Results from the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2010 Lodging Survey showed that luxury and upper-upscale hotels are most likely to feature green amenities and earn green certifications. The survey, which is conducted every two years, was funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Education Foundation and prepared by Smith Travel Research. Results were tallied from 8,800 respondents, for a very respectable 18% response rate. Questions focused on 14 green-related categories, including allergy-free rooms, water-saving programs, energy management systems, recycling programs, green certification, and green renovation.
The chief findings:
- 23% of respondents use energy management sensors in guestrooms, down slightly from 25% reported in 2008. Properties most likely to have sensors: luxury (43%) and upper-upscale (32%) hotels.
- 60% of respondents have recycling programs, up from 40% reported two years ago. Luxury (87%) and upper-upscale (85%) properties are most likely to have these programs, while economy hotels (36%) are least likely.
- 88% of respondents report use of energy-efficient lighting, versus 68% in 2008. Hotels across the board equally report using this type of lighting to a significant degree.
- 69% of respondents say they have a water-saving program in place, up from 46% in 2008. Once again, luxury (80%) and upper-upscale (85%) properties are most likely to have such a program. A significant number of upscale hotels (73%) also report having a water-saving program.
- 51% of respondents report having a digital energy management system in place; this is the first time the question appeared on the survey. Luxury (48%) and upper-upscale hotels (51%) again lead the industry, with only 7% of economy hotels reporting use of a digital energy management system.
- 56% of hotels offer 100% nonsmoking rooms, up from just 38% two years ago. Upscale (70%) and independent brands (66%) are most likely to offer such rooms.
- 71% of luxury hotels report that they are working toward a green certification program, with upper-upscale (64%), upscale (47%), mid-level (43%), and independent (40%) rounding out the category. Least likely to go for certification: interstate hotels (32%).
- 12% of hotels plan to incorporate LEED elements within the next years (if major structural renovations are planned). This is down markedly from the 21% reported in 2008. Luxury (28%) and upper-upscale (16%) are most likely to pursue LEED renovations.
- 10% of hotels reported having incorporated LEED renovations during the past 12 months, again down from 2008, when 20% of hotels reported LEED renovations. Luxury (25%) and independent brands (12%) were most likely to have incorporated LEED.
The 2010 Lodging Survey is available for purchase (free to AH&LA members) at: www.ahla.com.
Related Stories
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Construction Management Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, Barton Malow, Hill International top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest construction management and project management firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Contractors [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Turner, Whiting-Turner, Skanska top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest contractors in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Engineering firms look to bolster growth through new services, technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following solid revenue growth in 2013, the majority of U.S.-based engineering and engineering/architecture firms expect more of the same this year, according to BD+C’s 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering/Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering/architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Fluor, Arup, Day & Zimmermann top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest engineering firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Gensler, Perkins+Will, NBBJ top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Architecture/Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Stantec, HOK, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest architecture/engineering firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
2014 Giants 300 Report
Building Design+Construction magazine's annual ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
| Jul 17, 2014
A new, vibrant waterfront for the capital
Plans to improve Washington D.C.'s Potomac River waterfront by Maine Ave. have been discussed for years. Finally, The Wharf has started its first phase of construction.
| Jul 17, 2014
A harmful trade-off many U.S. green buildings make
The Urban Green Council addresses a concern that many "green" buildings in the U.S. have: poor insulation.
