The hospitality industry has been greatly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. As facilities begin to reopen, guests must receive clear communications that show everything possible is being done to protect them during their stays. Many facilities are cleaning and disinfecting utilizing harsh chemicals such as bleach and ammonias, which are not environmentally friendly and are hazardous to human health. In addition, utilizing paper towels and alcohol-based wipes has produced copious amounts of waste. Cleaning and disinfection can be done in an environmentally friendly way as well as effectively and efficiently. Safer plant-based disinfectants can provide environmentally friendly and healthier...

The new Virgin Las Vegas Resort Hotel that opened in March 2021 has a surprising policy in their FAQs. That policy states: Outside food and beverage is not permitted in our guest rooms. Our resort offers an array of restaurant offerings, including pre-stocked in-room minibars and 24-hour room service for your convenience. Hotel properties have long had a complicated relationship with outside food and beverage brought into their properties. With safety and security issues mounting, many properties have become increasingly uncomfortable having outside food delivery people in their hotels. Another big concern, as pointed out by the Las Vegas Virgin, is that...

Transitioning America’s buildings away from burning fossil fuels for heating and water heating, toward equipment powered by increasingly clean electricity is key to meeting the nation’s climate goals, including President Biden’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Innovative energy code language, developed by the New Buildings Institute in partnership with NRDC and released recently, will provide a template to help get cities and states on track to reduce energy use as well as carbon emissions in new buildings. Buildings are responsible for around 40 percent of all carbon emissions in the United States, so addressing their efficiency and emissions...

Buildings—including our homes and places of work—are responsible for one third of the fossil gas (a.k.a. “natural” gas) consumed in the United States each year. We burn gas and other fossil fuels like oil and propane inside buildings largely to heat the rooms and the water inside them. That adds up to 12 percent of the country’s yearly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Fortunately, efficient electric technology is readily available to replace our old, dirty fossil fuel-burning heating appliances. An NRDC fact sheet released explains how this transition that is crucial to fighting the climate crisis can also make our...

For the past several decades, the hotel and resort industry has made impressive shifts toward more environmentally friendly operational practices. Eliminating single-use shampoo bottles and asking guests to reuse towels and sheets are some of the basic and necessary steps hotels have taken to ensure a greener planet. While these measures have undoubtedly resulted in a smaller carbon footprint, according to the New Building Institute, they are still not enough. The institute, which tracks net-zero buildings around the country, calls the hotel and resort industry’s record on energy and water consumption “lackluster.” It says this is due to several reasons, including...

Last year was essentially like Navy SEAL training for many hotel operators. Guest traffic, expectations and demands have required adaptation on a scale never seen before. Thankfully, the hospitality industry is made up of strong players who have risen to the occasion. Hotel operators are now handling sanitation and disinfecting all while winning back the trust of concerned guests to refine their businesses. As a result, the waste streams have most certainly changed. The utilization of single-use items, pre-packaged amenities and increased cleaning have driven waste volumes up. Pair this with unpredictable occupancy, challenging events, and the unique needs of...

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped hotel operations in many areas, from contactless check-in to keyless room entry to QR codes for restaurant menus. Hotel gym operations and cleaning protocols have also changed in response to pandemic health and safety concerns. Many of these changes are projected to become mainstays in 2021 and beyond to meet guest expectations for enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols. For most hotel guests, the best location, five-star restaurants and over the top amenities have taken a back seat to high standards for health and safety. According to a TripAdvisor survey, cleanliness is the most important factor in...

With multiple effective COVID-19 vaccines emerging, hotels are looking forward to hosting more guests in 2021 and beyond. Even after most of the population has been vaccinated, many guests will likely maintain heightened awareness of hotel cleanliness. At the same time, the environmental crisis is worsening, and a growing number of Americans are feeling its impact. A recent Pew Research Center survey found a majority (62 percent) of Americans see the climate crisis affecting their local communities. These conditions create a perfect opportunity for hotels to emphasize sustainability in their cleaning programs. It is crucial to understand that green cleaning...

With COVID-19 disrupting commercial activities around the globe, one of the many knock-on effects has been on the composition and volume of waste generated by organizations. The crisis has added new considerations for why transparency about the way waste management systems are designed and function is essential for adequate performance, both now and beyond the pandemic. For example, some companies are faced with the challenge to offer adequate protection for workers who deal with waste. Others are presented with trade-offs and new waste-related impacts, as they have shifted from physical commercial activity towards e-commerce. And some companies are already re-thinking...

There is not one aspect of society that has not been significantly challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the hospitality industry has undoubtedly been hit harder than most. When the pandemic reached our shores, thousands avoided travel and local governments instituted regulations at restaurants and other venues to ensure health safety. But slowly, as restrictions ease and the public grows more comfortable venturing out, hospitality will make a comeback, and visual communications—digital signage, wayfinding, video walls—will lead the way towards a safe return. Here are a few things hospitality professionals should consider when working with technology providers to adopt necessary...