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Jim Bruels, Orchard Hotels
Jim joined the Orchard Hotels as Sales Account Assistant in 2006. His supportive, positive connection with his customers and co-workers was almost immediately reflected in the countless comments regarding his outstanding guest service and relationships with his co-workers. "I only want to work with HIM" is a constant guest demand. Within one year, he was promoted to Senior Sales Manager. Since the Orchard Garden Hotel's opening in 2006, he has become its official Green Ambassador and has been promoted again to Director of Business Travel. He has doubled the hotels preferred accounts revenue since joining the team.
By combining his love of travel, sales experience with his passion for a cleaner environment, Jim has helped create two of the country's most environmentally sustainable boutique hotels. He is one of San Francisco's most respected figures in the 'greening' of the city's hospitality industry. In 2007, the Orchard Garden Hotel was California's first LEED-NC (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-New Construction) certified hotel by the US Green Building Council. Jim is passionate about sustainable hospitality and has been instrumental in leading the hotel community in awareness and training. He proudly leads informational tours for many local corporations and organizations such as the United States Green Building Council, American Institute of Architects, Natural Resource Defense Council, world wide hoteliers and students in the sustainable hospitality and building. He has partnered and volunteered with many eco-friendly organizations such as Forest Ethics, Global Green, Hollywood Goes Green project, Green Zebra, Friends of the Urban Forest, Greenopia and many more. He also donates his time and hotel resources with many local community development programs including Macy's Passport, AIDS Foundation Life Cycle, Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation, AIDS Walk and more. His leadership, passion and community outreach has had significant impact not only on the local San Francisco hotel community, but the entire hospitality industry.