The Greening/environmental Trends of the Hospitality Industry

Going green has really taken the hospitality industry by storm. Almost every business is implying environmental sustainability in some way, fashion or form. Going green will reduce the impact on the environment and it will save company money in the long run.

Hotels have established some environmental trends that will decrease their expenses. In the hotel rooms guests are asked to participate in recycling towels by hanging them up to reuse or putting them on the floor to send them to laundry. My friend that works at Kimpton Hotel says that the company has equipped every room in their 40 hotels nationwide with recycle bins and installed water-efficiency faucets, toilets and energy efficient lighting. Hotels and restaurants are printing invoices and bills on recycled paper. There are times when I go into a hotel room and I see some appliances are unplugged. That's because they are reserving energy. Some people think that just because it's not on that it's not using energy but it is. So unplug unused items. Hotels also ask guest to take shorter showers and change the shower head to a low flow which will lessen the amount of water used. I try to implement that at home. All the lights in the room can be outfitted with energy-saving CFL bulbs (compact fluorescent light). In Ireland, where I went for my practicum, the toilets have a dual flush system. The smaller one is used for urine and the larger one for feces. I thought that was brilliant.

Restaurants are going green by using dishes that are reusable and washable. That can also be used in the home. Restaurants can provide recycle bins for cans, glass and plastic containers. I was working as a Sanitarian Trainee and some restaurants have a recycling service come pick up old grease and oil. A lot of carryout places use packets of condiments. Instead, they can be put in reusable dispensers. I know at Red Lobster's they serve their meals on large plates rather than several plates.

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