Greening of hotels

That being environmentally friendly pays off good dividends has long been known in the hotel industry. It has been some years now since virtually all segments of the industry have resorted to asking guests their preferences with regard to washing sheets and towels. At a minimum, hotels stood to gain in terms of labor and operating expense while guests salved their conscience by believing they had contributed to not polluting the environment. Research from TripAdvisor recently found that more than a third of travellers are prepared to pay more to stay at an environmentally friendly hotel or resort. Caterersearch, a UK based hospitality website notes that the survey of more than 1,000 global consumers by TripAdvisor booking website found 34% would pay more if it meant supporting green initiatives. American hotel companies and exhibitors have taken note with many launching green initiatives that include environmentally friendly construction materials. The Green Hotels association’s website notes that its hotels are comprised of “properties whose managers are eager to institute programs that save water, save energy and reduce solid waste”.