Sustainable amenities: Extras everyone can feel good about

Beautifully scented mini-soaps and small bottles of shampoo, bath gel, lotions and other extras have made affordable hotels feel a little more special, high-end hotels feel more luxurious and top-tier properties shine, while doubling as aromatic souvenirs that extend the stay’s experience. The pendulum, however, is swinging the other way, with managers in many hotel categories moving towards packaging and items intended to remain in the room.

“Many individual clients and groups seek out our hotel because of our robust sustainability program, appreciating our commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible practices,” said Marina Dutton, general manager at Marriott Irvine in Orange County, Calif. “While implementing eco-conscious amenities presented challenges such as operational logistics and higher upfront costs, [our] partnerships with local suppliers of sustainable products have reduced the property’s carbon footprint and supported the local economy. These changes have substantial environmental impact, enhance guest satisfaction and improve staff morale.”

As hotels and resorts nationwide are swapping miniatures and takeaways with sustainable luxuries that remain on-site, it is interesting to observe that the management at several waterfront lodgings are doubling down on their commitments. Others, like the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection, on the Island of Hawaii’s Kohala Coast, have been sustainability focused for decades.

Hyatt Regency Irvine bathroom
Hyatt properties like the Hyatt Regency Irvine are now featuring large-format bottles of boutique consumer skincare brands like Pharmacopia that stay in the room, adding a touch of luxury. (Hyatt)

Cleaning Up Their Act

According to Kansas Henderson, hotel manager at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, amenities reinforcing this ethos include reusable totes, refillable orange plumeria-branded hydration ‘flasks’ (also adopted by sister property Westin Hapuna Beach Resort and other coastal hotels), refillable bathroom amenities, and biodegradable beach toys. These amenities dovetail into a water-saving program for beach and in-room towels and sustainable packaging for all take-out food and beverage items.

“Being located in Hawaii presents logistical challenges,” acknowledged Henderson. “Sourcing products and managing shipping costs require more time and planning compared to mainland businesses. However, the efforts are valued by our guests, making it a worthwhile endeavor because it aligns with our commitment to doing what's right. During a recent stay by a hospitality group, their executives were so impressed with the thinking behind our hydration flasks (water bottles) that they decided to adopt the initiative at their own hotels and resorts. Inspiring other businesses to embrace eco-friendly programs motivates us to further our efforts in sustainability.”

Westin Hapuna Beach Resort also offers a similar range of eco-conscious amenities, as well as QR codes for in-room menus and resort information. Manager Marguerite Heap notes that in-room educational materials on caring for Hawaii's natural environment provide excellent educational context for the guests.

“Our motivation stems from our commitment to sustainability and our kuleana (responsibility) to protect and preserve Hawaii's natural beauty for future generations,” she said. “Our guests are increasingly aware of sustainable practices and actively seek opportunities to contribute to these efforts.”

At the Marriott Irvine, Dutton points to the property’s partnership with Clean the World, where discarded soap and other opened bathroom products are collected and distributed to communities in need worldwide. 

“This program aims to improve global health and reduce hygiene-related illness by providing essential hygiene supplies to the underserved population,” she said. Across town, Sid Ramani, area general manager at Hyatt Hotels Corporation (including Hyatt Regency Irvine and Hyatt House Irvine) noted that guests are welcomed by the company’s hydration stations placed on every floor, in every common area and in every meeting room. To further discourage single-use plastics, guests can either purchase recyclable aluminum bottles or use ones they brought with them.

Justin Nels, managing director of Isla Bella Beach Resort, an EOS Hospitality property in the Florida Keys, said that the motivation to swap out the amenities came from this resort’s “deep commitment to restoring and preserving the ocean and its marine life,” like the Hawaii-based properties. They offer guests activities such as beach clean-ups and boat tours to drive home the importance of having amenities that are kinder to the environment and ecosystems. 

