I just returned from a General Managers' conference at the San Francisco Marriott. The associates at that hotel are serving as role models for our company's efforts to conserve natural resources and recycle waste. Becoming a better environmental steward is increasingly at the core of what we do. And I think it makes good business sense too.
Our 1,500 room San Francisco hotel launched a huge recycling effort just a few years ago. Today, it recycles about a million pounds of paper and cardboard every year. I was told that if all the paper and cardboard were stacked up, it would be ten times higher than the 39 story hotel. Our associates also recycle about a million bottles and cans every year. The hotel turns garbage-like food scraps, paper cups, napkins, and more-into a million pounds of compost annually. That's enough compost to fill the hotel's huge lobby from floor to ceiling- yuck! That's not going to happen!
California's vineyards use the compost in the soil where their grapes grow and some of the wines that are produced from those grapes are served in the hotel. We call it "Trashy Wine." That's the real name!
The hotel's environmental champion, Randall Nelson, says the recycling saves the hotel at least $300,000 a year. I'm very proud of him, as well as the General Manager, Dan Kelleher, and all the associates at the hotel.
Later this year, we're launching a pilot recycling program at many other hotels. In a year, we hope as many hotels as possible will be following the great example of the San Francisco Marriott. We're doing a lot more on the environmental front, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but it's too much for just one post, so you'll hear more about that in the future.
I'm Bill Marriott and thanks for helping me keep Marriott on the move.
Great that Marriott has the reuse your towel program in place. Would love it if you simply put a recycle bin in every Marriott hotel room. Most hotel room trash is paper and plastic bottles. It would be so easy to capture these recyclables. Just watched CNBC's program "Trash Inc. The Secret Life of Trash" where Waste Mgmt stated only 22% of all plastic bottles in the US are recycled and they can't find enough to fulfill their capacity. Marriott, help the green cause. Thnx
Posted by: Fred | 09/29/2010 at 08:35 PM
I wish you would just put blue recycle bins in the gyms, concierge lounge, hotel rooms and near every garbage can in every hotel. I am platinum premium and have started looking for other hotel chains that are better at recycling. Some of the Marriott's ask me to save the rain forest yet won't recycle cans, glass and plastic
Posted by: Karla | 09/02/2010 at 01:28 PM
I just want to express my hopes that Marriott will begin considering all of the recyclable waste that they are throwing out...bottles, newspapers, and all of the plastics, etc. that fill up our landfills for centuries. I do love the program to reuse the sheets and towels for more than one day. Thanks for that and please keep up the efforts to make Marriott thruly environmentally friendly!
Posted by: Pat Randall | 10/04/2007 at 11:06 PM
I am so pleased to see Marriott corporate do it's part in regard to recycling. Marriott was the first reputable company to legitimize, for lack of a better word, TIMESHARE. I think the Marriott International group should look at Eco Tourism as a viable source of revenue that helps other countries create sustainable living standards while keeping Marriott ahead of the competition by incorporating an Eco Tourism brand into their portfolio. Eco Tourism is the wave of the furture, giving something back to the communities which support them and utilizing new and innovative environmental friendly construction concepts. The demographics of those families interested in Eco Tourism resorts will astound you. Just food for thought, Mr. Marriott. I would love to see this company make a small move into this direction. Sincerely, Melissa Walker
Posted by: Melissa Walker | 09/11/2007 at 08:44 AM
It's nice to know that Marriott is taking strides toward being environmentally friendly. I appreciate major changes in this effort as I've always believed that recycling in itself is only a temporary solution to a much greater problem. Recycling, ok, but what we really need are major quantifiable lifestyle changes.
Posted by: William | 08/07/2007 at 08:15 AM
Thank you for letting us know what Marriott is doing to help the environment. I think too few companies, especially hotel chains that use a ton of different resources and materials a day, do enough to really try to help conserve. What businesses don't seem to understand (but you do) is that recycling and conserving resources actually SAVES money instead of costing more. Yes, some methods of conservation do actually cost a bit, but there are some many others that save money, I just don't understand why hotel chains don't utilize them more. I do hope that the rest of your hotels do follow the example the San Francisco hotel is setting - while it's a great thing, it is, after all, only one hotel among millions around the world. It's doing a lot to conserve resources, but it's going to take all hotel chains (and other businesses) all around the world to truly make a noticeable difference.
Posted by: gifts | 07/15/2007 at 12:59 PM
Can you tell me which hotels are participating in the pilot in-house recycling program? I would like to make certain that I stay at these hotels when I'm traveling for business. Thank you!
Posted by: Matt Ferguson | 07/14/2007 at 06:29 AM
I am working for ARC International an electronics recycling company with national and global ofices. I would like the chance to talk about recycling tvs, pcs, monitors, and other electronics from offices and hotels.
thanks,
Mark McKenzie
ARC International Corp.
880 Mark St.
Elk Grove Village, Il
60007
Direct 630-412-8002
Cell 630-209-0693
Fax 847-238-0170
Email markm@arcic.com
Environmental Friendly Recycling
Posted by: Mark McKenzie | 07/02/2007 at 09:29 AM
How about not changing towels that were only used once?
Posted by: Lani | 06/11/2007 at 02:33 PM
I am amazed how much plactic plates, cups, cutlery is still being used among several Fairfield Inns. In Europe this is NOT done: instead we love our crokery, metal knives, forks and spoons.
