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Chain Hotels Take Green Lead in Hospitality Industry

A study by Stefani Svaren, a student at the School of Hospitality Business
Management, Pullman, WA, found that major chain hotels such
as Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and others are far ahead of
independent hotels when it comes to adopting Green and
sustainable operating practices.

Svaren's study, which was published in a recent issue of the
International Journal of Hospitality Management, found that
chains are more likely to use energy-efficient lightbulbs
and water-saving bathroom fixtures, as well as
environmentally preferable cleaning products.1

The study concluded that some independent hotels are so far
behind chains that they may lose their competitive advantage
in drawing customers.

"This is because on both a corporate level and a personal
level, if costs and features are competitive, more travelers
prefer to stay in a Green hotel," says Mike Sawchuk, vice
president of Enviro-Solutions, manufacturer of Green
cleaning chemicals and products, which markets to hotels
throughout North America.

Hotels first started taking steps to be Greener and more
sustainable in the 1990s, and some, once again the big
chains, soon realized it could be a cost savings as well as
a powerful marketing strategy.

"Some independent hotels, for instance, are reluctant to
switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs because it can take
years for them to see a return on their investment,"
explains Sawchuk. "However, a large chain may discover cost
savings almost immediately."

The use of Green cleaning chemicals is also quite common in
the larger chains, according to Sawchuk. "And many of the
[chains] we work with are quick to add this fact to their
marketing material. [They find] consumers believe a Green
hotel is also a better operated hotel."

More From 1/19/2012 on FacilitiesNet