NATIONAL REPORT—The American Hotel & Lodging Association is about to release the results of its 2010 Lodging Survey. Green Lodging News was provided with a copy of the survey results prior to the survey’s official release. The survey, which is conducted approximately every two years, was funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation and prepared by Smith Travel Research. A total of 48,954 hotels were polled. The response rate was 18 percent (more than 8,500 participants). The survey report covers 14 green-related areas: Allergy-Free Rooms, Air Purifiers, Liquid Soap Dispensers, Linen/Towel Reuse Program, Energy Management Sensors in Room, Recycling Program, Energy Efficient Lighting, Water Saving Program, Digital Energy Management System, Green Certification, Hotels with Vegetarian Menu Choices, 100 Percent Nonsmoking, Plan to Incorporate LEED, and Incorporated LEED in Renovations.
According to the survey, 38 percent of responding hotels now offer allergy-free rooms (up from 24 percent in 2008). The category of hotels most likely to offer allergy-free rooms: luxury, with 66 percent of hotels in that segment indicating they offer them. Twenty-five percent of respondents said their hotels now include air purifiers in guestrooms (up from 12 percent in 2008). The category most likely to have them: luxury, with 65 percent of hotels in that segment indicating they offer them.
The percentage of respondents indicating they offer liquid soap dispensers in the bathroom was just 6 percent (down from 22 percent in 2008). The category of hotels most likely to have them: independents, with 12 percent indicating they use them. Eleven percent of those responding in the luxury segment use them.
Towel and Linen Reuse
The number of respondents indicating they offer a towel and linen reuse program leaped to 88 percent from 67 percent in 2008 (52 percent in 2004). Every segment of the industry is participating in this type of program. The most likely to have this type of program: upper upscale (98 percent of respondents). The least likely: economy segment (71 percent of respondents).
Twenty-three percent of respondents indicated they use energy management sensors in the guestroom, down from 25 percent in 2008 (15 percent in 2004). Hotels in the luxury (43 percent) and upper upscale (32 percent) segments are most likely to have sensors.
Sixty percent of those responding said they have recycling programs, up from just 40 percent in 2008 and 32 percent in 2004. Luxury (87 percent) and upper upscale (85 percent) hotels are most likely to have recycling programs. The least likely: economy hotels (36 percent).
Eighty-eight percent of respondents said they use energy efficient lighting (68 percent in 2008). All industry segments use this type of lighting to a significant degree. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they have a water saving program in place, up from 46 percent in 2008. The luxury (80 percent), upper upscale (85 percent) and upscale (73 percent) are most likely to have them.
For the first time, respondents were asked if they have a digital energy management system in place. Fifty-one percent of those in the upper upscale segment said they have one, followed by those in the luxury segment (48 percent). The segment least likely to have one: economy (7 percent).
Green Certification Trends
Also for the first time, hoteliers were asked whether they have or are working toward a green certification program. Seventy-one percent of respondents in the luxury segment responded favorably, followed by upper upscale (64 percent), upscale (47 percent), mid with F&B (43 percent), and independent (40 percent). By location, resorts are the most likely to have or are pursuing certification (59 percent). The least likely by location: interstate hotels (32 percent).
Fewer hotels are apparently offering vegetarian menu choices (37 percent compared to 48 percent in 2008). Luxury (86 percent) and upper upscale (70 percent) are most likely to offer vegetarian options.
The number of hotels with 100 percent nonsmoking rooms available jumped from 38 percent in 2008 to 56 percent this year. Upscale (70 percent) and independent (66 percent) are most likely to offer 100 percent nonsmoking rooms.
The percentage of responding hotels that plan to incorporate LEED in the next 12 months if major structural renovations are planned: 12 percent, down from 21 percent in 2008. The segments in which most will pursue LEED: luxury (28 percent) and upper upscale (16 percent).
The percentage of hotels that already incorporated LEED in the past 12 months with major structural renovations: 10 percent, down from 20 percent in 2008. The segments in which most incorporated LEED: luxury, with 25 percent, and independents, 12 percent.
AH&LA members can download a copy of the 2010 Lodging Survey via the Members Only section of the AH&LA website, www.ahla.com. Individual data points are available for sale from the AH&LA Information Center at (888) 743-2515.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
