Hotels: Relax with a clear conscience
This article talks about how hotel's are cutting back on their water costs by implementing environmentally friendly procedures in their day-to-day hotel water sources. Hotels are encouraging their guests to participate in green friendly processes such as towel re-usage and also forgoing the demand of fresh bed linen every day. InterContinental Hotels and Marriott Hotels both use the towel re-usage system. Intercontinental calculates that its towel re-use programme saves 199m litres of water a year in the US alone. Marriott International reckons its linen re-use programme saves 11-17 per cent on its water and water treatment costs. Lower water use can have a domino effect by cutting energy used to power washers and dryers, as well as reducing the quantity of detergents needed. Some newer hotels are leaving bath tubs out of the bathroom and only installing showers in order to save water costs and help the environment. De Vere Venues, De Vere hotel group's conference arm, is trialling devices installed in the pipework to showers in its rooms to add air to the water. Water use is reduced, but the strength of the flow is maintained. They are also introducing these devices called “liquid pool covers” in their swimming pools. They are unnoticeable to the swimmer. The pool covers take affect when the water surface is still. The stillness of the water allows the molecules to form an invisible surface on the pool that retains heat and prevents evaporation. Water issues can do more than influence a hotels premises appeal to it's guests, it can also determine the hotel’s survival. THis would apply to hotels in developing countries. So it is very important to try and implement as many water saving procedures as possible.
I think this article is very relevant to the Hospitality industry for many reasons. One being that our resources are limited and we need to take precautions in order to make sure we don't deplete them entirely, and in turn destroy our chances of keeping our operations "alive". The second being it can save us a lot of money on our utility bills, which will decrease our total expenses and generate more profit. The third being that "Going Green" is in right now. Guests like to know that the establishments they are going to are not only doing their part to help save the environment, but also keeping up with the trends. As I stated before water reduction can help decrease expenses, this is because water accounts for 15 per cent of the total utility bill of many hotels. Water is used in so many operations in a hotel from laundry to decor such as fountains. It is our duty as an industry and as citizens of the world to try and take all the necessary precautions to help the environment and our industry as a whole.
Source: FT.com (Financial Times)
I think Rebecca was right on with her analysis of this article. I agree that it is imperative for hotels to "go green" to continue generating high revenues. When everything about the importance of sustainability and going green surfaced a few years ago I thought it was just another fad that would soon pass. However, recently I have discovered that this trend is here to stay, and for good reason. In our classes, and working at the Marriott I have observed all that going green can do. I have also personally witnessed customers inquiring about the kinds of sustainable efforts Marriott is doing. Whether it is asking about slow foods in the restaurant or the towel reuse program at the front desk, people are interested and want to know about it. It is great not only for the environment, but like Rebecca mentioned, great for business. More and more customers are caring about going green and are choosing the hotels and businesses they frequent based on whether or not that business goes green. It is clear that if the initial investment is made by businesses that any sustainable efforts will generate HUGE payoffs for that company. I completely agree that it is our duty to give back and take care of the resources our earth has, and if that means reusing a towel once or twice I am completely willing to do it, and I think many other people are too. Great job Rebecca!!
ReplyDeleteThis article is important and emphasizes the trend that hotels are going green across the board. I believe that Rebecca's analysis of it is correct and in line with my thoughts exactly. Across the country hotels are leaving guests with the option of reusing towels and bed-linen and cutting down on water usage. With the costs of utilities rising each day the cost savings are obvious with re-use. It is important for hotels to acknowledge that they must "go green" and pay attention to environmental concers. The concerns of global warming and environmental pollution, customers demand hotels to be more environmentally-friendly today than ever before. As members of the hospitality industry, it is very important to lead by example - lead the charge and let others know that these are factors that everyone must realize. In part - this is also an opportunity to inform guest of the concerns and problems affecting the environment as a whole.
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