SAINT CHARLES, MO.—Albert Einstein said, “Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.” As a leader in the hospitality industry, Minneapolis-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide is setting an example and influencing others by promoting healthy lifestyles through a 100 percent smoke-free environment.
The four most-recent hotel members to join FreshStay’s ranks of more than 3,500 guaranteed smoke-free properties around the United States, Canada and the world, are affiliated with Carlson’s hotel brands. These new members include: Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis; Radisson Hotel Central Dallas; Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown; and Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, San Diego.
“Carlson Hotels is in the process of developing an environmental initiative that is part of our Responsible Business efforts,” says Carmen Baker, vice president of Responsible Business for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. “One of our top priorities is to find ways to improve indoor air quality, improve conservation of energy and water, and focus on providing guests with a clean, healthy environment for their stays. FreshStay helps hotel members reach the growing number of business and leisure travelers who prefer to stay in smoke-free facilities.”
FreshStay is the most comprehensive online directory of smoke-free lodging properties in the world. FreshStay makes it easy for today’s travelers to find and book the accommodations they desire, with a search function that lists member hotels by state and in alphabetical order, and an integrated booking process that lets guests book their stays directly from the website.
The Industry Standard
“Consumers are speaking up and letting hotel owners and managers know that they will no longer tolerate stale, smoke-ridden rooms,” says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality, which operates FreshStay. “It’s not just people with allergies or chemical sensitivities who are demanding this. It’s everyone. That’s why we like to say FreshStay is dedicated to frequent breathers everywhere.”
“We’re excited to see the efforts and leadership from Carlson Hotels in making smoke-free lodging not just a niche, but the industry standard,” Burger adds.
A 2007 study from J.D. Power & Associates found that 82 percent of guests prefer a smoke-free hotel environment—including public areas and guestrooms. That number increased from 79 percent in 2006.
“Today’s travelers know what they want, and that is a clean, refreshing place to stay when they are away from home,” Burger says. “Separating smoking and nonsmoking rooms isn’t good enough anymore. You still have odors carrying from room to room or floor to floor and you still have public areas that can be permeated with smoke.”
“With the ever-growing number of 100 percent smoke-free lodging options, if a guest cannot be assured a completely smoke-free environment, then he or she is certainly going to look elsewhere to book his or her reservation,” Burger adds.
Go to FreshStay.
