The Great Hotel Debate: Cleanliness vs. Cost

The Great Hotel Debate: Cleanliness vs. Cost

The hotel industry is facing a dilemma: should guests prioritize cleanliness or cost? The answer might depend on individual preferences, but hotels are now offering options that cater to both needs. Marriott International’s “Stay Green Save More” rate is a prime example, where guests can opt for a lower room rate in exchange for fewer housekeeping services.

The Rise of the “Stay Green Save More” Rate

Marriott’s “Stay Green Save More” rate was first introduced at The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport in British Columbia. Guests who booked this rate were offered a discount of over 20 Canadian dollars ($13.91) per night in exchange for forgoing daily housekeeping services. This rate was available for guests staying at least five nights.

The Environmental Angle

Marriott claims that the “Stay Green Save More” rate is designed to help the hotel attain its “ambitious environmental targets.” By reducing the frequency of housekeeping services, the hotel can decrease its water consumption and energy use. However, some might argue that this is simply a cost-cutting measure disguised as an environmental initiative.

The Impact on Housekeeping Jobs

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in housekeeping jobs, with approximately 160,000 positions lost in the U.S. between May 2019 and May 2021. While employment has rebounded somewhat, the industry still faces challenges in retaining housekeeping staff.

Hyatt’s Approach

Hyatt is another hotel chain that has introduced a similar initiative. At the Hyatt Regency Tamaya in New Mexico, guests can opt for a $10 food and beverage credit or 500 World of Hyatt points in exchange for forgoing daily housekeeping services. This approach is more focused on providing incentives to guests rather than emphasizing environmental benefits.

The Guest Perspective

For some guests, the option to forgo daily housekeeping services might be appealing, especially if it means saving money. Others might prioritize cleanliness and be willing to pay more for the convenience of daily housekeeping. Ultimately, the decision comes down to individual preferences and priorities.

Key Takeaways

1. Marriott’s “Stay Green Save More” rate: Guests can opt for a lower room rate in exchange for fewer housekeeping services.
2. Environmental benefits: Marriott claims that reducing housekeeping services helps attain environmental targets.
3. Impact on housekeeping jobs: The pandemic led to a decline in housekeeping jobs, and the industry still faces challenges.
4. Hyatt’s approach: Guests can opt for incentives in exchange for forgoing daily housekeeping services.
5. Guest perspective: The decision to forgo daily housekeeping services depends on individual preferences and priorities.

As the hotel industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how guests respond to these new options. Will the desire for cleanliness prevail, or will the allure of cost savings win out? Only time will tell.

EXCERPT

Would You Rather Have a Cleaner Hotel Room—Or a Cheaper One?
By Aaron Rennie

Hotel housekeeping cart

For decades, full-service hotels like Westins provided daily housekeeping. Then the pandemic hit, and hoteliers realized it was better for their bottom line to cut back on the practice.
The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport in British Columbia briefly offered guests lower rates if they opt to forgo daily housekeeping on longer stays.
Marriott International said the aim of its “Stay Green Save More” rate was to help the Vancouver hotel attain its “ambitious environmental targets.”

What’s worth more to you: a cleaner hotel room, or a cheaper one? You may soon get the chance to choose.

Many hotel chains scaled back on cleanings during the pandemic, then reframed the decision as good for the environment. The next wrinkle might turn the decision—less money, or less cleaning?— back on guests.

A Marriott International (MAR) hotel in Canada recently offered customers a lower room rate if they elected to forgo daily service. As first flagged by the travel site LoyaltyLobby earlier this month, the Westin Wall Centre at the Vancouver Airport was offering guests staying at least five nights a “Stay Green Save More” rate that would save more than 20 Canadian dollars ($13.91) per night over the next-cheapest rate—but without daily housekeeping.1

That rate, which wasn’t available in a recent search, offered “an extra discount for travelers to decline any housekeeping or overnight service,” according to Marriott’s reservation website for the hotel. At one point, a five-night mid-February stay would have cost C$256 ($178.04) a night with the discount and C$280 ($194.56) without it.2
Hotels Cut Back on Housekeeping During Pandemic

For decades, full-service hotels like Westins provided daily housekeeping. Then COVID-19 hit, and hoteliers realized it was better for their bottom line to cut back on the practice.

