Murray Roberts talks about the need for migrant workers in hospitalit Value of good amenities | Page 25

HOW HOTELS CAN SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE WATER WASTE E nergy costs make up a small percentage of turnover in hotels, however, the Carbon Trust claims that reducing them can directly increase the business’ revenue without the need to increase sales. All of the money saved on energy goes straight to the bottom line which enables your establishment to be more competitive. But to actually make these energy savings at your establishment, you do need some initial financial investment. It is worth bringing in a third party who can carry out an energy audit at your hotel to enable you to see how much energy is being used and which areas need the most focus or investment. You might find that it is recommended you install LED lighting, for example. But never overlook the huge importance of smart water efficiency. Most UK hotels outsource their laundry operations to a third party – but it could be time to re-evaluate your laundry operation from the ground up by introducing an on-premise near-waterless laundry system like Xeros. Whilst traditional machines use between 40% and 70% hot water, Xeros only uses approximately 5%. With less water to heat, more energy is saved and a hotel’s bills are reduced. The Xeros washing machine is able to use less water and deliver a gentler wash thanks to revolutionary polymer technology it harnesses. This gently removes soil and stains from fabrics, helping hotels save on average over two million litres of water each year. After outsourcing the cleaning of its towels for many years, the Doubletree by Hilton Sonoma in the US decided to take back control and invest in an on-premise laundry facility. This decision was made because the rural location of the hotel had led to high processing costs and inflexible overhead times. The hotel also became frustrated with having to replace towels and robes that had been damaged by the harsh chemicals used in the mass cleaning process. The Xeros in-house laundry operation they invested in was 47% cheaper per year compared to outsourcing and helped secure a 23% reduction on cost per occupied room. Furthermore, the prolonged linen life not only saved on replacement costs, it also led to happier customers as the towels were reported to be brighter and fluffier than ever before. Adding up the operational and labour savings, the hotel has reported annual savings of almost £60,000. Back in 2012, the Hyatt Regency Reston in the US wanted to replace its old washing machines due to high maintenance costs, rising detergent costs and poor wash quality. As a leading hotel brand, it wanted an innovative partner who would help reduce laundry costs and deliver superior cleaning results. A few months later the hotel decided to test out a Xeros machine and after a successful trial period which saw significant cost and water savings as well as reduced towel damage, the establishment installed another two machines. The hotel has reported annual savings of £33,000 since installing the near-waterless system. The Marriott in California was motivated by cost saving and the environment when it invested in Xeros. The region was suffering severe drought so a water-efficient laundry system was needed fast. The hotel is now reporting monthly savings of over £1,000 on water energy and detergent – and is helping the environment at the same time. So whether you are motivated by cost saving, helping the environment, or indeed both, it is worth considering investing in near-waterless on-premise laundry facilities. www.xeroscleaning.com Housekeeping management 25