ATLANTA—Simmons Hospitality Bedding, a division of Simmons Contract Sales LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Simmons Bedding Company, is making public its findings from a November 2007 survey aimed at gauging the interest of hotel guests in eco-oriented hotel elements and programs. The survey, which Simmons originally conducted for internal research purposes only, involved more than 300 respondents who are members of different hotels’ frequent guest programs.
The results show that hotel environmental responsibility gained traction among guests, with 93 percent of respondents aware of hotel programs geared toward conserving water or energy. Simmons’ research also illustrates how hotel eco-elements potentially impact guest decisions. While 53 percent of respondents stated that they would be willing to pay at least $5 extra per night to stay at a hotel with an environmental program, 75 percent indicated that they would feel better about their hotel decision or more likely to book with a hotel if the property featured such a program.
“Many consumers are living greener at home by recycling, using products made of natural materials and eating organic foods,” said Simmons Hospitality Bedding vice president Steve Tipton. “They don’t want to abandon this lifestyle just because they’re traveling, and we believe they shouldn’t have to do so. The benefits of a hotel incorporating ‘green’ elements far outweigh the negatives. Our research shows that two-thirds of guests would view a hotel more positively if it incorporated eco-friendly products or practices. There’s no question that this is the way guests and the industry are heading.”
More Survey Results
Additional survey takeaways include the fact that 66 percent of respondents stated that their concerns about the environment are growing, and 41 percent stated that they would be somewhat or very likely to choose a hotel with an environmental program over one where they are a rewards member or frequent guest.
Simmons conducted the survey as part of its ongoing green product research and development process. Currently, Simmons’ eco-bedding offerings include the following:
EverNU Mattress Top—The EverNU replaceable mattress top, available on all Beautyrest Black mattresses and on select Beautyrest models, allows hotels to refresh their guests’ sleep experiences by replacing a bed’s top upholstery layers without replacing the entire mattress. The EverNU top’s unique design extends the life of a hotel bed so a property may keep its mattresses for years longer than previously possible. Because the beds do not need to be replaced as often, this helps reduce the number of hotel mattresses that are discarded annually into landfills.
EnduroTECH Foundation—Built like a sturdy piece of furniture, the EnduroTECH foundation demonstrates consistent performance and durability yet costs the same as a traditional foundation. Its natural material construction withstands intense industry testing, and the unit features eco-friendly components that are easily recycled at the end of the foundation’s useful life.
“At first glance, buying eco-friendly mattresses and foundations may not seem as obvious an idea for hotels as towel reuse programs and energy conservation,” said Tipton. “However, if a 500-room hotel charged $5 more per night for the 30 percent of its rooms featuring eco-friendly elements, the hotel would make approximately $190,000 more annually given a 70 percent occupancy average. That means a hotel would recoup its eco-bedding investment in under a year while generating goodwill from guests. Now, that’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
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