Comments on: If hotels claim to be green, why don’t they try this?

By: Green Hotels

Green Hotels — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:31:59 +0000

I think it is important to be able to differentiate between hotels doing the bare minimum to be labeled as green, and those taking the extra steps, like the Fairmont properties, who have been pioneers. When looking for this information, search out websites that offer details as to why a hotel is green or environmentally friendly.

By: Late_April_

Late_April_ — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:42:50 +0000

Dear Author http://www.consumertraveler.com !
In my opinion you are not right. I can defend the position. Write to me in PM, we will discuss.

By: Janice Hough

Janice Hough — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:07:06 +0000

Great point kiwin. A girlfriend and I ran into this last month, we ended up taking one key with us and leaving another key in the room, because we almost ran out of laptop power…. Maybe as this trend continues hotels could have ONE outlet just for charging things , that isn’t connected to the lights.

By: kiwin

kiwin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:36:45 +0000

One problem with “a room key must be in a particular slot” is that it makes it hard to charge devices (cameras, shavers, computers, etc) when you are not there

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:24:44 +0000

Barbara, Steph may be naive, but I think you’ve got a touch of bitter. Steph said he takes it with him in the rental car – presumably wherever he’s already going – and when he sees a place to recycle the stuff, he does. To me, that’s extra green – recycling AND combining a trip.

Yes, someday, some hotels may start to charge a fee for daily fresh towels or fresh linens. Someday they may charge for fresh air. As the old joke goes, someday they’ll put a pay toilet in the room to make that a revenue center as well. But I don’t think most will follow suit, and unlike airlines, which seem to be looking for ways to “unbundle” common services and charge for them, hotels instead seem to be looking for ways to charge for “out of the ordinary” things they used to do as a courtesy – receiving packages for guests, for instance.

And in any event, I don’t see a fine for not putting recyclables in the right bin. As that would have to be charged “after the fact”, it would have to be a pretty steep fine to recover just the costs of assessing it, and I don’t think hotels are so dumb as to alienate their guests by sending a $25 retroactive “fine”. Even minor room damage tends to get written off wear and tear, as too difficult to collect.

By: barbara

barbara — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:19:22 +0000

Steph. I think you are a good person who is very naive. Why use your gas to get rid of the stuff- not carbon efficient or whatever.

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:08:39 +0000

Just stayed at the Best Western in Milan. They have separate bins for paper, plastic, glass.

When I stay at hotels with no in-room recycling facilities, I make the effort to recycle the stuff myself. I ask at reception if there are any facilities in the hotel, & bring the recyclables down myself. If I have a rental car, I take the recyclables with me until I spot somewhere to drop them, usually near big supermarkets.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:01:15 +0000

In my city, we have bins that we are to put recyclables in and put out with the trash so special trucks come by and pick up the recyclables. This used to be free–we could recycle all we could within the rules and not have to pay.

Now, for about the last year and a half, we have to pay a monthly fee to recycle, no matter how much or little we recycle.

This change make me wander how worthwhile recycling is. If there is not a market for used aluminum, are we really helping by picking it up in special trucks, taking it to a recycle center, then have the recycle center throw them away because the can’t sell it?

I bet this also affects the hotels in my city; my guess is that it is cheaper for them to throw everything away instead of recycling. And since just about every hotel is struggling, who could blame them?

By: barbara

barbara — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:25:53 +0000

Hagood ,I am in total agreement with you. You expressed it better than I could. I can vizualize it now. Soon surcharges on new towels every day, fresh linens etc. And then the ultimate – a fine for not placing your disposables in the right bin. Dana Believe me if there is a way to make a profit and make and take write offs most would.

By: Hapgood

Hapgood — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:07:11 +0000

I’m rather conflicted about this whole issue. At home I change my sheets once a week, and use towels twice before putting them in the hamper. That actually has more to do with the hassle of doing laundry rather than any “green” concerns. So I suppose I could live with that while on vacation.

On the other hand, I’m paying a pretty penny to stay in a hotel, so why shouldn’t I have fresh towels and enjoy the feeling of freshly laundered sheets that I normally only have once a week? Yes, that’s a callous disregard for the environment. But arguably, so is any travel involving transportation other than a bicycle or walking. I’m also rather cynical about the likelihood that hotels will exploit “green” as the latest excuse to generate the “ancillary revenue” that now seems to be the motto of the entire travel industry.