Green Hotel Systems, Research Paper Example

Developing Green Hotel Systems in Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center

 Parameters of the report

The purpose of this research is to find out if the Coralville Marriott resort and conference in Coralville, Iowa is making good use green hotel system with specific interests the full engagement of the hotel employees and guests in recycling, composting as well as conserving energy. Offering incentives to the employees to recycle and compost waste materials is seen as one of the greatest achievements that are supposed to facilitate their motivation in maintaining the best standards of recycling, composting as well as conserving energy, which must involve the employees of Coralville Marriott resort and conference as well as the visiting guests.

This research that analyzes the full engagement of the hotel employees and guests in recycling, composting as well as conserving energy is anticipated to benefit Marriott resort and conference center in terms of offering constructive feedback to the management. The findings shall cover the areas that require improvements and act as a guide to the future strategies that are needed in order to facilitate the Coralville Marriott to adopt cost saving strategies that are anticipated to bring more benefits to the business.

Problem description

The issue of contention at Coralville Marriott resort and conference entails lack of sufficient commitment among the employees and the visiting guests alike to take the needed initiatives in recycling, composting as well as conserving energy so that the premise can operate in a green environment. Although recycling, composting as well as conserving energy seems to be comparatively easy and achievable in the business, it has been a significant burden to the guests in the Coralville Marriott resort and conference. The involvement of employees in environmental programs at Coralville Marriott resort and conference is an important consideration for the purpose of going green. The management must actively engage the employees through opportunities of education, games, newsletters, incentives and competitions among others which can easily motivate the employees to take active roles in green programs in the hotel. Treating the employees with dignity, decent workplace conditions and fair compensation are equally important factors of consideration. Effective and efficient use of the compost bins, proper recycling and cost efficient lighting can be an important accomplishment in adoption of green practices at Coralville Marriott resort and conference.

Methodology

Observation was the principle approach involving a physical assessment of involvement of the resort employees together with the guests in recycling, composting as well as conservation with particular regard to energy. The observation was that, not much was accomplished in terms of recycling and thus there was need to enquire from the employees what was being done with the papers and any other recyclable items that were collected from the rooms used by the guests. The process of observation included checking every can that used as a recycling bin for presence of papers and the findings were recorded on a weekly basis.

Summary of findings and conclusions

The recycle bins that were anticipated to be useful to the employees as well as the guests were not utilized to the full anticipated potentials. The empty bottles, food remains and papers were disposed in garbage cans and although recycling was supposed to be a simple procedure for the employees and the guest, not much was being done. In some floors, some bottles had been separated from the garbage but in others, nothing constructive in this regard had been accomplished. The used bottles were recycled one time in a month and the unused ones were donated.

Recommendations

The Coralville Marriott resort and conference must avail recycle bins together with relatively huge bags that can hold all forms of recyclables that have been used in the guest rooms. All bins are supposed to be labeled with clear and colorful writing for easy visibility. The employees and guests deserve some incentives that motivate them to cherish and accustomed to a recycling habit at all times.

Section I – Introduction

Background

The Coralville Marriott resort and conference is a hotel under the Marriott international brand that located in Coralville, Iowa City and offers full services and amenities in a business friendly environment. The event spaces at Coralville Marriott resort and conference are flexibly situated and luxurious accommodations that facilitates holding of events as well as meetings by the guests. The starting point of Coralville Marriott resort and conference was some two simple motels that dated back in 1950’s. The first of the motels, being a Quality Inn type of airport motel, was initiated near Washington DC, while a few years afterwards, a second motel was initiated in Twin Bridges which is operational even at current offering full services of a hotel. The opening of the second motel opened the doors to the birth of the brand name Marriott (Schall, 2003).

