• The five pillars of wellness (healthy eating, holistic healing, nature, movement, and local impact)• Why travelers are demanding authentic wellness experiences that integrate sustainability and community engagement• How hotels of all sizes — from boutique city properties to large resorts — can adopt standards that improve guest well-being, environmental health, and long-term business resilience• The role of certification in building guest trust and shaping the future of travel• If you’re in hospitality, tourism, or simply curious about how wellness is transforming travel, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiring examples.------------🔗 Meet our online training program helping hotels get certified to Green Key:

https://www.sustainablehospitalitytraining.com/

🌳 Sponsor the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast:kathy@sustainablehospitalitysolutions.com🎙️ Subscribe for more insightful conversations with leaders transforming hospitality and travel through smarter, people-first practices.

In this episode of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with David Stephens, wellness-first event strategist, co-founder of Olympian, and advisor to the Wellness Travel & Tourism Board.

David shares how he’s redefining corporate meetings and conferences by designing them around wellness from the ground up. From negotiating coffee pricing to prioritizing sleep, meals, and movement, David introduces his signature “Four M’s” framework: Mindfulness, Movement, Meaning, and Meals as a practical strategy for delivering higher-impact, more human-centric events.

Topics Covered:

• Why wellness-forward events lead to better business outcomes
• The neuroscience behind mindful agenda design
• How to create inclusive movement experiences for all bodies
• Meals that meet everyone where they are, from refuel to refit
• How “meaning” creates long-lasting emotional ROI
• What hotels can do today to support guest wellness (hint: start with protein bars)

 Learn more:
https://www.sustainablehospitalitytraining.com/

Subscribe for more insightful conversations with leaders transforming hospitality and travel through smarter, people-first practices.

What does true sustainability look like at scale, and why is it smart business?

Kathy Sue McGuire welcomes Megan Brumagim, Vice President of Upscale Brands and Chief Sustainability Officer at Choice Hotels International, for an in-depth conversation on how one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors is tackling sustainability head-on. From corporate reporting and franchise accountability to quirky innovations (hello, beehives and bamboo toilet paper), Megan shares how Choice is aligning environmental responsibility with bottom-line results.

🎧 Highlights include:

• Why institutional investors care deeply about ESG
• The four-tier “Room to Be Green” framework used globally
• How Choice Hotels supports franchises in earning eco-certifications
• Leveraging guest data and utility dashboards for impact
• Choice’s partnerships with the American Red Cross and National Park Foundation

This is a must-listen for hoteliers, sustainability pros, and hospitality leaders looking to future-proof their business.

🔗 Explore our certification training at sustainablehospitalitytraining.com