“As sustainable tourism expands in popularity, eco-conscious amenities are hugely important for a brand’s reputation,” Nels said. “Travelers desire sustainable options when they travel, and having access to them will have a positive impact on travelers and the environment. While [our] partnership with the Conch Republic Marine Army and boat excursion may be our biggest initiative, we are actively working to better the resort in every aspect, including transitioning the entire resort to be plastic-free.”

Man in a boat
The Isla Bella Beach Resort, an EOS Hospitality property in the Florida Keys, offers clean-the-beach activities that show the guest how recycling plastic leads to better, cleaner amenities and beach experiences. (Isla Bella Beach Resort)

Sustainable Satisfaction = Retention

“Guests have responded very positively [to our efforts] in reducing single-use plastics and appreciating products such as Diptyque,” said Max Jonas, general manager at Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, Calif. “While some guests may miss the small, take-home bottles, others expressed that the hotel’s initiatives enhance their overall experience. We believe our commitment to sustainability contributes to higher guest retention. Working closely with local suppliers and investing in long-term measures helps us mitigate some of these hurdles.”

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s Henderson adds that its guests have embraced refillable and larger bottles of products on guestroom countertops and the convenience and environmental consciousness behind this initiative.

“Many guests find it reassuring to have quality products readily available during their stay without the waste associated with single-use plastic bottles,” she said. “Overall, the feedback has been enthusiastic, with guests [saying] our ongoing efforts and new initiatives make their stay even more meaningful. Our ‘Beach Boys’ add to the conversation about water conservation by promoting mindful towel usage, advocating for reef-safe sunscreen and offering eco-friendly beach toys [that won’t pollute the ocean].”

“Eco-conscious practices are no longer a ‘nice to have’ for hotels, and we are regularly asked what InterContinental New York Barclay is doing in the environmental and social responsibility space. Our guests are pleased to hear of our continued efforts in-room and out,” said Sofia Vandaele, general manager and regional director of operations for InterContinental New York Barclay, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “When we first introduced the residential-sized products, some of our guests loved them so much that they wanted to take the full-sized bottles home, prompting us to add a label identifying the subsequent charge to help us manage costs.”

Henderson credits the success of the hotel’s water stations and refillable bottles to customer feedback, as guests report that having them not only makes it easier to stay hydrated during their stay but also empowers them to feel they are doing their part to keep the staff and other guests conscious of waste. Furthermore, having full-sized in-room amenities like shampoos, conditioners and body wash makes the guest journey seamless as there is no longer a need to worry about running out of product, producing excess waste or traveling with too much extra weight.

“Transitioning to eco-conscious amenities offers many benefits,” affirmed Ramani. “Embracing eco-conscious initiatives enhances a hotel's brand reputation by positioning it as a responsible and forward-thinking establishment. We’re continuing to see travelers seek out environmentally friendly accommodation choices, and by providing eco-conscious amenities, hotels demonstrate their dedication to environmental stewardship, which ultimately resonates and earns trust from guests.”

Where Luxury and Necessity Meet

Groupe GM’s latest hotel collaboration with Italian firm Mine Perfume Lab plays nicely into the aesthetic and environmental concerns of higher-end hotel clients and their guests.

amenity bottles
Groupe GM’s latest hotel collaboration with Italian firm MINE PERFUME LAB plays nicely into the aesthetic and environmental concerns of higher-end hotels and their guests. (Groupe GM)

Nurture Hospitality Group achieves eco-conscious messaging through words, design and the materials everything is printed on.

Since 2008, Gary Coward has kept his finger on the pulse of making hospitality guest bathroom amenities more sustainable, which has been Nurture Hospitality Group’s main focus since 2018. While his firm is focused on multiple value-driven features, the products are underpinned by strong messaging about social and environmental responsibility, which appeal to the values of guests and hotel management alike.

