Recession Tips for the Lodging Industry
MANAGEMENT
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EVERY PROPERTY SHOULD IDENTIFY ONE PERSON TO DRIVE THE ENERGY
REDUCTION PROGRAM.
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USE A PER OCCUPIED ROOM APPROACH TO ENERGY CONSERVATION: SET GOALS
AND POST RESULTS.
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Manage the number of vendors your property is using. Reduce the
number of shipments and consolidate orders. It costs money to process
every individual invoice.
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Eliminate shipping and handling costs where possible. Use the
approved vendors from your franchise and management companies.
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Reduce your refuse pick-ups to compensate for reduced
occupancy.
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Reduce the number of daily newspapers to commensurate for reduced
occupancy.
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Book your hotel guests into sections of your hotel.
MAINTENANCE
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Change all HVAC and PTAC filters. This enhances the performance and
efficiency of your equipment.
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Clean all PTAC and HVAC coils. This enhances the performance and
efficiency of your equipment.
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Check all window and door seals: caulk and insulate where
possible.
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Check and repair ALL leaky toilets, tubs, showers and sinks in
guestrooms, public areas and the kitchen.
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Check and replace all defective sink aerators. Sink aerators save
water.
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Reduce the landscaping water cycles where possible. Use mulch, it
reduces recurring water bills.
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Change your exterior lighting timer switches to turn on and off by
zones. For example, create zones of every third lamp, and have each zone
turn on 30 minutes apart, and turn off 30 minutes apart, instead of all
at once.
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Convert lighting to low wattage bulbs wherever possible. Remember
that “watts” cost and lumens measure light output. Here are
the approximate “lumens” for the conventional incandescent
bulbs. The idea is to get the same lumens with a lower watt bulb. 60
watt incandescent = 890 lumens, 75 watt incandescent = 1210 lumens and a
100 watt incandescent = 1750 lumens. Converting to florescent tubes in
your shops and back of the house will save money.
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Convert all exit signs from incandescent to LED lighted
signs.
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Install motion sensors in offices and shops (including laundry and
housekeeping). This makes sure the lights are off when no one is in the
room. Great for public restrooms also.
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Use setback thermostats and thermostat guards for all back of the
house areas, public areas and meeting space.
HOUSEKEEPING
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Make sure that housekeeping is cleaning the light bulbs as part of
their daily cleaning.
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Wash full loads of laundry ONLY. Partial loads waste energy.
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Use a linen and towel re-use program (guests choose whether or not
to have linens and terry towels cleaned daily.
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Substitute bulk hand and face soap for individual bars in guest and
public bathrooms.
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Reduce your bathroom amenities without affecting guest service. If
your property is franchised, verify compliance with your franchise
agreement.
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Teach room attendants to conserve energy when cleaning
guestrooms.
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Turn off AC units in the unoccupied areas (minimum heat in frigid
climates).
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In occupied rooms, set the thermostats to coordinate with the daily
temperature. For example, if the outside daily temperature is going to
be between 63 and 80, turn the unit off. If it is over 80, set to low
cool with the temperature dial in the middle (~78). Between 55 and 62,
set to low warm with temperature dial in the middle (~65).
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Make sure to close all drapes in the summer time, and open them all
in the wintertime. If closing them all the way is not an option, close
them ½ to ¾.
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Use cold water laundry washing where possible.
ABOUT THE HOME DEPOT SUPPLY, HOSPITALITY
SOLUTIONS
AAHOA has struck the same pricing agreement that large franchise
organizations such as Cendant, Choice, InterContinental, etc. receive
for brand name housekeeping and maintenance supplies. These quality
products are shipped free to 90% of the US population next day and AAHOA
members receive the red check price (lowest catalog price) regardless of
quantities (an average savings of 12% just by being a member of
AAHOA).
Rajan Batra
National Account Manager
Hospitality
For more information, please visit www.hdsupply.com.
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