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Industry Trends/Innovations - October 2008
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Eco-friendly key cards
Will plastic hotel key cards go by the wayside? It could be possible, as some companies are now experimenting with eco-friendly key cards made of wood, paper, corn, and other recyclable or biodegradable materials.
Typically, a 200-room hotel will go through about 12,000 plastic keys per year, which inevitably end up in landfills. For American hotels alone this adds up to roughly 1,300 tons of wasted plastic per year. Proponents of the biodegradable cards state that use of these cards could dramatically reduce the amount of plastic waste being generated, while also enriching the soil with eco-friendly materials.
European hotels have been using these cards for the past 10 years, but the product is relatively new in North America. Sustainable Cards is the manufacturer of the first wooden hotel key cards in the United States. In September, the cards were highlighted at Denver hotels, which used them during the Democratic National Convention.
On the downside, since they’re not as strong as plastic, some of the cards may tend to crack, break, or become warped. Card manufacturers are working to improve the durability of their product.
Sources: Sustainablecards.com, Washington Post, greendaily.com
Riding the rails in the United States?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Amtrak is 17 percent more fuel efficient than air travel and 21 percent more fuel efficient than automobile travel. But when considering rail travel as an efficient mode of transportation in the United States, the decision depends largely on the part of the country being traversed.
On the East Coast between New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., train travel is often quicker than flying or driving and eliminates the hassles of airport security and traffic-clogged highways. Travelers also face fewer additional surcharges and restrictions regarding such things as liquids and electronic devices. With more personal space available, travelers often find train travel more comfortable than economy air travel. In addition, train schedules are less impacted by inclement weather than airline schedules are.
Train travel outside the Northeast corridor is another story. In California, and in most other parts of the United States, train travel is a completely different product offering. In the Northeast, trains can operate at speeds as high as 125 to 150 miles per hour, while operating speeds between Oakland and Los Angeles average between 25 and 35 miles per hour, making the scheduled travel time more than 13 hours on that route. The mountainous terrain, combined with the fact that passenger trains often share the tracks with freight trains, contribute to the slower speeds.
With the rising cost of fuel, Amtrak ridership increased by 12 percent in the past 10 months. However, most travelers still opt for plane or automobile travel—for reasons including convenience and accessibility.
Source: USA Today
Children welcome in many airport lounges
More and more families are taking advantage of the airport lounge facilities that were not too long ago recognized only to cater to business travelers and adults.
Many travelers have found that the use of these lounges by a combination of business travelers and families can work out comfortably for both groups. Some lounges include separate areas that cater specifically to children—including rooms with toys, games, and kid-size furniture. Other amenities such as food and Internet access continue to be available to all guests.
Specific examples include the following:- British Airways’ expansive $60 million Executive Lounges in Heathrow's new Terminal 5 have a separate KidZone room built into the facility.
- Continental Airlines has designated family rooms at its President's Clubs in Houston, Newark, and Los Angeles.
- American Airlines will have children's rooms in nine of its Admirals Clubs in various cities, including Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago by the end of the year.
Source: The Ledger.com
