10/08/2022
Hoteliers need to help their guest make better choices
Many hotels encourage guests to reuse linen and towels. Asking customers to place a note on their door, or to hang their towels in a certain place, to indicate that they are happy to reuse them.
But wouldn’t it be better if guests had to choose the least sustainable choice instead? Making the default behaviour always the greenest option.
In 2008 Hotels introduced the practice of letting their guests choose when to change their bed linen, resulting in a 28% reduction in their laundry costs – a simple initiative with huge savings!
Recent experience from the TerraVerde team highlight other simply ways in which hotels could support guest who are keen to reduce the environmental impact of their stay. On a recent trip to Spain, Patrick expressed his disappointment on always returning to his hotel room to find the aircon blasting; despite having deliberately switched it off as he left each morning. Whilst Marina was delighted to be given a selection of plastic-free toiletries during a hotel stay last month; but her excitement soon faded when they were replaced each day – even those that had been untouched.
Just as travellers are changing their habits, so too must hoteliers. It’s time to question existing practices and look for ways to help guests make better choice. Often these changes result in operational cost savings too.