Green Lodging News applauds Choice Hotels International and the Choice Hotels Owners Council for deciding to convert all 433 Comfort Suites hotels in the United States to 100 percent nonsmoking properties. As reported here this past week, the new policy will go into effect on May 1. The decision to go smoke free means that hotel employees and guests—especially those with allergy sensitivities—will all breathe a lot easier.
Choice joins an elite group of companies that already have eliminated smoking: Marriott International in all of its U.S. and Canada properties, Westin Hotels & Resorts in its U.S., Canada and Caribbean hotels, and Heartland Inns of America throughout its company. Shaner Hotels plans to convert its 20-plus properties to 100 percent nonsmoking on April 1.
From a public health perspective, eliminating smoking makes a lot of sense. According to the EPA, indoor air is often two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Adding secondhand smoke to the mix certainly does not help. Last summer, the Surgeon General issued a report that said there is no safe level of secondhand cigarette smoke. The report stated that exposure to this smoke puts an estimated 126 million people in the United States at risk of heart disease, lung cancer and death. It also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory conditions, ear infections and severe asthma.
Smoking also damages soft and hard goods and adds to labor and insurance costs. In fact, Choice Hotels International franchisees feel so strongly about not smoking in their Comfort Suites hotels that they will be charging a $150 room cleaning fee if guests violate the nonsmoking policy.
Green and Smoking?
Even with so many hotels converting to 100 percent nonsmoking—certainly a competitive edge these days—it is amazing how many hotel companies have not taken the nonsmoking plunge. I recently spoke with a general manager from a hotel company that touts itself as an environmental leader and asked him if all of the hotels in his chain were 100 percent nonsmoking. He said no. Can a hotel company truly be green if it still offers smoking rooms and allows smoking in public areas? I don’t believe so.
Because fewer Americans are smoking, tobacco companies are targeting countries such as China, Japan and others to find new customers. To some degree, it is for travelers from those areas that hoteliers continue to offer indoor smoking areas. Is there really reason to fear that occupancy rates will fall and profitability will decline once smoking is eliminated? Going smoke free certainly has not hurt Marriott. The company’s stock price has done nothing but climb since it launched its nonsmoking initiative last September.
Green Lodging News challenges Choice Hotels International and its franchisees who own and operate Comfort, Quality, Sleep, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge, Rodeway and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel brands to also pursue a 100 percent nonsmoking policy. With so many hotels flying a Choice flag, the company could have a significant impact on public health. There are so many other companies with so many hotel rooms that also could have a huge impact.
What is the lodging industry waiting for?
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com, or by calling (440) 243-2055. I look forward to hearing from you.
