Forty-seven percent of business travels prioritize ‘green' hotels when on the road, according to the 2013 Global Business Traveler Survey published by Timetric. Environmentally conscious, well-informed travelers expect hotels to do more than just provide a comfortable place to stay. They want to know and SEE that the hotel they have chosen implements energy-efficient practices and is eco-friendly in many ways.
Making sure guests can easily recognize green products and efforts at a hotel is as simple as making a few small inexpensive changes. Stephen Kirby, owner and executive vice president of Hospitality Source, is an expert in custom hospitality product manufacturing and strategic sourcing for the hospitality industry including hotels, resorts, restaurants, and convention centers. "The common misconception is that going green can be costly, time-consuming and inefficient," says Kirby. "But by implementing some specific LEED inspired changes in the sleeping rooms, hoteliers can both save money and clearly show their guests how seriously they take environmentally friendly practices."
INCREASE GREEN APPEAL WITH THESE FIVE SLEEPING ROOM PRODUCTS GEARED FOR LEED RESPONSIBLE HOTELS
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Post-Consumer Recycled Products and Packaging: Hotels can provide post-consumer recycled content products like pens, paper pads, cups and bathroom amenity bottles which are labeled with the universal recycling/recycled content symbols. Many of these items are already printed with hotel logo and can be supplemented with customized environmentally friendly message.
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Recycling Waste: Several cities throughout the U.S. already require hotels to properly separate recyclables and trash. Kirby recommends starting the process in the sleeping rooms. Using dual-lined waste bins permits guests to easily and clearly separate trash from recyclables and allows hotel staff to quickly and effectively remove recyclables from the room. These are not only stylish and customizable, but are effective in having the guest participate in being ‘Green.'
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Eliminate Non-Recyclable Products: Throw away the plastic dry cleaning bags and implement reusable laundry bags made from washable materials like nonwoven polypropylene, polyester or cotton. These are inexpensive options that not only can they be washed and reused, but can also be printed with a hotel logo and an environmentally friendly message visible to the guest. Hotels can either sell or give the reusable dry cleaning bags to guests as an added amenity or profit source in the rooms.
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Energy Efficient/Non Toxic Room Appliance/Fixtures: Hotels can use money saving appliances/fixtures like LED light fixtures and makeup mirrors that more than offset the price differences from using incandescent technology. Also, using mini fridges that are non-Freon and energy efficient reduces toxins in landfills at end of lifecycle.
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Biodegradable/Recyclable/Compostable/Waste Elimination: There are many opportunities for hotels to use products that follow best environmental practices like corn/soy/sugar cane based or biodegradable cups for in-room coffee and water use. Many of these items can be printed with a hotel logo and an associated recycling symbol that are easy for hotel guests to see. Or, eliminate waste altogether and switch to bulk-dispensed bathroom amenity products, which helps eliminate hundreds of pounds of non-recyclable plastic bottles.
Hospitality Source is one of the industry's premier custom hospitality product manufacturing companies, hotel supplier/distributer, strategic sourcing and custom goods manufacturer dedicated to helping hotels, resorts, convention centers and restaurants reduce furniture, fixtures, equipment and operating costs. Through years of experience and streamlined operations, they have become the process experts that can literally find, manufacture, develop, produce, package and ship the highest quality hospitality related goods and products – All at significant cost savings to the client. Manufacturing, distributing, and purchasing resources are strategically located in the United States and Asia, ensuring superior product selection, quality and availability, as well as a quick and efficient response times to meet virtually every need. For more information, visit www.hospitalitysource.com or email sales@hospitalitysource.com.
