The Evolution of Hotel Sustainability Data

Alex Nichols-Vinueza supports the World Wildlife Fund’s U.S. Food Waste team’s portfolio of projects, including work with the agricultural, grocery retail, hospitality, and food service sectors. This encompasses the Global Farm Loss Tool, the Food Waste Warrior program (which empowers students and teachers to learn about the food system by measuring and reducing their school food waste), the Zero Food Waste Coalition (in its work to advance common-sense policies at the state and federal levels to develop a more circular food economy and mitigate climate change), and the U.S. Food Waste Pact (a national voluntary agreement to accelerate leading food businesses’ progress toward their waste reduction targets).

Mr. Nichols-Vinueza brings over 15 years of project and partnership management experience across tech, government, and sustainability consulting in the U.S. and Latin America. Bilingual in Spanish and English, he holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an MEM from Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

Mr. Nichols-Vinueza hails from Traverse City in northern Michigan, where he grew up camping, spending summers in the area’s many parks and lakes, and working on local farms.

In 2008, Eric Ricaurte founded Greenview, an international consultancy catalyzing innovation and best practices in sustainability and ESG, providing services for strategy, programs, data management, benchmarking, and reporting. Greenview’s clients include most of the largest hotel companies as well as hotel owners and developers, event organizers, cruise lines, NGOs, DMOs, OTAs, and industry organizations including the WTTC, UNWTO, and AHLA.

With 25 years of hands-on experience, Mr. Ricaurte is a frequent speaker, convener, and researcher on the topic of sustainability. His notable industry work includes launching the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index, Green Lodging Trends Report, Destination Water Risk Index, Hotel Global Decarbonisation Report, Hotel Owners for Tomorrow Coalition, and Net-Zero Methodology for the Hotel Industry. Mr. Ricaurte is a member of the UFI Committee on Sustainable Development and the International Standards Committee of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Prior to founding Greenview, he specialized in the operations and development of nature-based lodges, theme parks, and attractions in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Brazil.

Mr. Ricaurte earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration as well as a Master of Science degree in Tourism and Travel Management from New York University. He has held a research fellowship at the Cornell University Center for Hospitality Research and been an adjunct instructor at New York University.

Gizem Kilic is the Director of Industry Research at Government Affairs for the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). She began her Master of Science degree and later transferred to the Ph.D. program at the Nolan School of Hotel Administration, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, expecting to graduate in 2024. Ms. Kilic’s research primarily focuses on sustainability, food waste reduction, and food recovery policies across the United States. 

Prior to pursuing graduate degrees, Ms. Kilic served as the Events Team Leader at Grand Hyatt Istanbul and as a Corporate Leadership Trainee at Hyatt EMEA. She worked in food and beverage and sales for major brands such as Four Seasons, W Hotels, and Kempinski in Istanbul before joining Hyatt. Ms. Kilic holds dual degrees in Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Gastronomy and Culinary Arts from Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Turkey.

Jeanne Varney is a senior lecturer at the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration. She is part of the Property Development and Management Department, where she is responsible for the curriculum in Hospitality Facilities Management, Hospitality Asset Management, Sustainable Development, and Introduction to Sustainable Hospitality Principles. In Hospitality Facilities Management, Professor Varney combines the technical facilities curriculum with a practical management perspective. In Hospitality Asset Management, she examines the broad range of issues faced by hotel ownership groups requiring asset management oversight and analyses, as well as how to influence results that meet ownership objectives. In Sustainable Development, Professor Varney leads students through the principles, methodology, and strategic application of green hotel development and practices in an engaged learning environment. In Introduction to Sustainable Hospitality Principles, she guides students through the implementation of tactical green principles, policies, and practices.

Outside Cornell, Professor Varney is a principal with Olive Hospitality Consulting, where she provides practical sustainability solutions to businesses looking to improve the “triple bottom line” for their organizations. She has more than 20 years of real estate, operations, and sustainable hospitality experience. Prior to establishing Olive Hospitality Consulting, Professor Varney was vice president of asset management at Host Hotels and Resorts, administering the full range of ownership responsibilities, including operational and capital expenditure budgeting, ongoing operational reviews, and long-term strategic planning for the properties. She previously held positions with Marriott International Corporate Headquarters and Horwath Landauer Hospitality Consulting, as well as positions with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

In addition to her professional duties, Professor Varney is an international past-president for NEWH, Inc., and a founding member of the NEWH Sustainability Committee. She is also a member of U.S. Green Building Council, Sustainable Hospitality Council, Cornell Real Estate Council, and Cornell Hotel Society. Professor Varney holds an MBA from the George Washington University and a B.S. degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.