SAINT CHARLES, MO.—FreshStay, an online directory/network of hundreds of nonsmoking lodging properties, continues to attract an ever-growing base of owner/operators and loyal travelers from around the globe.
“We were the first resort to go nonsmoking on the Cayman Islands,” says Tom McCallum, director of The Reef Resort, located on the eastern end of Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Islands. “Before we made the move on August 1, 2003, our 110 guestrooms were not designated as smoking or nonsmoking. While that kept our room inventory simple, it led to problems, particularly with our nonsmoking guests.”
Nearly three and a half years later, the majority of other resorts on the island have followed suit, McCallum says, to the point where most properties, including all Westins and Marriotts, now are smoke free.
“I think the rest of the world is going the way of the Cayman Islands,” McCallum adds. “Smoking is out. Fresh air is in.”
Lighting Up Occupancies
Connecting millions of travelers and thousands of groups to hotels committed to providing clean indoor air, www.FreshStay.com recognizes and promotes properties guaranteeing nonsmoking rooms at the point of reservation as well as those that have taken extra measures to be 100 percent smoke free. Properties offering enhanced accommodations—including being cleaned with Green Seal-certified products, having walls covered with low-odor, low-VOC paints, and providing improved air and water filtration and allergen-barrier products—also are touted online and offline by FreshStay.
“It’s not a big hardship to smoke outside, especially if you live in the Caribbean,” McCallum says. “We’ve been encouraging other properties and business sectors here to go smoke free for years. It’s good for people and the environment, and it makes good business sense.”
McCallum said The Reef Resort promotes its fresh air/smoke-free environment on printed materials, online, through property signage, reservation agents, and front desk and guest service staff. He says being a part of the www.FreshStay.com network also helps drive recognition and business.
Snuffing Out Complaints
“We tell the world we’re 100 percent smoke free every chance we can,” says Mike Reid, director of sales and marketing for the Historic Ramada Downtown Vancouver, Canada. “Being smoke free has helped us achieve A-grade guest satisfaction scores. Our room odor complaints are next to nil nowadays, and our average occupancy has jumped a few points, often to 97 percent or better.”
Reid said the demand for smoking rooms declined sharply the past decade, and that most of the 80-room property’s loyal base of smoking guests understood the switch to nonsmoking and embraced it.
“It’s no secret that most smokers don’t like to stay in smoking rooms,” he says. “That’s why in the past some would book nonsmoking rooms and light up there. But at the point of a reservation, we inform all of our guests, and there are signs accordingly in each room, that there is a $150 fee for disregarding our 100 percent smoke-free property policy. We have had very few issues, and only positive comments by guests and groups, since going completely nonsmoking in November 2005.”
Reid noted that the move to smoke free has helped decrease housekeeping labor and cleaning material costs, while protecting carpeting, bedding and other soft and hard goods. Having learned about FreshStay half a year ago through media coverage, industry e-newsletters and press releases, Reid says being listed on the www.FreshStay.com website also helps puts heads in beds.
Breath of Fresh Air
Leigh Roszell, director of sales and marketing for the 205-room Four Points by Sheraton in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, says the property underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2005, converting from a Sheraton, and went smoke free in June 2006.
“We invested in new drywall, drapes, carpeting, and practically everything in between, so going smoke free helps us protect that significant investment, along with our good people and guests,” Roszell says.
A local ordinance banning smoking inside many public establishments was passed several years back, so guests expected the property’s upgrade to smoke free.
Go to FreshStay and Pineapple Hospitality.
