A Breath of Fresh Air: Eco hotels embrace smoke-free atmosphere

At EcoGreenHotel, we are working toward the day when every hotel will not only offer its guests a clean, safe and sustainable accommodation, but also offer its employees a healthy place to work. In a nutshell, we support a holistic approach to green lodging, which naturally includes unpolluted air.

That’s why we get more than a little discouraged when we see a hotel implementing a fantastic green initiative yet still allowing its guests to smoke inside the building. After all, one of the most important aspects of a healthy environment is clean air, isn’t it?

And we aren’t the only ones who think that unpolluted air is elemental. According to a 2008 study by J.D. Power and Associates, the vast majority of North American hotel guests agree. A whopping 89% said that they prefer staying in a smoke free hotel environment.

In an effort to support facilities that offer a completely smoke free atmosphere, the fine folks at Pineapple Hospitality created FreshStay®, the world’s leading online directory of 100% smoke free hotels. Recently, FreshStay® celebrated the 4000th property to join its list: the Comfort Suites in St. Charles, Missouri.



Pineapple Hospitality President Ray Burger says the Choice Hotel chain – of which Comfort Suites is a part – has been an industry leader in offering smoke free rooms to its guests.

“In 1984, Comfort Suites was the first hotel company to include non-smoking rooms in every one of its worldwide properties, and it continues its industry leadership today,” Burger said. “In 2007 we listed over 400 Choice Hotels, primarily Comfort Suites and Cambria Suites, as 100% non-smoking on FreshStay®. We now feature over 1250 Choice Hotel branded properties. We also receive regular monthly updates from Hilton and Marriott, and their numbers are growing quickly as well.”

If you’re ready to take your green hotel to the next level and implement a property-wide smoking ban, contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com. We’ll be happy to guide you through the process.

Then, sign up to be a member of FreshStay®. For a small annual membership fee (but no booking commission!) your property will be featured in FreshStay’s® popular online directory aimed at Frequent Breathers® everywhere.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Green = Greenbacks in 2010: Eco Hotels Hold RFP Advantage in Race for Big Business

It’s that time again – the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has put out the coming year’s round of Requests for Proposals, otherwise known as RFP’s. From coast to coast and around the world, hotel staff are sharpening their pencils and filling out select paperwork from a mountain of NBTA forms with the hope of winning business in 2010.

RFP season is a familiar ritual for veteran hoteliers. Each summer it’s the same old song and dance, answering the same old standard questions about room count, location, ratings, taxes, amenities, ADA compliance, etc.

But we at EcoGreenHotel are pleased to see the requests for proposals require some additional new information. Hotels must now outline their environmental initiatives and green certifications. That’s right… your “Green Hotel Checklist” has just become critical ammunition in your NBTA bidding war arsenal!

NBTA’s 2010 RFP’s require that your hotel describe:

• the top five environmental programs employed on your property (such as linen reuse, reusable key cards, energy efficiency efforts)


• environmental certifications you’ve earned, with a preference given to certifications that require on-site audits


• details about your recycling program


• your use of environmentally responsible cleaners


• your water conservation efforts, such as linen reuse and/or water saving fixtures

Obviously, hotels that can demonstrate strong environmental programs stand to rank higher in the competition than those that can’t. In fact, it’s very clear that not having a sustainability plan in effect might cost your hotel big business next year.

If you want to boost your property’s green profile – and your chances of winning large national accounts in 2010 – contact EcoGreenHotel right now. Our team of seasoned green hospitality specialists can quickly, efficiently and affordably set the wheels in motion to get your environmental program rolling today. We’ll identify the “low hanging fruit” and show you how to make the best use of your current assets, and we’ll also present you with a wide variety of options for implementing a meaningful – and profitable – sustainability plan at your hotel.

Don’t put your green initiative off another minute. The planet – and your hotel’s bottom line – depends upon it.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com