Jarno Thijs: 'When legislation, guest comfort and energy costs come together, sustainability can begin'

"Making a hotel more sustainable is the order of the day, but making a hotel more sustainable with a vision that matches guest comfort, energy costs and ease of maintenance is unfortunately still far from standard in the industry. Many hotels see in operations that energy costs are an important factor, and relatively not even much related to occupancy. A wise lesson that was particularly evident in the recent corona pandemic.

The hotel sector has been known for decades as innovative and open to new ideas to find the optimum in the tension between maintenance costs and complying with legislation and sustainability. As not every hotel is the same in terms of layout, location and connection conditions, this will always be a tailor-made suit. However, fitting such a tailor-made suit is..... customisation.

The force field consists of sustainability, investment and maintenance costs on the one hand, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations and reduction of energy costs on the other.

Housekeeping and technical services often see the status of furniture and technology first. Owners and operators look ahead and know when rooms or public areas are due for renovation or soft-refurbishment. After all, both know the (theoretical) lifespan of rooms, bathrooms or lobbies. 

From a guest experience perspective, those cycles then guide the technical installations that are inextricably linked to those spaces. Indeed, a good multi-year maintenance plan allows that to coincide, so that revenu-loss is minimal and the hotel does not suffer two inconveniences from renovation and technical preservation within a short period of time.

By now, most hotels have completed their energy-saving measures, and the enforcers are already around the corner to check them on this. But in the absence of a long-term plan, the chances of maximum return on investment are much lower. 

However, properly functioning, sustainable and economical installations that perform and pay off optimally and migrate with the front-of-house developments in a hotel require more than just a multi-year maintenance plan. It also requires coordination with the (interior) architect so that there are no visible shutters in the plastered ceiling later on. At the same time, thought must be given to how the new installation can be maintained as easily as possible. If this does not happen, the efficiency and lifespan will suffer. Good coordination in the preliminary phase with all parties involved is therefore crucial.

In conclusion, aligning investments in the 'hotel product' and the underlying technology is above all a matter of sparring, thinking along and continuing to innovate. In which mutual respect from everyone's expertise is the basis for success. Only then will you offer guests and (technical) staff a hotel in which low energy costs, easy maintenance and high guest comfort are guaranteed."