 Due to the vision held by the Pan American World Airways for majority of the people to be fully engaged in international business together with activities of leisure travel in the future, the operations of the Coralville Marriott resort and conference were greatly welcomed to help in achievement of the said vision (Motavalli, 2002). The Coralville Marriott resort and conference is therefore a crucial brand doing hotel business in the world in a very unique way. The Coralville Marriott resort and conference has been glamorous as well as sophisticated in terms of the services offered to clients. Majority of foreign dignitaries as well as the famous individual has been royal guests at Coralville Marriott resort and conference and this has been a significant factor in the success of the business. The hotel has been able to sustain its reputation in service delivery to the guests.  The Marriott resort and conference is also appropriately equipped to provide the customers with breakfast Grappa cocktail as well as lunch of American style. Due to the strategic location of the Marriott resort and conference, the target customers are both the leisure travelers in their own exploration of the downtown San Francisco together with the business travelers in their mission involving conventions as well as meetings in the region.

The anticipated investor strategy at Coralville Marriott resort and conference is to acquire a status of the best choice to the guests and implementation of the most preferred operating systems for the owners in order to achieve the benefits that are associated with a green system and to focus on the most competitive segments of the market so that to capture the greatest competitive advantage. The objectives and aims at Coralville Marriott resort and conference is creation of a guest attractive resort and enhancement of the hotel brand so that they become the most preferred choices by the guests as well as the owners of the hotel. Coralville Marriott resort and conference also anticipates building more rooms for the guests and achieving a strategic priority for the enhancement of performance and making their brands to be the most preferred choices among the visitors in the resort. Coralville Marriott resort and conference is also dedicated in the delivery of dependable customer experience, generation of perfect returns as well as enhancement of revenue in the resort through motivation of guest visits, efficiency enhancement in the operating processes in the resort as well as application global conversion of the resort branches for the purpose of widening their international presence. Coralville Marriott resort and conference is also dedicate to invest in human resource development to enhance the potentials of conducting business as well as creation of sturdy relationships with the resort, the management as well as the business owners.

Adoption of green systems at Coralville Marriott resort and conference is anticipated to be a cost effective venture in the long run. Additionally, marketing opportunities are likely to increase as well due to adoption of such strategies. The guest and the employees will also enjoy high morale and satisfaction. Most guests are in favor of conservation and green systems play a very crucial role in conservation to the environment. Green practices at Coralville Marriott resort and conference are also likely to reduce amount of waste a good example being recycling. Coralville Marriott resort and conference is also likely to cultivate a high financial value on successful implementation of green practices.

Section II – Statement of the Problem of Research Project

My specialization of research involved the green hotel system in the Coralville Marriott resort and conference center with particular interest on assessment of whether the employees and guests are recycling, composting and conserving energy. I also took extra initiatives to evaluate the initiatives of energy conservation in the resort and if the compost bins were being utilized to achieve the maximum benefits intended. The compost revolved around the kitchen and the resort garden while energy conservation involved the use of fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs in all areas of the resort and solar system in the entire premise including bathrooms as well as guest rooms.

The hotel managers at all branches of Coralville Marriott resort and conference are constantly experiencing wasteful and expensive resources utilization that are generated within the property. The managers at Coralville Marriott resort and conference therefore have an obligation of converting the workplace to become environmentally friendly through the use of materials, water as well as energy more efficiently so that the wastes can be minimized and lead to a cost benefit in the business. The adoption of green hotels technology at Coralville Marriott resort and conference brings about all the potentials to enjoy the benefits that include high profit margins, reduction in production costs as well as fewer liabilities. To achieve this goal, it is prudent to take a leading role in sustainability which in essence improves the reputation of the business, market value as well as brand leading to achievements of additional intangible merits (Erto & Vanacore, 2002).

