Key Trends in Amenities, Facilities, Programs

Survey Identifies Key Trends in Amenities, Facilities, Programs
Aug 17, 12 | 12:04 am

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) 2012 Lodging Survey, the most comprehensive industry-wide survey of its kind, polled more than 52,000 U.S. hotel properties regarding in-room amenities, security and technology features, food and beverage options, guest services, sustainability, property offerings, and much more. Funded by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) and conducted by STR, the survey is conducted every two years to give hoteliers a detailed analysis of the industry at large.
Among the many findings, the survey revealed the following:
Eco-friendly practices remain important:
76 percent have a linen/towel reuse program;
Water savings programs have been implemented in 75 percent of properties;
Properties are offering more technology resources:
Although most of the positive responses are from upper-tier hotels, 23 percent of respondents already offer a mobile app for hotel services;
Showing the prominence of OTAs in the hotel industry, 95 percent of participants admitted to using a third-party Internet source for bookings;
Hotels are health conscious:
Properties that offer an exercise/health/fitness facility reached a new peak at 84 percent;
Non-smoking policies at hotels are gaining momentum as 63 percent of participants said they are comprised of 100 percent non-smoking rooms.
The information in the 2012 Lodging Survey provides hoteliers with a snapshot of the key trendsthat impact the industry now and provides insight into future developments,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. “This year we were fortunate to have a particularly high response rate, so the survey truly provides the largest representative sampling and view of trends in the American lodging industry.”
AH&LA members can download a copy of the 2012 Lodging Survey via the Members Only section of the AH&LA Website, www.ahla.com. Individual data points are available for $300 each from the AH&LA Information Center at (888) 743-2515. Comparisons can be made dating back to the first AH&LA Lodging Survey in 1988.
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AH&LEF is the charitable fund-raising and endowed fund-management subsidiary of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Founded in 1953, AH&LEF is the premier organization for scholarships, pofessional certification, and instructional material as well as funding for hospitality industry research. For more information, visit www.ahlef.org.
Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members.
Source: American Hotel & Lodging Association