Going Green in the Hospitality Industry Essay Example

article titled, “Environmental Policy in the Hotel Sector: Green Strategy or Stratagem,” the results of a survey found that in hotels with an environmental policy, the manager perceived his stakeholders to be more environmentally aware than those without an environmental policy.Additionally, the study found that hotels with a non-financial reporting control system were more likely to adopt an environmental policy.

In 1996, when this article was published, green policies were considered stratagems instead of bonafide, widespread business strategies for all hotels to take into consideration to participate in environmentally-responsible business practices. The author concludes that until environmental concerns become strategic issues added into the control system with rewards, the response will remain the same; green policies and practices will be considered stratagems.Now, in 2008, this issue is of even more importance, and less of a device to attract business from the environmentally-aware demographic. Guest involvement in a more green hotel environment has become more apparent with a recent survey in the New York Times found that 16 percent of hotel guests chose where they will stay based on the environmentally-friendly options available to them and the practices of the hotel.

A 2007, New York Times article titled, “Enjoy Your Green Stay,” states that green options for hotels have become widespread so quickly because of the rising cost of energy. It should be no coincidence that business guests in the hotel industry are the main demographic that is requesting the shift. A USA Today article titled, “More Hotels using eco-friendly design, construction to go green,” states that while there are over 800 U. S. buildings that have been certified green, while there are only four hotels with

the same certificationIndeed, the New York Times article found that business travelers, who tend to be younger and therefore more environmentally-aware, began to make green policies a higher priority when considering accommodations.

Of these four green-certified hotels within the U. S. , there is one in College Park, Md. , located minutes away from the main campus of the University of Maryland. According to the USA Today article, the Marriot hotel uses 30% less energy than a comparable property.

In turn, the hotel makes a better profit because it has lower operational costs.Green hotels are also changing their cleaning habits by using The example of this location gives the hotel industry as a whole less reason to resist change to greener options. Lodging Hospitality examines these cost-saving options in a September 2008 article. These changes include investigating the HVAC system within the building, and outfitting rooms with sensors and an intelligent thermostat. Other options include rebates for purchasing energy-saving equipment and building with environmentally-friendly materials.

In this same issue, another article titled, “Marriot Makes Meetings Green,” examines how the Marriot chain of hotels has made small changes to its banquet facilities in an attempt to heed guests’ requests and save money. The article states that the average three-day meeting can produce tons of trash, millons of kilowatts of power, and up to one hundred thousand gallons of water. With the switch to recyclable table linens, biodegradable cutlery, and containers and paper made of recyclable materials, the hotel could save thousands per year.The New York Times articles cites a Westin hotel in Pittsburgh that spent $120,000 to implement a system that would use key cards to regulate

energy usage when guests are not in their rooms; the hotel was able to recoup its investment in 15 months due to energy conservation.

These articles are vital to the industry in adopting green policies because they highlight simple options to reduce environmental impact, which in turn saves money through energy conservation. It’s possible that the hotel industry has resisted these simple changes for so long because consumers were not as vocal about making these changes.The industry began to change its mind only after consumers changed their mind about energy conservation and the Green movement. While there are initial costs that some independently-owned hotels may find too risky, there is evidence that the switch is economically sound in more aspects than just keeping up with consumer demands.

Even if stakeholders and executives do not feel it is a necessary move, especially if they have a loyal customer-base, they may find the cost-savings more attractive; particularly if they can pass those savings on to their customers.