SAINT CHARLES, MO.—It’s now easier than ever for travelers to click and book smoke-free hotel reservations, simply by visiting the completely redesigned FreshStay online directory and integrated booking process for more than 3,500 nonsmoking lodging facilities.
With an increasing number of hotels discovering the many benefits that come with fresher guestrooms and nonsmoking environments, the new FreshStay lists hundreds of additional smoke-free lodging facilities.
The FreshStay site also has greatly improved search capabilities, making it simple for site surfers to find the rooms they want, where and when they want them. Even more valuable, FreshStay now features a fully integrated booking process so site visitors can find and book smoke-free properties in just a few clicks.
“There’s no need to ever visit another travel website or to try to navigate through automated messages over the phone to book lodging properties with better indoor air quality (IAQ),” says Ray Burger, president of Pineapple Hospitality, which founded and operates FreshStay.
As FreshStay continues to evolve to better meet the needs of increasingly health-conscious travelers, the website soon will let customers know which properties offer other indoor air quality enhancements, beyond 100 percent smoke-free environments.
Other Ways to Improve IAQ
Burger says that while there’s no doubt that providing a 100 percent smoke-free stay is the amenity of choice, there are a host of other actions lodging properties can and should take to improve IAQ at their facilities, including using Green Seal-certified cleaning products, painting rooms with low-odor/low-VOC paints, offering improved air and water filtration, and furnishing guestrooms and public spaces with allergen-barrier products.
Before Version 2.0, FreshStay visitors searched for lodging options by region. FreshStay Version 2.0 offers state listings (with properties listed in alphabetical order within their respective states)—making it much easier and faster to book a smoke-free room. In addition to the added convenience for users, the state breakdown was necessary because of the thousands of smoke-free hotels recently added to FreshStay.
Once the right hotel is found, visitors can click on an interactive map for a larger view of the hotel’s surroundings, or click on the listing for more information. Best of all, reservations can be made at all hotels listed on the global distribution system by clicking on FreshStay’s Book Now button.
The new FreshStay also allows hotels to feature special deals under the aptly titled Special Offers link. Finally, FreshStay will include a compendium of smoke-free information and IAQ resources in the Smoke-Free Resources and IAQ sections.
“At FreshStay, we understand that even most smokers prefer smoke-free accommodations,” Burger says. “With the improvements we’ve made to FreshStay, all their needs and wants for smoke-free stays are assured—now with fast, easy and secure online bookings directly at www.FreshStay.com.”
