When hoteliers hear “eco-friendly” or “sustainable,” they typically think “too expensive” or “too difficult.”

In this post, we’re going to prove that wrong. In fact, there’s a good chance that eco-friendly products are more reasonable than you think. Plus, practicing sustainability can benefit your hotel and its guests, so there’s a lot to gain from going green.

Eco-Friendly Common Areas

First, a great place to start making these changes is in your hotel’s common areas. Those mainly including the dining area and your lobby.

Consider the Following Alternatives

Plastic Straws Biodegradable Straws

Plastic Plates Reusable or Compostable Plates

Plastic Cups Reusable or Compostable Cups

Plastic Utensils Compostable Utensils

Napkins 100% Recycled Paper Napkins

Chances are, you’ve probably noticed a theme in the list above. By minimizing the use of plastic at your hotel, you can reduce waste and water pollution, which will benefit your local community. Keep an eye out for the alternative items next time you go shopping for inventory.

Sustainability Inside Guest Rooms

The list of affordable eco-friendly products for hotel rooms might be shorter, but don’t be fooled. A little effort goes a long way. Especially when implementing the following changes to your hotel rooms.

Look Into These Options

• Offer recycle bins. Oftentimes, guests bring in plastic products from outside of your hotel. Providing them the option to recycle will show that your hotel is environmentally conscious.
• Integrate low flow faucets and shower heads. You have an abundance of options when searching online and in stores. Switching to low-flow products will help conserve water and save you money on your bill over time. Plus, new advances have been implemented to these items so that guests won’t even notice a difference.
• Refillable soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers are highly recommended. If you take a second to think about how many plastic bottles of these products have been in your hotel, it’s probably a substantial amount. Making this change will significantly decrease your hotel’s plastic use.
• Consider a linen-reuse program. Some hotels offer guests reward points if they choose to opt out of room service during their stay to conserve fresh linen and towels. If applicable, try integrating these options into your hotel’s practices. These programs are great for guests and can help you save on water and staff time.

Environmentally Conscious Landscaping

Did you know, something as simple as getting a tree planted beside your hotel could help decrease your air conditioning bills? If you have landscapers, consider speaking with them about making eco-conscious additions. Also, switching from regular to organic fertilizer may be more expensive. However, you’ll end up spending less in the long run because your landscape will respond better to it and need less fertilizer over time.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association reported that as of 2018, 25 percent of all U.S. properties had received Green Certification, the gold standard for hotel sustainability. Comparably, only 16 percent of properties had that certification in 2016.

With that said, it’s time to join the movement and improve your hotel and guest satisfaction by switching to eco-friendly solutions. We’d love to hear how your hotel is enforcing eco-friendly practices. Go Green!