When the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) announced last month that it would support energy surcharges of up to $10 per night at its member hotels, almost immediately a flurry of statements were issued by hoteliers in that country. What did they say? No, we’re not going to do it. It was if they were caught off guard. “This is not a charge we want to pass on to our guests,” said Richard Whitfield, managing director of Jamaica’s luxury Half Moon resort, in an article in Caribbean Travel News. Ian Kerr, Sunset Resorts’ managing director, told Travel Weekly: “We have decided not to pass this charge along to our guests at this time. We will become even more committed to overall energy efficiency and conservation.”
I was surprised to learn these types of surcharges still exist in our industry. According to JHTA, however, “The Bahamas has had a surcharge in effect for many years.” It was seven years ago when many of the major chains began to tack on surcharges in response to rising energy costs. It was a public relations nightmare. Oftentimes, guests would not learn about the extra charge until checkout time. At a time when occupancy and room rates were taking a dip, some thought the surcharges were an appropriate way to cover costs while still offering a competitive rate. Consumers reacted by bringing class-action lawsuits against many of the leading hotel companies. It was not a pretty scene.
One attorney said at the time: “When people are given a room rate, it should include all mandatory charges.” No kidding. Apparently, some in our industry have a short memory. I put in two calls to JHTA to try to chat with the organization’s president but I did not hear back. Doesn’t it just make sense to build energy costs, like any other costs, into the advertised rate? Also, doesn’t the Half Moon resort’s approach to more effectively manage energy consumption make more sense? Instead of tacking on a surcharge? Tacking on an extra fee is a lazy approach to energy and cost management.
At Half Moon, the 400-acre, five-star property experienced a 5 percent decrease in its energy bill in 2007 thanks to measures such as lighting retrofits, solar water heaters and regular servicing of equipment. Moving forward, the resort intends to encourage guests to reuse towels and linens, turn off lights, and turn down air-conditioner settings when leaving the room. These are just a few of the things the resort and all other properties could do to reduce energy consumption.
It may not be long before the entire lodging industry is faced again with the energy surcharge temptation. Smart owners and operators will implement the technologies, products and processes to make them unnecessary. Surcharges caused a mess seven years ago. They should not happen again. I would love to learn your thoughts.
Green Lodging News: Best Website
Cleveland’s Inside Business magazine has named Green Lodging News the best business website in Northeast Ohio. GLN was recognized in the January publication’s Best of Business section.
New Green Lodging News Sponsors
Green Lodging News welcomes Simmons Bedding Co. and Harris Pillow Supply, Inc. as sponsors. Simmons is the maker of the EverNU™ Top. The EverNU™ removable top, available on select Beautyrest® and Beautyrest Black™ mattresses, allows hotels to maintain the original comfort of a bed for the life of the mattress by replacing the top upholstery layers. This design helps keep mattresses out of landfills. To learn more, go to www.simmonshospitality.com, call (877) HTL-BEDS, or e-mail hospitality@simmons.com.
Harris Pillow Supply is a family-owned business that has specialized in manufacturing high-end pillows for quality conscious customers in the hotel and motel industry since 1958. Harris also manufactures the Pillow-Vac©, a machine used to renovate pillows in hotels and motels, eliminating much of the pillow replacement cost for a minimum investment. The Pillow-Vac© helps reduce pillow waste. To learn more, go to www.harrispillow.com, call (800) 845-8240, or e-mail harrispillow@charter.net.
2008 Advertising Opportunities
If you are a supplier to the lodging industry and are considering Green Lodging News advertising, I recommend that you plan several months in advance. While there are numerous ad spots currently available, several have already been booked for many months into 2008. Please give me a call at (440) 243-2055 to discuss advertising opportunities.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
