Despite a Worldwide Focus on Environmental Awareness, Nearly One-Half of European Hotel Guests Remain Unaware of 'Green' Hotel Programs

2007-10-23
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  • J.D. Power and Associates Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, De Vere Hotels, Clarion and Park Inn Each Rank Highest in Guest Satisfaction Across Four Hotel Segments

      Upper Upscale Segment Overall Satisfaction Index
    (Based on a 1,000-point scale)
    Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts 771
    Hilton Hotels 770
    Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts 769
    Sheraton/Arabella Sheraton 765
    Westin Hotels & Resorts 762
    Marriott Hotels & Resorts 759
    Upper Upscale Segment Average 757
    Riu Hotels & Resorts 753
    Hyatt Hotels & Resorts 751
    Maritim Hotels 732
    Sofitel/Dorint Sofitel 729
    InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 716

    Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are:
    Concorde Hotels & Resorts, Kempinski Hotels, Le Meridien Hotels and
    Resorts and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts.


    Upscale Segment Overall Satisfaction Index
    (Based on a 1,000-point scale)
    De Vere Hotels 738
    AC Hoteles 733
    Melia Hoteles 733
    Hesperia Hoteles 727
    Upscale Segment Average 723
    Hotel Novotel/Dorint Novotel 718
    nH Hoteles 718
    Mercure Hotels 715
    Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts 712
    Husa Hoteles 685

    Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are: Hilton
    Garden Inn, Hoteles Silken, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts and Thistle Hotels.


    Mid-Scale Full Service Segment Overall Satisfaction Index
    (Based on a 1,000-point scale)
    Clarion 737
    Movenpick Hotels & Resorts 732
    Holiday Inn 724
    Barcelo Hotels & Resorts 723
    Scandic Hotels 723
    Best Western 714
    Express by Holiday Inn 713
    Golden Tulip Hotels 711
    Ramada Hotels 711
    TRYP Hotels 706
    Mid-Scale Full Service Segment Average 705
    Dorint Hotels & Resorts 704
    Sol Hotels 690
    Quality 685
    Balladins 684
    Ibis 682
    Campanile Hotel 680

    Included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size are: Jurys
    Doyle Hotels and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts.


    Economy Segment Overall Satisfaction Index
    (Based on a 1,000-point scale)
    Park Inn 715
    Premier Travel Inn 699
    Tulip Inns 689
    Economy Segment Average 659
    Etap Hotel 649
    Formule 1 611

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    Although environmental conservation is an important topic across the globe and, in response, many hotels have implemented environmentally friendly programs at their properties, nearly one-half of European hotel guests are unaware of them, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study(SM) released today.

    The study finds that a large majority of hotel guests (77 percent) who are aware of the environmentally friendly programs their property offers say they willingly participate in them. However, while 49 percent of European hotel guests say that they knew of their hotel's conservation programs during a recent stay, almost as many guests -- 44 percent -- say they were unaware of these offerings.

    "As a point of comparison, 63 percent of hotel guests in the United States say they are aware of their hotel's green programs, so there is ample opportunity for European hotel companies to raise awareness of environmentally friendly policies among their guests," said Linda Hirneise, executive director of the travel practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "It is vitally important for hotel properties to actively market their eco-friendly programs and make such offerings easy for guests to recognize and participate in. Without an increase in awareness, these properties may miss reaping the benefits of these programs, which not only positively impact the environment and a guest's quality of life, but also the hotel's bottom line."

    The study, now in its third year, measures the overall satisfaction of European hotel guests based on seven factors (in order of importance): costs and fees, guest room, hotel facilities, food and beverage, check-in/check-out, hotel services, and reservations. Forty-one hotel brands were measured and ranked in four segments: upper upscale, upscale, mid-scale full service and economy. While guest satisfaction with luxury hotels is measured in the study, there is no official hotel ranking in the segment due to an insufficient sample size.

    Upper Upscale Segment

    Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts ranks highest in the highly competitive upper upscale segment, performing particularly well in the check-in/check-out factor. Hilton Hotels closely follows Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, performing well in guest room and hotel facilities. Following Hilton Hotels in the segment is Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts, which performs particularly well in food and beverage, check-in/check-out, hotel services, and reservations.

    Upscale Segment

    Among upscale hotel brands, De Vere Hotels ranks highest in guest satisfaction, performing particularly well in costs and fees, hotel facilities, and reservations. Following De Vere Hotels are AC Hoteles and Melia Hoteles, in a tie. AC Hoteles performs particularly well in the guest room factor, while Melia Hoteles performs well in food and beverage.

    Mid-Scale Full Service Segment

    In the mid-scale full service segment, Clarion ranks highest with segment-leading performances in the costs and fees, food and beverage and hotel services factors. Movenpick Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn follow Clarion in the segment rankings, respectively, with Movenpick Hotels & Resorts performing particularly well in guest room, hotel facilities, and reservations.

    Economy Segment

    In the economy segment, Park Inn ranks highest, performing particularly well in four of the seven factors: guest room, check-in/check-out, food and beverage, and hotel facilities. Premier Travel Inn and Tulip Inns follow Park Inn in the rankings, respectively. Premier Travel Inn performs well in three factors: costs and fees, hotel services, and reservations.

    The study also finds that, among 38 amenities included in the study, European hotel guests say that complimentary breakfast, wireless Internet access, and a bathtub are the three most important "must-haves."

    "The emergence of wireless Internet access and bathtubs in the list of top must-have amenities reflects that hotel guests crave the comforts and conveniences of home when they travel," said Hirneise. "It is no longer good enough to offer wireless Internet access in common areas, as has been the case in the past. Customers tell us that they want it in the guest room as well. Also, some newer properties have begun doing away with bathtubs and replacing them with larger and more functional showers. Designers may need to reconsider the bathtub's importance as they look at future bathroom designs and layouts."

    The study results include the following key findings:

    • The number of European hotel guests who say they prefer a non-smoking hotel environment has increased from 69 percent in 2006 to 77 percent in 2007. The desire for a smoke-free environment ranges from 70 percent of residents of Spain, to a high of 87 percent of residents of Sweden.

    • The study also finds that more than 50 percent of guests book their hotel reservations online-up from 34 percent in 2005. Independent Web sites -- such as Expedia and Hotels.com -- are continuously ceding market share to hotel brand Web sites, as hotel guests are three times as likely to book reservations through a hotel brand Web site.

    The 2007 European Guest Satisfaction Index Study is based on responses from 11,728 guests who stayed at a hotel in Europe between June and September 2007. The study was fielded in August and September 2007.

    Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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