The Coralville Marriott resort and conference has realized the full potentials behind the adoption of eco-friendly processes in the reduction of costs of operations in the course of conducting business. Reduction of energy cost is one area that Coralville Marriott resort and conference may consider in making good use of green hotel system. This can be achieved through the use of the compact fluorescent lights that have the capabilities for production of higher light intensities as compared to the incandescent lights. This is a more energy efficient and cost effective lighting system that will help Coralville Marriott resort and conference to make good use of green hotel system. The goal achievement is further supported by promotion of energy saving techniques such as the fluorescent bulbs at Coralville Marriott resort and conference as more commonly applicable for lighting purposes. The use of solar energy at Coralville Marriott resort and conference has been associated with high degrees of efficiency and cost effectiveness as they are limitless natural resources and is highly associated with economic as well as environmental benefits. The Coralville Marriott resort and conference has chosen solar power as the preferred system for the production and supply of light as well as thermal power. Solar power is also used at Coralville Marriott resort and conference to heat the sauna as well as the pools which has translated to the reduction of utility costs as well as reduction in the level of vulnerability to the fluctuations that comes with the energy prices.

Coralville Marriott resort and conference has not effectively established the most suitable green programs that serve best the management of solid waste. There is need for greater cooperation between the employees and the guests in executing the programs responsible for composting and recycling at Coralville Marriott resort and conference. The Coralville Marriott resort and conference must learn to appreciate the potential cost benefits that are associated with solid waste composting as well as recycling to the business performance. Coralville Marriott resort and conference produces huge paper volumes, plastics as well as aluminum which can easily be recycled to achieve cost savings objectives. The recycle bins must be placed strategically at close proximity to the guests and the employees to elevate the chances and inclination of recycling. Left over and spoiled food forms the bulk of the solid waste which can be composed into fertilizers for use in the resort gardens.

Section III – Methodology

The methodology used in the research entailed direct observation and interviews (Butler, 2008). The type of direct observation entailed visiting all the sections in the resort to assess the trash bags, the recycling cans as well as the recycling bags. In the course of direct observation as the preferred method it was essential to make certain that the observations were arranged properly and permission sort from top resort management. In addition, the employees in Coralville Marriott resort and conference were informed about the reasons for observing their actions so that the method worked as anticipated in gathering the needed information. My observation process permeated to all rooms to check the efficiency of the recycle bins in terms of their sizes and if they could accommodate all the materials that were in the rooms. The labeling done on the recycle bins and trash bins were also a focus of my observation and the perfect the arrangement of these important items were done in the rooms. The interview part entailed speaking to the room attendants who are responsible for the distribution of recycle bins and trash bags and the ones responsible for garbage collection as well as separation of the garbage for trash and for composting. The interview questions centered on the level of awareness of each type of item that was supposed to be supplied to the rooms and how efficient each item was being used to achieve the goal of recycling and composting at Coralville Marriott resort and conference. In most cases, the house attendants were usually given wrong directions because they were instructed to put the recyclables as well as the trash in the same bin which was later to be separated. This was ideally a long process that could have been simplified by supplying a good sized recycle bin, clearly marked with visible colors, and supplying the room attendants with two bins for trash. The kitchen was also supplied with a bin to place the spoiled food items that were later composted and used in the garden as manure (Pizam, 2009).

In some of the rooms, the house keepers were using some of the recycle bags to carry their personal items instead of using them for the right purposes in the guest rooms. They are also less keen on checking on the garbage that is meant for recycling, reuse or composting and in most cases, everything was dumped. Some recycle bins were positioned at the back of offices and house area so I had to check the frequency of utilization of recycle bins in these areas.

Section IV – Findings

The role played by the employees in an attempt of going green is critical for the success of Coralville Marriott resort and conference in achieving the goals of recycling, composting as well as conserving energy. The employees play a significant role in driving the success as well as the profitability of the programs in the Coralville Marriott resort and conference. The guests at the resort come and go on daily basis and they therefore cannot be fully entrusted in the processes of recycling, composting as well as conserving energy at Coralville Marriott resort and conference. The employees are therefore in the best position to show full commitments in advocating for as well as educating the guests on the needs for recycling, composting as well as conserving energy and ensure the continuity of the programs for the benefit of the business.

In many of the rooms at the resort, paper bags as well as cardboard boxes were found while some garbage was randomly mixed with the garbage cans. The area that was reserved for recycling was not being fully utilized and no apparent and visible marks were used to indicate the recycling area. Although the attendants were being constantly supplied with the recycling bags for all the guest rooms, the guest were reluctant to make proper use of the items and therefore the room attendants preferred to use them to hold their supplies and equipments instead.

