Welcome to our "MBS Focus"
Hotels are unusual buildings, in that their occupants have a big influence on how they are operated. Unlike office workers, hotel guests won’t be ignored if their room is too cold or the hot water doesn’t work.
For hotel managers, unhappy guests complaining about the building services can result in lost revenues. In today’s economic climate where many hotels have seen guest numbers fall, this simply isn’t an option.
So in hotels building services really do have an impact on the bottom line. The problem is finding a balance between energy-efficient operation and occupant comfort.
These issues are all covered in this special “MBS Focus” devoted to hotels. There is a wealth of interesting ideas and hard experience in this special section of our web site. Click on any of the items on this page for more.
Hotels are unusual buildings, in that their occupants have a big influence on how they are operated. Unlike office workers, hotel guests won’t be ignored if their room is too cold or the hot water doesn’t work.
For hotel managers, unhappy guests complaining about the building services can result in lost revenues. In today’s economic climate where many hotels have seen guest numbers fall, this simply isn’t an option.
So in hotels building services really do have an impact on the bottom line. The problem is finding a balance between energy-efficient operation and occupant comfort.
As the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme takes hold, the UK’s largest hotel chains are all going to be looking to keep their carbon footprints to a minimum. It’s going to be challenge, because in spite of a slow economy the hotel sector is growing. Both Premier Inns and Travelodge are planning for strong growth in the next year. The question is how to increase building stock while reducing carbon emissions.
The approach taken by Whitbread, owners of the Premier Inn, Beefeater and other brands, is to adopt a learning approach. The strategy is to build a ‘green’ hotel, learn what works and what doesn’t and then apply that to the next project. Our News Analysis (link below) explains the process in more detail.
But it’s not only the buildings that are being closely examined. Hotel managers and staff are being educated about energy use — in fact, hotel managers’ salaries are partly targeted on energy efficiency. It’s a great approach, and one that a lot more clients could consider adopting.
