Being green or cutting costs?

We’re surprised at the steps some hotels are taking in this economic climate to reduce costs while the industry is in repair. The ideas have varied from replacing newspapers with iPads pre-loaded with newspaper subscriptions  to cutting back on existing services that are a staple of the industry.

Of those services being reevaluated is the daily replacing of linen in rooms. Most chains are now offering their guests the option of completely forgoing the changing of linens and bathroom towels daily,  and instead having them changed once every three days, rather than the more frequent alternative, though some have chosen to reduce the rate of linen changes in the room regardless of customer preference.

Hotels are marketing these changes as a part of their “green packages”. While there is an environmental impact to take into consideration, this largely has a financial impact on the industry. The costs and energy savings that come from reducing the amount of washing towels and linen daily have been documented, so hotels announcing these changes stem from a new green commitment are not without merit. And while Bjorn Hanson of New York University states that many guests aren’t completely convinced that this is solely a green initiative, they are ok with the modest cutbacks being made.

To be clear this is a positive for travelers, the industry, and the environment, and although the green aspect is being questioned slightly, there’s no doubt that the idea is a step in the right direction.