Regardless of category or price points, hotels and resorts require regular renovations to ensure travelers keep checking in. As people have become more environmentally conscious, however, thinking below the surface of the furnishings, materials and accessories for the upgrades should be a major part of the process. As guests have a vested interest in where things come from and how they are made, sustainably produced furniture, bedding and wall coverings not only need to refresh the property’s look but also make a statement about the hotel’s social and environmental efforts.
“A hotel’s transition from standard to sustainable depends on leadership, along with regulatory factors and financial targets,” said Naomi Neilson, founder and CEO of Native Trails, whose furnishings enliven the surroundings of Marriott’s Wailea Beach Resort in Maui, The Ritz-Carlton Spa in Kapalua, The Lodge At Blue Sky (Disney’s Coronado Springs resort), and Lake Tahoe’s Desolation Hotel. “When people travel to luxury destinations, they want aspirational surroundings. Even if their home doesn’t yet have a more sustainable and healthier environment, travel provides an opportunity for them to experience that.”
Functional, sustainable improvements not only contribute to a smaller carbon footprint but harmonize with what the guests and staff see.
“Our goal with design and product choices continues to be positively impacting a luxury resort experience,” affirmed Kurt Bjorkman, COO at The Ranch at Laguna Beach in Southern California. “Many luxury travelers expect that the property they are staying at is sustainably operated and want to know how, so we take pride in telling that story to our guests. Even if a guest is not focused on sustainability, they will still be taking part in our efforts without being aware of it.”
Diligently Vet Your Suppliers
Hotel and resort managers at properties with recently completed overhauls or who are in the midst of a sustainability-focused renovation are great sources of inspiration and common-sense tips.
“You can achieve your sustainability goals without compromising efficiency by asking the right questions to potential partners in the procurement process, conducting thorough research and diligently vetting,” explained Abdi Mohamud, regional director of sales and marketing at Crescent Hotels & Resorts. “Through Latitudes, our lifestyle division, we recently launched a groundbreaking partnership with Grove Collaborative. We are about to launch a plastic-free hotel stay this fall with the ‘Go Beyond Plastic’ initiative, which will eliminate single-use plastics in guest rooms. Guests will also enjoy sustainable amenities and services, from aluminum water bottles and towel reuse programs to recycling facilities and eco-friendly coffee.”
Jared Wood, sustainability program leader at The Lake House on Canandaigua in upstate New York, underscored the importance of asking vendors detailed questions about how and from where their products are sourced. “This helps us understand the environmental impact of the raw materials and the overall supply chain,” he said. “We prioritize working with local vendors whenever possible. This approach not only helps reduce transportation-related emissions but also supports the local community and enhances our connection to the region's culture and bounty.”
Mauna Kea Resort’s management team evaluates suppliers based on their commitment to environmental responsibility, which encompasses sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing practices and overall carbon footprint reduction, according to Diana Su, director of marketing and PR. In addition to seeking out local purveyors and evaluating their sustainability practices, management takes a collaborative approach to educate guests and locals about the benefits of the changes being made. Su adds that consumer feedback is also considered when updating the hotel’s look and enhancing environmental initiatives.
“For nearly six decades, our guests’ valuable insights revealed a strong desire for both modern, inviting spaces and sustainable practices,” said Su. “By responding to their feedback, we’ve ensured renovations not only meet their expectations but also reflect our commitment to environmental responsibility.”
Style and Substance
“Once we decided to make a focused effort to share our company story and artisan-crafted products with hospitality [decision makers], sales quickly began to grow,” said Native Trails’ Neilson. “Their interior designers are excited to see what we do, especially when they understand our values and our intention for the furnishings to be focal points that make people remember a space.”
Neilson added that the cost of a sustainable product can actually run about the same as a standard product. Its NativeStone concrete, for example, is on par with decorative concrete pricing in the market. By adding jute—a natural, renewable vegetable fiber—to the proprietary concrete blend, the firm reformulated concrete to be much more sustainable. While its reclaimed wood bath furniture is more expensive than most mass-produced furniture from standard wood, the wood the company utilizes ages in such a way that makes it more durable and stronger than newly milled wood, likely extending the life of the pieces.
Bed, Bath and Better Textiles
Montreal-based Lubertex International keeps its hospitality clients, including The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, EAU Palm Beach, Guerlain Spa at Hotel X Toronto, Boston Intercontinental Hotel, and TheWestin Nanea Ocean Villas in Ka'anapali and their guests fully covered in both style and sustainability. Heidi Luber, Lubertex International’s president and owner, however, stressed that there isn’t a huge difference in cost when opting for sustainable linens, towels and other textile room essentials.