That can be seen in part in jobs data. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 160,000 “Traveler Accommodation” jobs in the “Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners” sector were lost in the U.S. between May 2019 and May 2021, falling to 307,930 positions from 467,270.34

Employment rebounded somewhat to 397,640 by May 2023, but it still marked a decline of roughly 70,000 housekeeping jo Marriott Says It’s About Helping Hotel Attain ‘Ambitious Environmental Targets’

Marriott said the “Stay Green Save More” option was all about helping the hotel attain its “ambitious environmental targets. Declining overnight service allows us to reduce our water consumption and energy use in a very meaningful way,” according to its booking site at the time.6

Marriott noted that for guests’ “safety and comfort,” housekeeping would “enter your room for a wellness-check and a modest refresh every 3 days.”

According to the hotel giant’s website touting its 30 brands, Westin is part of its “Premium” portfolio, along with the Marriott Hotels brand, Sheraton, Le Meridien, and Renaissance Hotels, among others.7 Westin’s “revitalizing amenities ensure you leave feeling better than when you arrived,” it says.

Marriott International did not respond to Investopedia’s request for comment.
Hyatt’s ‘Clever Incentive’ to Forgo Housekeeping

Marriott isn’t the only hotel chain to try to induce customers to turn down housekeeping.

According to Matthew Klint of the travel site Live and Let’s Fly, the full-service Hyatt (H) Regency Tamaya in New Mexico recently offered him a “clever incentive” to forgo daily housekeeping on his two-night stay: a $10 food and beverage credit or 500 World of Hyatt points.8 (Hyatt did not return an Investopedia request f Marriott Says It’s About Helping Hotel Attain ‘Ambitious Environmental Targets’

Marriott said the “Stay Green Save More” option was all about helping the hotel attain its “ambitious environmental targets. Declining overnight service allows us to reduce our water consumption and energy use in a very meaningful way,” according to its booking site at the time.6

Marriott noted that for guests’ “safety and comfort,” housekeeping would “enter your room for a wellness-check and a modest refresh every 3 days.”

According to the hotel giant’s website touting its 30 brands, Westin is part of its “Premium” portfolio, along with the Marriott Hotels brand, Sheraton, Le Meridien, and Renaissance Hotels, among others.7 Westin’s “revitalizing amenities ensure you leave feeling better than when you arrived,” it says.

Marriott International did not respond to Investopedia’s request for comment.
Hyatt’s ‘Clever Incentive’ to Forgo Housekeeping

Marriott isn’t the only hotel chain to try to induce customers to turn down housekeeping.

According to Matthew Klint of the travel site Live and Let’s Fly, the full-service Hyatt (H) Regency Tamaya in New Mexico recently offered him a “clever incentive” to forgo daily housekeeping on his two-night stay: a $10 food and beverage credit or 500 World of Hyatt points.8 (Hyatt did not return an Investopedia request f Marriott Says It’s About Helping Hotel Attain ‘Ambitious Environmental Targets’

Marriott said the “Stay Green Save More” option was all about helping the hotel attain its “ambitious environmental targets. Declining overnight service allows us to reduce our water consumption and energy use in a very meaningful way,” according to its booking site at the time.6

Marriott noted that for guests’ “safety and comfort,” housekeeping would “enter your room for a wellness-check and a modest refresh every 3 days.”

According to the hotel giant’s website touting its 30 brands, Westin is part of its “Premium” portfolio, along with the Marriott Hotels brand, Sheraton, Le Meridien, and Renaissance Hotels, among others.7 Westin’s “revitalizing amenities ensure you leave feeling better than when you arrived,” it says.

Marriott International did not respond to Investopedia’s request for comment.
Hyatt’s ‘Clever Incentive’ to Forgo Housekeeping

Marriott isn’t the only hotel chain to try to induce customers to turn down housekeeping.

According to Matthew Klint of the travel site Live and Let’s Fly, the full-service Hyatt (H) Regency Tamaya in New Mexico recently offered him a “clever incentive” to forgo daily housekeeping on his two-night stay: a $10 food and beverage credit or 500 World of Hyatt points.8 (Hyatt did not return an Investopedia request for comment.)

Klint said he chose the food and beverage credit, which “paid for my wife’s lobby Starbucks.”

“Part of the fun of staying at a hotel is being pampered,” he wrote. “But I appreciate that this hotel realizes that money talks and that rather than trying to guilt me into ‘protecting the environment’ by reusing my towels, it made it worth my while through a reasonable exchange, a picture of how we address climate change on a more systematic level.”