February 10, 2012
It's one thing for employees to understand the value of implementing "green" initiatives in order to save money, stay competitive and promote sustainable practices that have an impact on our environment and communities. It's another challenge entirely to engage guests in your sustainable journey.
Here's one question you can ask as you reevaluate the eco-friendliness of your enterprise: How well are you educating your guests to help you maintain green practices around your property?
Some might consider guest education programs to be a bit heavy-handed, but there's a difference between enforcing strict rules and offering helpful reminders and advice to your customers. Here are a few suggestions you can make to guests via signage, educational materials or live customer service interaction to help boost customer engagement in your environmental efforts.
1. Recycling: If you want your guests to recycle, you'll need to provide them with the appropriate bins and containers to do so. However, don't assume that all guests know how to separate their recyclables from their trash, as recycling programs still vary greatly around the world. Include an easy-to-read sign near your trash and recycling bins offering instructions in English and any other language commonly spoken by your guests for separating paper, plastics, metals, organic waste and any other items that can be recycled in your area.
2. Light usage: Some hotels install automatic timers and motion sensors to help reduce wasted energy consumption, while others avoid this due to the initial cost as well as the frustration it can sometimes cause for guests. If you choose to avoid this technique for whatever reason, post an aesthetically pleasing sign next to light switches reminding guests to shut off lights when not in use and especially when they leave the room.
3. Thermostats: Controlling interior temperatures might backfire on a customer satisfaction level, but it never hurts to encourage the judicious use of heat and air conditioning. Suggest turning heat or air conditioning to a low or off setting when leaving the room.
4. Televisions: Many guests are in the habit of leaving their televisions on all day or night, whether they need the noise to fall asleep or are simply absent-minded and don't notice that it's on. Most hotel televisions have a welcome screen when they're first turned on, so include a special note to guests reminding them that excessive television usage can be wasteful and to please consider turning it off when they're done watching their programs.
5. Encourage carpooling and alternative modes of transport: Depending on where your property is located, you might be able to encourage the use of several good alternative modes of transport, whether they be public transportation, car-sharing, public bike systems or even walking.
6. Re-using linens and towels: Some guests like their linens and towels fresh every day, but there are a considerable number of people who don't mind reusing the same sheets for a second or even third night. Give guests the option to do so by offering them signs indicating whether they'd like a linen change - as well as a location to drop towels they're ready to have washed.
As simple as these steps may be, they can be made even more efficient and cost-effective for your property when you can implement them with the assistance of an expedient procurement solutions provider. Avendra's supply chain experts can not only bring you competitive contracts for supplies like CFLs and recycling bins, but we can also provide you with invaluable relationship support and related industry knowledge. Avendra customers can login to myAvendra.com to search for these types of products and sustainable solutions providers, or contact an Avendra representative for more information.