Some sustainable products, such as synthetic-filled duvets and pillows, are less expensive than feather and down comforters, proving that being sustainable can be cost-saving. Other items like reusable fabric laundry bags are sold at a higher price point but save a hotel money by eliminating the use of plastic throw-away bags. She has observed these changes are in keeping with the priorities of many travelers when selecting a property.
“It can take a hotel anywhere between six months to one year to make the transition,” Luber said of switching out standard linens for sustainable ones. “The change is typically enacted when a hotel is replenishing its PAR level and determining what is needed, or how it can better optimize its system. Smaller changes, such as moving away from bottled water to reusable carafes in the rooms, can take place whenever, while larger changes might have to wait until the hotel is undergoing renovations.”
The Writing is On the Wall
Julia Gillespie, VP of sustainability at Momentum Textiles and Wallcovering, said that sustainability is not a trend but a principle the company is built on. Its latest product for hospitality and other commercial clients, Circon, is the company’s first bio-sourced, recyclable, and carbon-neutral Type II vinyl wallcovering created in response to an industry demand for a PVC-free (or polyvinyl chloride-free) alternative.
Although PVC-free products are more expensive, Gillespie says the expansion of offerings for the hospitality market makes the price point and addressing environmental concerns worth the investment. The other factor is that wallcovering and textiles made with PVC substrates, which can contain phthalates, plasticisers and heavy metals that are hazardous to human health during their production, use and disposal. While a changeover is good for the environment, it also takes the safety of hotel workers and guests into consideration.
“We've worked really hard to make sure that we're responding to the market,” said Gillespie. “Over 70 percent of Circon’s composition is composed of bio-sourced, rapidly renewable resources such as wood-based feedstock sourced from sustainable forestry, an algae-like base material, and a proprietary bio-based cotton backing that sequesters carbon. Compared to conventional vinyl wallcoverings, this innovative wallcovering offers a dramatically reduced carbon footprint while maintaining competitive pricing, exceptional durability and aesthetic appeal.”
Circon wallcoverings are available in four nature-inspired designs or can be specified in any of the 100+ designs in the Momentum Versa Collection or its curated Digital Creations offering.
As the potentially toxic chemical content in the manufacture of decorative components is a concern among the general public, PPG Architectural Coatings prides itself on using circularity and bio-based and renewable raw material to develop water-based paints and coatings with low- and zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for its large portfolio of brands and products.
While these products offer the long-lasting durability hotels and resorts require to withstand regular wear and tear, Ashley Saltern, PPG director of product management, pointed out that her company’s scientists and engineers are innovating products for many different applications, including skyscrapers, military vehicles, ships, trains, airplanes and more. That technology and know-how, in turn, can easily be applied to clients in the hospitality industry.
“Not only do these products impact indoor air quality, but they also ensure a faster return to service or no service disruption to hotel spaces,” Saltern explained, adding that the process of implementing more Earth-friendly coatings may be anywhere from two to seven years. “We have dedicated color and design teams who are knowledgeable and highly experienced in researching and recommending the best products and color options in our line to meet the hospitality industry’s unique needs. As a global brand, we can forecast trends and leverage our research and development labs across a multitude of industries.”
Pallas Textiles recently launched In Good Company, a new collection made from recycled ocean plastic. The company collaborated with Limn & Loom and Valdese Weavers to create six sustainable textile patterns, all crafted and manufactured in the United States. The collection features upcycled polyester yarn made of marine and post-consumer plastic from the SEAQUAL Initiative, which transforms ocean litter into recycled plastic. Sourced and manufactured entirely in the United States, the collection's reduced carbon footprint and recycled materials respond to growing demand among designers for environmentally responsible textiles.
“To create real change, we partner with organizations that share our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said Dean Lindsley, vice president of Pallas Textiles. “In Good Company reflects this collaborative spirit and our dedication to driving progress in sustainable design.”
Thinking Outside the Box
Kurt Bjorkman, COO at The Ranch at Laguna Beach, says the property recently partnered with Alder-Tek to provide its food and beverage outlets with wooden utensils. Mauna Kea Resort, meanwhile, has switched over to plant-based utensils and compostable/recyclable packaging for its casual dining outlets and eliminated single-use plastics wherever possible. Jairah Ramirez, director of sales at Moxy Phoenix Downtown (a Moxy by Marriott property), noted that because of parent company Marriott’s commitment to more environmentally friendly operations, post-consumer recycled products have been in place from its December 2023 opening forward.
Since it was founded in 2020, The Sustainable Agave Company has emerged as a leader in environmentally conscious alternatives for sustainable foodservice essentials. Many of their products are made in the U.S. and Mexico with agave waste sourced from the Mexican-produced tequila industry.
