For environmental reasons: hold the towels
More than 90 percent of US hotels offer programs in towel and linen reuse, which made Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor of Green Lodging News, ask a question:
“What I am wondering is whether the day will come when guests also expect to have the option to opt out of housekeeping entirely — and be rewarded for it.
The result was that Jennifer Bauchner, director, Rooms and Sustainability, North America Operations, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., said more than 150 Starwood properties now participate in the company’s "Make a Green Choice" program.
“It is widely used at Sheraton and Westin hotels,” Bauchner said. “We are continuing to expand it. Many of our loyal guests are coming to expect this.”
The “Make a Green Choice” program it gives guests the option of not only opting out of towel and linen replacement but also all housekeeping for a day. In exchange for their participation, they are rewarded with Starwood loyalty program points or given a $5 gift card to use at an on-site hotel restaurant.
“Sage Hospitality just launched its own version of Make a Green Choice called Green Choice,” Hasek said.
According to Bryan Boyce, director of Energy Operations for the Denver-based company, 18 of the hotels Sage manages now participate in Green Choice and the plan is to expand it to the company’s more than 50 hotels.
“That means some Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental Hotels Group and Radisson hotels will also be participating,“ Hasek added.
By David Wilkening
David
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