Booking with a green hotel may equate to cost savings, not just for the hotelier but also for the travel buyer, according to hoteliers speaking at a New York City Business Travel Association event last week.
Damien Keller, director of sales for The Orchard Garden Hotel and The Orchard Hotel located in San Francisco, said his properties spent about $35,000 to make the buildings Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED-certified, and after two years the initial investment was recouped.
"We have already seen that money come back so everything now is just profit. In fact, we have sent out a letter to our preferred corporate clients saying we are actually keeping our rates flat and for some of them we have taken 5 percent off," said Keller. "We have seen the savings so now we are going to pass it on to you."
Jennifer Rota, director of sales and marketing at the Michelangelo Hotel in New York City, said she has passed to guests some of her hotel's savings from green initiatives like changing light bulbs and recycling.
"You won't see it on lower rates, but we are going to give amenities to the guests; it comes back," said Rota.