Green cleaning services combined with sustainable lodging practices will increase the profit margins for hospitality-focused businesses.
Green Cleaning Services and Sustainable Lodging Improves Profitability
Implementing green cleaning products and sustainable business practices is becoming mandatory for the success and longevity of the hospitality industry.
More than anything else, the driving force behind this pressure to move towards environmentally conscious lodging and maintenance is consumer demand.
According to a 2015 poll conducted by The Nielsen Company,
66% of global respondents say they’re willing to pay more for products and services that come from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact, up from 55% in 2014, and 50% in 2013.
The rise in the percentage of respondents aged 15 - 20, also known as Generation Z, who are willing to pay more for products and services that come from companies who are committed to positive social and environmental impact was also strong—up from 55% in 2014 to 72% in 2015.
Green Generation: Millennials say Sustainability is a Shopping Priority
Why Hotels Must 'Go Green'
The hotel industry as a whole is responsible for the consumption of a significant percentage of natural resources, as well as the creation of organic and non-organic waste.
According to a 2014 article published in The Journal of Environmental Management,
[A] hotel guest is estimated to generate up to 1 kg [app. 2.2 lbs.] of waste per day on average, and this amounts to millions of tons of waste being generated worldwide annually.
Solid waste management in the hospitality industry: A review
Hotels in the U.S. also consume a large amount of electricity and natural gas.
Hotels and motels in the U.S. use an average of 14 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 49 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot (ft2) annually.
Finally, several studies have suggested that, depending on type and size, the volume of water used per room, per day, is staggering.
According to Colorado Waste Wise,
A few studies suggest that water usage averages between 100 gallons per day (gpd) per room to 400 gpd per room.
Age, size, class of hotel, type of cooling, on-site laundry, irrigation needs, swimming pools, and the existence of full-service restaurants have all shown to have a significant effect on total water use.
How to Green Your Hotel
There are numerous ways to address the challenges of successfully implementing environmentally friendly practices in hotels.
- Energy Conservation - Switch out older appliances, especially kitchen and cleaning equipment, with Energy Star certified appliances. Replace lighting with Smart LED light bulbs and, where possible, use natural lighting from windows to light lobbies and dining areas for as much of the day as possible.
- Water Conservation - Install low-flow water systems in guest and kitchen areas and drought-resistant native plants in garden and lawn areas. Replace water-hungry cleaning processes and appliances with more efficient and cost-effective products, such as microfiber. Combine microfiber use with onsite cleaning product generation and the two-bucket cleaning method to further reduce water use and waste.
- Recycling and Waste Management - Place recycling bins in lobbies, dining areas, and guest rooms, and place easily viewable signs reminding guests to please recycle. Remember to recycle all used electronics, linen, bedding, and organic waste. Multiply the effectiveness of your recycling program by purchasing products manufactured from and shipped with recycled materials.
See Also:
- The Most Common Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Hotel Initiatives
- Go Green Hotels: Green Ideas for Hotels and Resorts
References & Resources
- Hotel Sustainability: Why Hotels Should Go Green
- A Deeper Shade of Green: 10 Hotels Enhancing Sustainability in Creative Ways
- Staying Green: Hotels Step Up Their Sustainability Initiatives
- Luxury hotels go green as millennials demand sustainable travel options
- Hotels and Motels: Water Use Efficiency Ideas
Takeaway
From Babyboomers to Millennials, the consumers of hotelier and hospitality services are demanding safer, greener products, and sustainable practices from their lodging provider.
Given the number of natural resources used by hotels every day, combined with the volume of waste produced per guest per day, multiplied by the increasing cost of utilities and waste management, it makes financial sense for the hotel industry to implement green, sustainable cleaning, and business practices now.
There are a wide range of areas where hotels can reduce waste creation and utility consumption.
Consulting with a certified green cleaning provider will help streamline the implementation of sustainable practices, ensuring its adoption by guests and hotel staff.
If you would like to learn more about how green cleaning services can improve the profit margins and sustainable business practices for your lodging and hospitality focused organization, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