Posted by: Jan Ket | 06/03/2007 at 02:52 AM
I still see no significant recycling effort at Marriott. I see lots of plastic containers used to store food products, such as olives,tomatoes, and mustard to name a few always being thrown in the trash. If a few of these items were to be recycled do you realize how much you would be helping the environment. Plastic water bottles, aluminum cans, and glass beer bottles could also be recycled instead of being tossed in the garbage. How about really doing something like implementing a recycling program in all your California Hotels, you would be a great asset if you did this. Recycling should not be looked at as a chore, it is easy to do. So what dio you say? Are you just going give lip service or are you actaully going to do something about this?
Posted by: dan | 05/10/2007 at 07:42 AM
We love to stay at all your hotels. However, from a health and enviornmental standpoint I am concerned about the strong chemicals used to clean the rooms in some of your hotels. The smell and effect can be overwhelming. This seems to be a problem experienced by all hotel chains. Is there a milder cleaner that could be specified? Ellen
Posted by: Ellen | 04/21/2007 at 02:47 AM
Dear Mr. Marriott,
I can not say enough about how positive my stay was at the Courtyard Marriott in Charlottesville, VA.
It was extremely disturbing to find that there was no recycling at the hotel. All the newspapers that generated trash every day were just put in with the garbage.
Posted by: jessica Thayer | 04/14/2007 at 05:01 AM
Rather than using bars of soap, which is a sure way to keep spreading germs ... why not put liquid soap dispensers in every bathroom, that doesn't spread germs and can be left for the next guest. Much more economic, and much healthier. Many hotels have already implemented this improvement!
Posted by: Corinna Gordon | 04/03/2007 at 07:18 AM
Dear Mr. Marriott, We have just bought 2 weeks at your Shadow Ridge Timeshare and wanted to suggest you consider using non-toxic products for cleaning your rooms. Have someone check out Mrs.Meyers.com for you to see how much safer it is for kids to use natural cleaning products. Congratulations on your new grandchild, good health to you and all your family! Corinna Gordon
Posted by: Corinna Gordon | 04/03/2007 at 07:13 AM
how about starting a recycling program with all the marriott hotels. I see lots of waste every day especially in the kitchen. There is a lot that can be done, even some simple steps like sorting out recyclable plastic water bottles, aluminum cans,and glass bottles such as wine and liquor bottles. If you are serious about recycling then it's time to step up and put your money where your mouth is.
Posted by: dan wexler | 03/19/2007 at 01:16 PM
I want to know if you have a policy about replacing soap that has been opened. I try to use one bar of soap (despite the convenience of having two)and half the time it is thrown out and replaced with a new bar. This is defeating the purpose. Your thoughts.
Posted by: Vietnam tours | 03/13/2007 at 05:40 PM
Good to read about your efforts. As a customer we never know these things for sure, so it's great to hear it from you. Thanks a lot.
Posted by: mc pvc | 03/13/2007 at 12:12 AM
I've been a guest at several Marriotts. I have to say that I am unimpressed with the amount of paper wasted by each of those hotels. I have spoken with the front desk people, all of whom said that the computer systems waste exorbitant amounts of paper. They are unable to view many of their reports on screen. Rather, they have to print up reports that will be thrown away a few minutes later. This is very sad and, frankly, inexcusable.
Posted by: Candice | 03/09/2007 at 06:20 PM
When an industry as large as the hotel industry begins leading an effort like recycling and "green efforts" we will be able to see the impacts on our environment sooner. We love the efforts that your are making with the compact fluorescent bulbs and recycling. We have a product that helps with "greener choices" that a few of the Marriott's are using. It is an electric chafing dish heater that is used in replacement of canned chafing fuels. Canned fuels contribute to the ozone issues as well as our land fills. While it can make a huge impact if all of the Marriotts were using them, each hotel makes its purchasing decisions independently and it takes time to solicit them one at a time. Perhaps you can implement the use of the Buffet Burner to all of the Marriotts in your future efforts to cut green house gas emissions.
Posted by: Bob Feagley | 03/07/2007 at 04:34 AM
Hat's off to Marriott for being a leader in the hotel industry for their recycling efforts! I am a regular customer of Marriott and I do have an excellent opportunity for Marriott to enhance its recycling at zero cost. I truly would appreciate Randall Nelson (or other Marriott environmental steward) contacting me directly via my email. Thanks Marriott for our efforts- Jeff
Posted by: Jeff Jones | 03/07/2007 at 03:08 AM
to piggyback on the subject, i think it would be a gift to both the earth and our fellow less fortunite citizens if you provided a place in all of your timeshares where departing guest could place unused non perishable foods for donation to local food banks.
Posted by: mary ellen neidhardt | 03/06/2007 at 02:38 PM
Hey, Mr. Marriot, when are you going to open first Marriot in Montenegro?! Montenegro is a small country but with big turistic potentional.
I'm looking forward to see you in my country.
Posted by: Jovan | 03/06/2007 at 02:14 PM
I want to know if you have a policy about replacing soap that has been opened. I try to use one bar of soap (despite the convinience of having two)and half the time it is thrown out and replaced with a new bar. This is defeating thhe purpose.
Your thoughts.
Posted by: Chris Kilcullen | 03/05/2007 at 02:38 PM
Following up on your introduction of the lobby as The Great Room, I respectfully suggest that, instead of your piecemeal (and great) innovations, why not sotryboard the entire gues experience, from the first sight to the last smell, as I mentioned in these blog posts:
http://sayitbetter.typepad.com/say_it_better/2007/03/from_the_first_.html
http://sayitbetter.typepad.com/say_it_better/2007/03/the_attention_e.html
Posted by: Kare Anderson | 03/05/2007 at 03:53 AM