“An important objective of a hotel is to provide guests with products that are at least as good as, or better quality, than what the guest experiences at home,” explained Coward. “[From the guest’s perspective], we are aware of the quality of the  amenities that touch our body, as we all have our own direct points of reference with similar products we use at home. It’s not just about our comfort but about hygiene and [understanding] the guests’ personal values. Also, as today’s hotel guests recycle at home, they will not be happy that plastic waste may find its way into our oceans or landfills.”

amenities
Nurture Hospitality Group achieves eco-conscious messaging through words, design and materials. (NHG)

Coward also said that Nurture Hospitality Group is the first company in the industry to offer plastic tubes and bulk dispensers containing up to 50 percent of recycled ocean-bound plastics (plastic waste collected within 30 miles from the world’s oceans). They are collected by local communities in Haiti and other areas of the world, create a stream of income for the collectors and are recycled into pellets to be used in producing containers. At press time, the equivalent of nearly one million liter-sized bottles have been stopped from entering oceans.

While Coward acknowledged that many hotels are gravitating toward bulk liquid dispensers, he affirmed that packaging made from recycled materials lends itself to the discussion about the benefits of refillable bottles.

“Hotels should consider the upside and downside of guest perception and maintenance of pristine liquid quality in each option,” he said. “Rather than refillable bottles, providing guests with closed system, non-refillable 10-17 oz. bottles replaced by housekeeping when the liquid inside runs low ensures the integrity of the liquid quality to last drop. Empty bottles can be recycled.”

Hotels of all sizes can work with NHG to create custom products, which Coward said can open added retail opportunities. “As we create a brand for you, you will be involved in the selection of fragrance, formulation, design, and packaging,” he said. “We work with you to create this beautiful program that is exclusive to your property or properties that can dovetail into retail. The goal is to enhance the hotel’s brand values, to elevate the guest experience and surpass their expectations. As a certified 115 percent carbon offset company, NHG products offer a small carbon offset benefit to hotels who work with the company to create custom guest amenities.”

Groupe GM, a global leader in hotel amenities, most recently made waves with its recent collaboration with Italian fragrance house Mine Perfume Lab, creating an exclusive hotel line featuring the perfumer’s popular Alleria fragrance. CEO Laurent Marchand noted the collaboration has a modern, minimalist sensibility that syncs well with upscale hotels and décor. He added that partnering hotels can create exclusive, signature ranges specifically tailored to the property and the tastes of their guests.

“Our ‘Care about Earth’ program reflects our commitment to eco-responsibility,” Marchand said. “As an eco-responsible amenities supplier, we prioritize using green resources, favoring reusability and reducing single-use plastic. Each time we develop a product, it creates an opportunity for us to consider its environmental aspects and reduce environmental impact at every stage, from the sourcing of raw materials to formulation, the choice of production site, packaging, packing, shipping and recycling.”

According to Marchand, when licensed brands partner with Groupe GM to create hotel lines, a collaboration allows each partner to strengthen their brand awareness in many desired markets thanks to Groupe GM’s international reach. It also enables brands to attract new customers and retain existing ones by creating memorable sensory experiences for hotel guests throughout their stay.

Fun Facts

  • The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, opened in 1965, was devised by founder Laurance S. Rockefeller as a resort that would stand as an environmental and cultural leader. It is still regarded as a sustainability innovator.
  • Las Vegas-based Nurture Hospitality Group has innovated a 105-oz Doypack liquid pouch with 60 percent less plastic than a solid container used for refilling dispenser bottles in hotel bathrooms.
  • Legislation in various states, such as New York, now mandates the elimination of small-size bathroom amenities by early 2025 for all hotels. In 2019, California's Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB1162 into law, banning tiny amenity bottles in hotels.
  • Also in 2019, Hyatt Hotels Corporation began implementing plastic-eliminating measures in its properties in over 60 countries. These include the addition of water stations for refilling reusable bottles and replacing single-use water bottles with carafes at business meetings and corporate events.

This article was originally published in the July/August edition of Hotel Management magazine. Subscribe here.