Blog Archive: September 2009

I recently spoke on a panel at The Lodging Conference in Phoenix on the subject of "Practical Green Concepts in Design, Construction and Conservation Practices." The session moderator, John Scaggs of HVS Eco Services, noted that we have the technology to monitor energy and water usage in individual hotel rooms. If we can do that, why not provide an incentive to guests to conserve resources by letting them know at check-out how their usage compared to the average and offering them a rebate if they used less water and electricity.  

I made this suggestion, and fellow panelist Bill Weinaug of X-nth took it a step further: Why not build it into a hotel's guest rewards program? You can earn conservation points that can be converted to a free night's stay.

If there are any hoteliers reading this, feel free to steal this idea and run with it.

Guest aren’t motivated to save a hotel's money by not having their bed linens and towels laundered each day of their stay. They view the practice somewhat cynically. But if they are saving their own money, it could change behavior and be a win for the environment, a win for the property, and a win for the guest.