LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.—Walt Disney World Resort senior vice president for operations Erin Wallace announced that all Disney owned and operated hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort will become smoke free by June 1, 2007. The policy also applies to all Disney Vacation Club Resorts. With more than 20 Disney owned and operated resorts, this represents the largest single site resort complex to institute this type of smoking policy change.
“We make adjustments to our operations based on guest demand,” Wallace says. “This policy complements our efforts to provide our guests with the healthy living options they are requesting.”
During the last five years guest demand for smoking rooms at the Walt Disney World Resort have been declining steadily. Currently, less than 3.5 percent of Walt Disney World’s 24,000 resort rooms are smoking optional. This transition allows the company to better accommodate the increasing number of guests requesting smoke-free rooms. This trend is not specific to the Walt Disney World Resort. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), more travelers are requesting smoke-free environments.
“With more than 50 million members, AAA represents North America’s largest traveler group and increasingly our members, like many Americans, are demanding smoke-free accommodations,” says Sandra Hughes, vice president of travel for AAA. “Hotels are responding by going beyond the traditional standard of smoking and nonsmoking rooms, and are going smoke free throughout their properties.”
The new policy applies to all guestrooms, patios and balconies and designates outdoor smoking areas at all resorts affected by the change. Smoking is currently prohibited in all lobbies, common areas, restaurants and convention spaces. In January 2000, the Walt Disney World Resort theme and water parks became smoke free with smoking allowed in designated smoking areas only.
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