U.S. Hotel Industry Takes Green Issues Seriously, Survey Reveals

The American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AH&LA) Green Assessment Survey results reveal the top 10 green initiatives hotels are enacting, the top 10 green programs hotels can improve upon, motivations and challenges for implementing green lodging practices, and quantifiable measurements of green action being taken around the United States.

Among the many findings, the survey revealed that eighty-eight percent of respondents’ properties have a linen reuse program for guests who stay multiple nights, and that nearly half (43.4 percent) of responding properties have programmable on/off timers or sensors used for lighting in low traffic/occupancy, though only 16 percent use occupancy sensor control for guestroom thermostats.

The majority (82.3 percent) of properties surveyed train maintenance staff on conservation and energy procedures. Environmental benefits and building guest loyalty tie for biggest motivation responding properties cite for implementing green practices.

“Results of this survey show that the hospitality industry is serious about the environment and is addressing eco issues head on,” said Joseph A. McInerney, CHA, AH&LA President/CEO.

Green Assessment Survey results were compiled based on 217 responses from AH&LA member hotels. Results provide necessary feedback and real-world examples of various levels of green operations in different levels of properties across the country and assist in the association’s development of a baseline for industry-wide green programs.