Today’s travelers are more conscious than ever about the environmental impact of their choices. From electric cars to plant-based diets, sustainability has become a key factor in decision-making across industries—and hospitality is no exception!
Eco-conscious guests expect hotels to prioritize sustainability, not as a marketing move, but as a fundamental part of their operations. The fear of many hotels becomes how to ensure this without placing a burden on staff, resources, or processes. The good news? Sustainable practices don’t have to be costly or time-consuming—small, strategic changes can boost guest satisfaction while reducing environmental impact.
WHERE WE WERE VS. WHERE WE’RE HEADED
Then:
Complimentary plastic water bottles in rooms – Expensive for hotels, thrown away after one use, and creating unnecessary waste.
Bulk toiletries and mini-samples wrapped in plastic – Expensive for hotels, frequently thrown out after one use, and a burden for housekeeping staff to replace.
Single-use key cards and cards holders – Paper covers for plastic key cards – easy to lose, prone to magnet failure, and easily breakable. The paper itself is costly, requiring frequent reordering and branding, only to be discarded after each use. Additionally, staff loses time manually writing room numbers, adding to operational inefficiencies.
Daily towel and linen changes – High water and energy consumption due to excessive towel usage, adding extra workload for housekeeping and increasing operational costs.
Guests unaware of sustainability initiatives – Limited communication meant eco-efforts often went unnoticed.
Now:
Refill stations instead of bottled water. More travelers now expect to fill their reusable bottles at hotels, just as they do at airports and workplaces. Some hotels are even integrating advanced hydration solutions like REFILL+, which offers vitamin-enriched, flavored water options, providing a premium yet sustainable alternative to bottled drinks.
Washable cotton pads for makeup removal and singular, high-quality items are replacing prepacked bulk sets of 5-6 disposable products, reducing waste and enhancing guest experience.
Reusable key cards, mobile check-in, and branded reusable covers. Digital room access is reducing waste and enhancing guest convenience, while branded, elegant reusable covers provide a sustainable alternative to disposable key card sleeves. Additionally, some hotels are shifting to digital codes for keyless entry, streamlining check-ins and minimizing waste.
Energy-efficient upgrades. Smart thermostats, solar panels, and LED lighting are now industry standards.
by
Aquablu
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