EPA A WaterSense hhOtel Challenge Tips for Recruiting We're so excited that you want to recruit hotels to sign up for the WaterSense H20tel Challenge! We know it's not always easy to start the conversation with a new organization—or even to know where to begin in the first place. We hope you'll find these tips useful as you begin your recruiting. WaterSense H26tel Challenq Get to Know the Hotel • Research the hotel. Its website might have information on its sustainability efforts. • Determine if the hotel participates in any green lodging or certification programs, such as TripAdvisor Green Leaders, Green Globes, or another green initiative. • Try to find out if the hotel is owner-operated or if a third party manages the property. Find out who tracks the utility data for the entire facility—an individual or multiple departments • Contact the local water, wastewater, and energy utilities to see if the company is eligible for rebates and other economic incentives for retrofit and replacement programs. Who to Contact • Hotels and hospitality organizations in your service area or your membership base. • Individuals to target (varies by property type and operating model): o Hotel Manager o Hotel Facility Manager o Maintenance Superintendent o Operations Manager o Sustainability Manager o Facility Engineer • If you can visit in person, start with the front desk and ask who is the best person to talk to. • Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call. Sometimes a conversation provides the personal touch you need to spur the hotel's participation. The "Pitch" • Water and energy costs continue to rise, reducing profit margins. • Saving water can also save energy, which maximizes cost savings and efficiency while improving profit margins and increasing return on investment. • The WaterSense H20tel Challenge is an opportunity for the hotel to learn how to save water and get recognized for its efforts. Hotels can participate by assessing their water use; ------- changing fixtures, appliances, and/or operating procedures to decrease its water use; and tracking the results. The WaterSense program will provide free resources to help the hotel identify conservation projects and reduce water use over time. Increase competitive edge in the green travel marketplace. A recent survey by TripAdvisor found that 79 percent of travelers place importance on choosing eco-friendly accommodations. Save operating costs, meet corporate sustainability goals, and customer expectations simultaneously. • Utility rebate and technical assistance programs might be available to help implement water savings projects. How to Encourage Hotels to Take the Plunge • Remind the hotel that water savings are not limited to major renovations or equipment retrofits. • Many savings can be gained from changes to operation and maintenance standard operating procedures or user behaviors. • Start with a facility assessment or walk-through to identify potential water savings areas using the Water Assessment Worksheets. End Uses of Water in Hotels Kitch en/Dish wa shiny Landscaping Cooling and Heating Oomejtk/Re^rooiri Pools Laundry Other The WaterUSE Tool can help provide water, energy, and cost savings estimates to help prioritize projects. Greatest water uses in a hotel are the best places to start saving water. • Rebate and technical assistance programs in local area can help them implement the changes. ------- |