Is Hotel sustainability a Byword for Cheap?

When it comes to luxury hotels, does the experience feel less opulent when trying to be “sustainable”?

Recently I stayed at a luxury boutique hotel. I’d stayed there before so I already knew that their bathroom amenities were large bottles of shampoo, conditioner bath gel, liquid hand soap, for guests to use while there but not take with them. The products themselves were trendy and up market and wonderfully scented for relaxation, so they were nice to use. But not lavish. Isn’t part of the fun of staying at a luxury hotel the small bottles of bath lotions and scented bar of soap? Especially if they are Bulgari or Acqua di Parma. Or even something made in the region like almond soap from a small local town.

Instead, the bath products at this hotel, while perfectly fine, were just dispensers. Furthermore in this post pandemic era, do you really want things that have been touched many times by different people in your personal space? Add to that the small amenities like nail file, shower cap, etc, came in basic cardboard packaging. Very sustainable but not very attractive. Staying at a luxury hotel, with luxury prices, does this fit the look? Is it about being on trend, or pressure to “go green.” Or is it a convenient way to cut costs.

At this same hotel, what was new were that the bottles of water left in the room came in plain glass bottles filled by the hotel. While it said “Still Water” on the bottle was the source the tap? It didn’t inspire confidence. And for those of us who like sparkling water no option was available. It just felt a bit cheap. Usually at fine hotels there are a couple of bottles of mineral water left on arrival or turndown service in the room.

What wasn’t offered at this property was the choice many high end hotels give you which is if you want your towels and sheets changed every day. It appeared that here they were not changed daily. I am of two minds on this one, I think this is a good and easy way to be sustainable while giving the guest the option. Usually you are asked to place a card on the bed if you do or do not want sheets changed. I more or less put it on every other day. Yet I am also of the opinion you are paying for the full service, daily.

That brings up another issue, luxury hotels specifically, are you getting what you paid for. Are 5-star hotels cutting corners for sustainability while you still pay premium pricing. Maybe hotels should give their incoming guests a price option of a slightly lower price for sustainability during your stay. For example if you choose the option of sustainability your sheets would automatically not be changed every day, tap water in the rooms, and toiletries in dispensers, type of stay. Or does that make more work for already very busy hoteliers. But if you pay the normal price for the normal extras, clean sheets daily, bottled water, luxury soaps… does that mean you’d get an inflated price? Either way it looks like the customer would be paying more for less for a glamorous stay.

Personally I feel a luxury hotel stay should feel and look special. It should be extravagant. Plush comfort, sumptuous sheets, perfumed bath products, things that bring a bit of bliss. So if you are paying for it why are more luxury hotels taking away from that deluxe experience?