PARSIPPANY, NJ—Travelodge by Wyndham, part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, based here, recently rolled out its Travelodge + Go Green initiative, which aims to reduce overall waste while increasing operating efficiencies—and cost savings—at its 450-plus properties throughout North America.
“Travelodge by Wyndham prides itself on being travelers’ basecamp for adventure,” said John Henderson, VP of brand operations, Travelodge by Wyndham. “With more than 75% of our properties located just an hour’s drive from a national park, our spirit of adventure motivates us to practice green initiatives and preserve our natural wonders.”
The Go Green initiative consists of three elements:
- Flexible Breakfast: Travelodge franchisees will have the option to choose the right breakfast offering for their local market. To reduce waste, hotels in markets that don’t require full continental breakfast may consider alternate offerings such as a 24-hour coffee station, signature Grab + Go snack bags or a revenue-generating mart option.
- Green Housekeeping: Following a successful four-month pilot, Travelodge hotels will offer guests the opportunity to opt out of housekeeping service in exchange for 500 Wyndham Rewards points per stay. The effort not only supports the brand’s loyalty program, but also creates opportunities for savings in cleaning and laundry supplies.
- Bulk Soap Amenities: Travelodge is also in the process of identifying eco-friendly, cost-effective soap dispenser solutions to reduce single-use plastics and amenity waste.
“We are definitely noticing that today’s travelers are more inquisitive about green programs and sustainability efforts as they are more mindful of their travel and its impact on the environment,” noted Henderson. “Most commonly, at the front desk, guests will inquire about the housekeeping programs that are available and ways they can contribute to eco-friendly travel through reusing linens and towels. We find that they are equally as thrilled to earn points as they are to reduce their carbon footprint while they travel.”
Henderson pointed out that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand had seen major growth, and that is partly what provoked the sustainability initiative.
“While we are thrilled about this expansion, we wanted to take our commitment to the environment one step further with Travelodge + Go Green by reducing our impact on the environment while making our hotels even more efficient to own and operate,” he said. “Our sustainability initiative not only helps to lower our carbon footprint, but is also a business model that helps to lower operational costs. The Go Green program reflects our belief in sensible, sustainable operations and connects with new generations of eco-conscious travelers.”