Experience in the hospitality sector is showing that conserving water will not only save money, it will also provide an important marketing edge in a very competitive industry.
Australia has carefully nurtured its image as being a clean green tourist destination for locals and overseas visitors. Protecting our valuable water resources is an important part of maintaining that competitive advantage.
Save water and protect our environment
- In 1993, the Australian Institute of Hotel Engineers (AIHE) estimated that a typical 300 room hotel uses 225,000 litres each day or 750 litres per room.
- This means a typical 300 room hotel is using around 1.3 Olympic swimming pools full of water each day or 483 Olympic pools each year.
- A commercial sink uses about 40 litres to fill, while a water efficient dishwasher may use as little as 15 litres
Save on water bills
- For a larger hotel such as the Hyatt regency, savings of nearly $25,000 are being realised each year;
- Water authorities across the world are moving towards a user pays systems of charges which will see the cost of water increase over the coming years?
- The cost to a hotel will depend on the charges of specific water authorities. An example of what an urban water authority in Victoria, Australia would charge for 225,000 litres is $150.75 per day ($55,023.75 per year). In NSW the cost would be over $200 per day.
Enhance relationships with staff, customers and the local community
- Enhance your organisation's reputation as an attractive environmentally responsible employer
- Improve employee pride and motivation by demonstrating a commitment to providing a sustainable service
- Enhance the image of your hotel as a responsible member of the community and gain valuable support and recommendations
- Attract visitors who are increasingly aware of the scarcity of water in Australia and in other countries
- Save on energy bills by reducing hot water usage
- Provide the media with a good news story for promotion in local media
- Provide the media with a good news story for promotion in local and not so local media