More sustainability despite new hygiene regulations in the hotel

Due to the Corona crisis, new hygiene measures are required in the hotel industry. It is now easy for hotels to resort to less environmentally friendly alternatives in order to meet the hygiene requirements. Disposable face masks, aggressive chemicals and individual plastic packaging are effective, but anything but sustainable. However, the new hygiene regulations for hotels and sustainability do not necessarily contradict each other.

With environmentally friendly hygiene measures, you can meet the new hygiene requirements in your hotel and do something for the environment at the same time. In this blog post, we have nine practical tips for you on how to reconcile hygiene and sustainability in your hotel. After all, hotel guests are already paying more and more attention to sustainability and the green image of the hotel when booking a hotel.

Tip #1

Safe and sustainable cleaning in the hotel

For reasons of hygiene, hotels rely on chemical disinfectants and cleaning agents for the thorough cleaning of hotel rooms. These cleaning agents are not very environmentally friendly. Environmentally friendly cleaning agents or dry steam cleaners offer sustainable alternatives. This applies to hotel rooms as well as to hotel laundry. Ultimately, sustainable cleaning agents are less polluting and more resource-friendly.

You should also make sure to buy the cleaning agents in bulk packaging. If necessary, the detergent is then decanted into reusable refill bottles. In this way, you also save on packaging waste at the hotel. This is not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet.

Tip #2

Green Option: Cancel daily room cleaning

If your guests cancel the daily room cleaning if not needed, you also protect the environment. Cancelled room cleanings save cleaning agents, water, energy and even plastic garbage bags. In this way, you and your guest protect the environment. It also reduces the workload of your staff. Now your staff need more time to clean the hotel rooms thoroughly and to disinfect items such as the remote control and telephone. With every cancelled room cleaning, the cleaning staff gains more time for the thorough cleaning of other rooms.

Offer your guests an easy way to cancel room cleaning when not needed and make them aware of the sustainable feature. For example, the guest receives a push message to remind him or her to cancel the room cleaning on the digital guest directory. With a click, the guest then cancels the room cleaning on the tablet in the hotel room and receives a voucher for a coffee in the hotel restaurant in return. Alternatively, you can ask your guests for the preferred time of the room cleaning upon arrival. This way, you reduce contact points between hotel guests and staff.

Tip #3

Out with the hygiene traps in the hotel room

Decorative articles, decorative cushions and small items such as sewing kits disappear from hotel rooms to reduce the points of contact with objects that are often used. Other objects, such as the telephone or the remote control cannot be removed from the room easily. So these items must be disinfected regularly and thoroughly. This is of course time-consuming. But you can replace your frequently used objects with an all-in-one solution. The digital guest directory on the in-room tablet is not only one-in-all solution, but is also very easy and quick to clean and disinfect.

Say goodbye to old hotel guest information folders and worn-out flyers in hotel rooms that need to be disinfected or replaced after each guest. Up-to-date information is important for your guests, especially now, and gives them a feeling of security. But hotel guests also do not want to do without tips for nearby sights or restaurant recommendations. As a hygienic communication tool, the digital guest directory provides your guests with practical information and tips with one click.

Tip #4

Less plastic waste in the hotel

Jam and butter packed in plastic packaging at breakfast? That is not necessary! Regardless of whether buffets are allowed or not, such portioned packaging should be avoided. Jam and honey can also be portioned in small jars or bowls beforehand. With edible waffle cups, the staff is even spared from washing the dishes, the water consumption is also directly reduced and the packaging waste is reduced. In addition, the purchase of reusable instead of disposable containers for beverages significantly reduces the amount of plastic waste in the hotel. There are alternatives not only for beverage bottles. There are now plastic-free alternatives for straws or stirrers for the coffee-to-go.

Packaging waste can also be reduced in the bathroom. Dispensers for shampoo, shower gel and lotion, which are refilled by the staff, avoid portion packaging. You can also go without disposable plastic products, such as toothbrushes or combs, in hotel rooms to reduce the volume of waste. Make sure that unavoidable plastic waste is disposed of and recycled separately.