Notices and markings were missing from the recycle bins that could offer directions on the way to dispose materials in their appropriate positions. However, some posters were evident on the walls above the trash cans as well as on hallways that directed the employees how to recycle and compost the waste materials. At the break room, some compost bins were observable with a lining of bags to hold compostable garbage. This was being used by all people because there was no alternative. All the trash from the rooms however were disposed and later sorted out to make sure that the most appropriate items for composting were never lost. The hotel was therefore very keen on waste materials that were meant for composting.

Section V- Conclusions

The management at Coralville Marriott resort and conference has the responsibility to adopt green technology and maintain their price structure at a range that is comparable to prevailing market price or even set a more competitive price in the market. The ability to successfully establish a green system of hotel at Coralville Marriott resort and conference will make it possible for the management to set competitive price structure. The initiatives of achieving a green system at Coralville Marriott resort and conference depends on the cooperation of the employees as well as the guests. They must be willing to recycle all recyclables. Composting is an equally crucial process for Coralville Marriott resort and conference to adopt a green system. The resort was found to have gained significantly in composting because the compost bins supplied in the rooms were sufficient and of good size. However, there was need for improvements in labeling the recycle bins that are positioned in the landing area to avoid throwing the entire trash in a single bin as has been the custom by the room attendants. It is important that Coralville Marriott resort and conference consider implementation of strategies that are likely to minimize waste production. The strategies must be modeled around constructive concepts that entail reduction, reuse as well as recycling. The greater percentage of the solid waste at Coralville Marriott resort and conference must be recycled or reused (Bajaria, 2001). However, in the resort, the bags supplied to the guests for the purpose of recycling are much smaller to accommodate available left-overs and the trash cans are also insufficient to meet the needs of the guests in disposing the available trash. The trash is therefore disposed in the recycle bins thus making it difficult for the room attendants to sort out the bins. Most of the trash is left on the floor and the attendants throw away everything without recycling the items that can be recycled. Although the employees have been educated on the need to recycle, the applicable system coupled with the non cooperation attitude among the guests makes the entire process almost impossible.

Section VI – Recommendations

The most appropriate recommendation is to target the guests and offer them with some incentives that are likely to motivate them to embrace the spirit of recycling during their short stay at Coralville Marriott resort and conference. The incentives may be in form of games that reward the best recyclers targeting both the employees as well as the guests. The management then can go ahead and supply the recycle bins that are clearly labeled using clearly visible writings that can be seen by the guests. They should be labeled as “papers and bottles only” so that the guests can dispose such items there. The attendants must then be supplied with two bags for trash in each of the rooms to allow for alternation of the trash bags during cleaning. This could be a good initiative that is likely to promote separation of trash from recyclable materials. The size of recycle bags must also be considered since giving out small recycle bags that cannot adequately accommodate the recyclable materials from each room will most likely result to careless throwing of the materials all over the room.

References

Bajaria, H. (2001). “Approaching Quality in an ever changing World”, Total Quality Management, Vol. 12 No.7-8, pp.842-8.

Butler, J., (2008). “The Compelling ‘Hard Case’ for ‘Green’ Hotel Development.” Cornell Hospitality Quarterly 49.3, 234-244.

Erto, P. & Vanacore, A., (2002). “A probabilistic approach to measure hotel service quality”, Total Quality Management, Vol. 13 No.2, pp.165-74.

Motavalli, J., (2002). “Green Hotels: Beyond Good Hospitality.” The Environmental Magazine July-Aug, 31. ProQuest Multiple Databases. Web. 29 Sept. 2010.

Pizam, A., (2009). “Green Hotels: A fad, ploy or fact of life?” International Journal of Hospitality Management 28.1, 1-1.

Schall, M., (2003). Best practices in the assessment of hotel-guest attitudes. Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly 44 2, pp. 51–65.