WASHINGTON, D.C.—The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has released the 2016 Lodging Survey—the definitive industry review examining the top trends in the hotel industry. Conducted by industry data provider STR and funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the survey provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainability steps hotels are taking, amenities, guest services and more.
With just over 8,000 responses, the overall completion rate for the 2016 survey was 15 percent—a drop of three percentage points from 2014. Surveys were emailed to 22,423 hotels through STR using a third party service from www.surveymonkey.com. Surveys were faxed to a separate group of 22,490 hotels. Some of the major parent companies also distributed the survey internally. With just over 8,000 responses, the overall completion rate for the 2016 survey was 15 percent—a drop of three percentage points from 2014.
The survey underscores how hotels continue to advance, accommodate and innovate, offering an even better guest experience and a more rewarding workplace. Consumers can expect an array of the technological assets they’ve grown accustomed to in their everyday lives, including high-speed and wireless Internet in more places and high-definition, flat screen televisions. Hotels are also prioritizing convenience and comfort with mobile check in, mobile apps, smoke-free rooms and complimentary breakfast.
Advancing hotels’ commitment to being a valuable member of their community, charitable giving, through donations and volunteer work have increased and employees and guests alike can feel proud about continued sustainability efforts including recycling programs and efficient energy management systems.
Insights That Have a ‘Profound Impact’
“Anticipating the needs and wants of our guests, and providing a rich and rewarding work environment, are vital to the success of the hotel industry,” said Katherine Lugar, President and CEO of AHLA. “Hotels are fully committed to providing exceptional customer service and implementing initiatives that are important to both our guests and employees such as a strong commitment to sustainability and charitable giving. These insights have a profound impact on our industry, helping hoteliers make decisions that will allow them to deliver the best possible service and guest experience as well as develop and enhance their properties and workforce.”
“We are thrilled to once again partner with AHLA on this survey, which provides helpful guidance for hoteliers, industry vendors and the traveling public,” said Amanda Hite, President and CEO of STR. “This benchmark allows key stakeholders to understand and embrace the opportunities within the industry.”
Among the findings from questions having to do with sustainability:
- In-room energy management sensors are at their peak overall usage with 48 percent of hotels adopting.
- Sixty-three percent offer recycling programs.
- Ninety percent of hotels use high efficiency/LED lighting.
- Ninety-four percent of hotels offer a linen/towel reuse program.
- Almost half (47 percent) of participating hotels have an amenity (shampoo, soap) recycling program.
- In-room air purifiers are largely an upper-end amenity and are led by Luxury (68 percent) and Upper Upscale (40 percent) chain scales.
- Eighty-five percent of hotels contribute to charity.
- The percentage of guestrooms that are nonsmoking rooms—97 percent, up from 92 percent in 2014.
- The percentage of hotels with electric car charging stations—8 percent.
- One-half (50 percent) of larger hotels (130+ rooms) have implemented a whole building energy management system.
- The percentage of hotels reporting a green certification in 2016 stands at 16 percent.
- About 8 percent have shampoo/conditioner dispensers in the shower.
- Eighty-five percent of hotels have 100 percent nonsmoking rooms, up from 62 percent in 2014.
- Just 28 percent deliver free newspapers to guestrooms compared to 83 percent in 2006.
- The percentage of hotels incorporating LEED in the next 12 months if major structural renovations are planned—16 percent.
- The percentage of hotels that incorporated LEED in major structural renovations in the past 12 Months—13 percent.
- The percentage of hotels with allergy-free rooms available—30 percent in 2016 as compared to 45 percent in 2014 and 34 percent in 2012.
Go to www.ahla.com.
