CURRENT TRENDS

GREEN HOSPITALITY

According to Travel Industry Dictionary (2013) green hotel is “a lodging establishment that has made a commitment to various ecologically sound practices such as saving water, saving energy and reducing solid waste”. In 2008, the American Hotel and Lodging Association announced that its main importance was the greening of the hospitality industry (Kasavana, 2008). Taking an environmentally friendly method is trendy, outstanding and cost effective. Kasavana (2008) continues that green meetings, green hotels, green convention centers and green suppliers are all aspects of the hospitality industry.

WHY GREEN HOSPITALITY

Going green is important because: when water saving equipment are introduced, low –flow toilets and 1.6 gpm dishwashing valves the water bills are reduced dramatically. Being green means that guests and all staff are healthier as the poisonous chemicals, odours in the air or food consumed by guests is well taken by the green aspect (Green Hotels, 2013).

A research by Jones (2002:43) clearly supports that recycling and energy conservation programmes help firms to save money. Further work by Mensar (2004:432) supports this claim that “going green was introduced not only as a popular consumer trend but also as an opportunity to save money for the organisation”.

MEASURES TO BE TAKEN

A Toronto Hotel has gone green by recycling stained tablecloths into napkins (Kasavana, 2008).Kasavana (2008) further states that in tropical areas solar energy is used for lighting and heating water and also the hotels in general are making cloth laundry bags from retired sheets

“Many hotels place a printed card on the pillow of an unmade bed asking guests to indicate their preference for bed making. This can save gallons of water and energy” (Kirk, 1996:42).

Research by, Middleton (1994:134) states earth friendly cleaning products must be used when cleaning bar areas or public areas. Additional a hotel in Pennsylvania has a 400 foot garden and produces healthily vegetables for its restaurant (Kasavana, 2008).

A research conducted by the Internal Hotel Environment Initiative shown that 90 percent of hotel guests ideal to stay in a hotel that is concerned for the environment (Mensar,2004:430). Green hospitality is an aspect of paramount importance. It is only through the implementation of the 3 Rs-reduce, re-use and recycle, firms will be able to reduce on their bills, minimise inventory wastage, conserve energy consumption and be economical (Kasavana 2008). As future trends customers are now requiring green aspects in menus and in the rooms.

 

REFERENCES

Green Hotels (2013)

http://www.greenhotels.com/  (Accessed :10 April 2014).

Kasavana, M. (2008) Green Hospitality

http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp?ID=307 (     (Accessed:10 April 2014)

Kirk, D. (1996) Environment Management for Hotels, Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.

Mensar, I. (2004) Management Practices In Us Hotels, Atlanta, Georgia State University.

Middleton, T.C. (1994) Marketing In Travel and Tourism,2^nd edn. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.

Jones, P. (2002) Introduction to Hospitality Operations: An indispensable guide to the industry,2^nd edn. London: South Western Cengage Learning.

Travel Industry Dictionary (2013) Green Hotel [Online],  http://www.travel-industry-dictionary.com/green-hotel.html (Accessed: 15 April 2014).