This quarter we conducted an in-person survey of owners and operators attending the 2014 InterContinental Hotel Groups Investors and Leadership conference in Las Vegas. We covered topics from PIPs, to furniture, to sustainability. On the blog last week, we highlighted one of the most burning questions : Who is responsible for sustainability in the hospitality industry?Is it the owner, the operator, the brand or all of the above? (Answer: All of the above)
This week, we want to take a step back. Without understanding the urgency behind sustainable practices, green initiatives, and a commitment to environmental responsibility; owners, operators, and brand managers may be slow to come together on the issue.
We asked them if they feel that sustainability is important to guests. The response was comforting, with 78 percent stating: Yes, more than ever.
Although it’s reassuring to see the majority agree with a topic we feel strongly about, almost a fifth (19 percent) thought ‘only in some cases’. From our experience, spanning three decades of working in the hospitality industry, this is when decision makers think that being sustainable will eat away at more budget. However, we know the opposite to be true. With furniture asset management alone, it’s not uncommon to see budget savings of more than 80 percent.
Eco-awareness is at an all time high, and the attitude of the traveller has changed. Millennials booking vacations today are educated and passionate about making the world a greener place, and services like TripAdvisor make browsing a location’s sustainable ratings easier than ever.
The consensus, from The Refinishing Touch and our peers, is that sustainability is indeed important to guests, and the best possible solution is a combative approach from owners, operators, and brands across the board.
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