"If you are not taking sustainability seriously, you will alienate some of your eco-conscious customers, who may avoid staying at your properties unless you show your management is taking care of the environment. Something like agave waste can be the basis of a solution that resonates with the consumer," said company founder Eric Brass. “Hospitality management wants to innovate and find new and better ways to be sustainable. Some of the travel sites where I do some research present statistics that argue that up to 80 percent of consumers have sustainability on their mind when they select a hotel.”
The cost of a sustainable agave straw can be three times more than a traditional plastic straw. It sounds like a lot, but at the same time, the investment is pennies in terms of a cost differential, from one cent to three cents per straw. Brass added that the incremental unit impact isn't as profound, especially as it can be passed along to the guest who is willing to pay extra for eco-friendly solutions for straws, cutlery, plates, and boxes.
...And the Plastic Bottle?
The single-use plastic water bottle may go the way of the electric calculator, thanks to the efforts of hotels across North America as well as companies such as New Jersey-based Vivreau and Boomerang, based in Winston-Salem, N.C.
While the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort gives guests a reusable collectible flask and has water refilling stations installed throughout the hotel, and sister property Mauna Kea Beach Hotel provides personal water refilling stations in each guest room in addition to common areas throughout the resort. The Lake House on Canandaigua has refill stations in every building for guests to use during their stay as well as glass water bottles in the rooms.
Vivreau’s Tom Spillane, vice president of technical excellence, noted that client St. Regis Hotel in New York City now saves the property more than 100,000 water bottles annually. “The transition is instantaneous upon installation of Vivreau bottles and taps,” he said, pointing to the comprehensive implementation guide for hospitality providers with step-by-step guidance on managing bottles for turndown service and various other scenarios. “Hotels no longer need to purchase single-use plastic bottled water, which results in operational savings from reduced pre-packaged bottle purchase and storage.”
John Notte, Boomerang’s VP of sales, estimates 80 percent of the firm’s new business are hospitality clients, with The Four Seasons, The Boca Raton and The Statler Hotel in Cornell, N.Y., among them. He also highlights the potential for increased brand awareness and identity for hotels through custom branding on Boomerang’s bottles is another draw, as it allows hotel clients to work with an in-house team to create designer bottles with a logo and a short environmental message that can be custom-tailored to mirror each hotel’s unique corporate language. Other innovative features in the Boomerang machinery include a mechanism that vacuum-seals lids after refills and another that sanitizes the bottles twice before the next refill, so guests get a clean, fresh bottle of water every time.
Sustainability is in the (Key) Cards
The adoption of room keys crafted from Earth-friendly materials has proven to be successful at hundreds of properties across the U.S., including The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Rosewood Washington, D.C. and Oceana Santa Monica. While The Ranch’s Bjorkman observed that some guests like to keep their bamboo biodegradable room key cards as a souvenir after their stays, others appreciate the fact that they can be recycled in a cleaner way. At the Rosewood, meanwhile, Tony Mosca, the hotel’s acting manager, stresses the swap to wooden keys in 2022 seems small, it has a major impact on improving its operations.
“When creating the new key, the team looked at various material choices and decided on a wooden material,” Mosca said. “Through this, the hotel was able to maintain Rosewood brand-specific design standards, provide an elevated experience for our guests, and even add property-specific information to the keys. The result is something that feels even more luxurious than a plastic key. It has a specific design aesthetic that feels elevated but also modern. The design and the more sustainable material reflected this spirit of modernity in a subtle way that still complements the property’s overall feel. Through this key exercise, the hotel found that small touches like these key cards not only help the hotel reach larger sustainability goals but also provide guests with ways to see efforts in action.”
“The train has left the station in terms of how sustainable (additions) to the hotel experience will make an environmental impact,” concludes The Sustainable Agave Company’s Eric Brass. “In hotel management, you want to make sure you're doing the right thing and ensure consumers know you're doing the right thing.” HM
Fun Facts
- A recent Booking.com “Sustainable Travel Research Report” reports that almost half (45 percent) of travelers believe accommodation labeled as “more sustainable” is more appealing. Similar studies reveal that a hotel’s water conservation management and other eco-friendly policies can have a positive impact on guests’ willingness to pay more and make future plans to revisit a hotel.
- According to Michael Morton, SVP, brand management and member services at BWH Hotels, over 80 percent of its properties work with endorsed vendors that have committed to their own green initiatives. This alignment allows BWH properties to offer eco-friendly options, from bedding made with eco-fibers or 100 percent recycled materials to flooring provided by “sustainability pioneers” like Milliken & Company and Interface.
- A single 2 kg box of standard plastic straws shipped from abroad to the U.S. has 600 percent more CO2 emissions per case as Sustainable Agave Products’ straws, which are made in North America. The CO2 emission per case of standard straws is 0.93 pounds compared to 0.15 pounds for the Sustainable Agave Products straws.
This article was originally published in the October edition of Hotel Management magazine. Subscribe here.