Tip #5

Efficient and energy-saving room control

The automatic control of heating, air conditioning or fan coil ensures greater efficiency and sustainability in the hotel. Completely independent of personnel, the intelligent room control regulates the temperature in the room, taking weather forecasts and hotel occupancy into account. This is particularly helpful when hotel rooms are empty due to occupancy limits or are not occupied because the hotel has not yet opened its doors. This is because empty rooms are automatically kept at an efficient level.

Should the guest or cleaning staff accidentally forget to close a window, the smart control system also notices this and sends out warning messages. Unnecessary heating or cooling is thus a thing of the past. With the intelligent room control system you not only save heating and personnel costs, but also reduce CO2 emissions. This way, you effectively conserve resources and contribute to environmental protection.

Tip #6

Involve and motivate employees

For your staff, the changed hygiene regulations mean above all that new processes have to be implemented. Less contact with guests, wearing a mouth-nose cover and adapted cleaning plans. Do not only train your staff about the general hygiene regulations. Raise your staff’s awareness for the topic of environmental protection and inspire them with enthusiasm for your sustainable concept. Because only together can you implement the measures and achieve your goals. As soon as your employees understand why the sustainable measures are being introduced, they will stand behind the concept and commit to it.

Your staff should be trained in the sustainability and hygiene measures in the hotel. After all, your employees are the contact persons for your guests and have a certain role model function. Why should your guest adhere to the measures if even your employees do not? And where does your guest find the necessary information on the sustainable measures if your employees are not familiar with the topic? Your staff is an important link between the hotel and the guest, which is essential for the successful implementation of the measures.

Tip #7

No disposable masks for your hotel staff

With direct contact to your guests, such as at the reception desk or when serving in the restaurant, your hotel staff should wear a mouth-nose-cover. Instead of buying a maxi pack of disposable masks, you should consider reusable masks. Face shields can also be a good sustainable option.

Even though the wearing of mouth-nose cover has become part of everyday life, medical masks are still rather disconcerting. In any case, such masks do not evoke a feeling of vacation and relaxation for the guest. Fabric masks, on the other hand, can be individually adapted to the hotel. In the colors of the hotel or embroidered with the hotel logo, the masks not only look good but also fit perfectly into the hotel’s appearance.

Tip #8

Digital assistants for sustainable processes

Various processes in the hotel can also be easily implemented contact-free, hygienically and sustainably using digital alternatives. More sustainability and less paper consumption can be promoted by digitalized processes. For example, the check-in via smartphone including the digital registration form ensures that the hotel wastes less paper. With a digital check-in, you also relieve your reception staff and offer your guests a fast and contactless alternative to the classic check-in. This way, you also avoid physical contact between guest and hotel staff.

You can also transfer the communication between hotel and guest into the digital world. From making reservations at the hotel restaurant to payment and checking out, digital helpers offer a wide range of possibilities to improve your contactless service. You can also digitize keys to the hotel room. Your guests open the doors to the Hotel room conveniently via their smartphone. Disinfecting room keys or key cards is not necessary anymore.

Tip #9

Communicate the hygiene measure in the hotel

The guest should also be informed about the new measures in the hotel. After all, the guests themselves can make an important contribution to environmental protection in the hotel if they are aware of their options. Make your guests aware of their option to cancel room cleaning by clicking on the in-room tablet. Inform your guests about the new contact-free alternative to check-in and show them that the heating and air conditioning is conveniently controlled automatically.

Every guest can contribute to environmental protection and at the same time support hygiene measures. This not only supports your green image, but also makes your guests feel good about themselves. Increase the trust of your guests and create a competitive advantage at the same time.

Convincing sustainably: Now it’s your turn!

Despite the current situation, hotels cannot lose sight of the sustainability aspect. There are also environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives for the new hygiene measures. With these nine tips on sustainability and hygiene under Covid-19 conditions, there are various approaches to where you can start in the hotel. Less environmentally harmful chemicals for cleaning, less paper consumption and less plastic waste in the hotel – use this new challenge as an opportunity to rethink structures and processes in the hotel!

The new hygiene measures and sustainability in the hotel are not mutually exclusive. Evaluate where there is still potential for improvement in your hotel. Ultimately, with the right support, you can not only promote the idea of sustainability and create hygienic processes, but even optimize processes in the hotel.