EXTENSION OF PARTNERSHIP

Press release

Not cleaning, but planting: a tree for every skipped room cleaning

How the ‘Hotels for Trees’ Foundation, with the support of its partners, is making the hotel industry more sustainable in a concrete way

In 2021, the Hotels for Trees Foundation was established with a clear goal: to make the hotel industry more sustainable in a practical and accessible manner. For every skipped room cleaning, the foundation plants a tree. Initially focused on the Dutch hotel market, Hotels for Trees quickly expanded its reach to the rest of Europe, Australia, and the US. Founding partner Blycolin, an all-round linen service company that supplies textiles to the hospitality sector, has been a crucial supporter since the foundation’s beginning. With the recent extension of the partnership between the two parties, and additional financial support, Hotels for Trees aims to increase brand awareness and growth in Germany and France. The foundation is also working to spread its ‘green’ message in Scandinavia, Spain, and all Spanish-speaking countries.

Astonishment within the hotel industry

The idea for Hotels for Trees arose from founder Floris Licht’s sense of surprise during his career in the hotel industry. Since 2003, he has worked in the international hospitality sector, holding roles in five different countries for major hotel chains such as Hilton and Accor.

“I was surprised by how normal it seems that, during a multi-day hotel stay, someone comes in every day to wipe down our sink and nightstand,” Floris explains. “Yet at home, we’re used to only cleaning when necessary.”

Do all guests really need this service every day? Or, if offered in a simple way, would they be willing to occasionally skip room cleaning in exchange for something good and green?

Floris continues, “Of course, guests pay for this service, and for many, it’s part of the relaxation and hotel experience. But the big question is: do all guests really need this service every day? Or, if offered in a simple way, would they be willing to occasionally skip room cleaning in exchange for something good and green?”

With this question in mind, the concept of a win-win-win solution was born. Guests can use a unique door hanger to indicate if room cleaning can be skipped during a multi-day stay. Part of the cost savings goes towards planting a tree, allowing the guest to contribute directly and easily to the carbon footprint of their stay. Hotels, in turn, become more sustainable while saving on room cleaning costs. Most importantly, reforestation projects help increase biodiversity and create a healthier environment.

A green partnership

Founding partner Blycolin, a leading linen service provider to hotels, restaurants, and wellness centers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Poland, has been instrumental to the foundation since 2021. Their importance goes beyond financial contributions; they have also helped raise awareness in the market. Earlier this summer, the partnership between the two organizations was extended for another three years.

Every guest who chooses to skip room cleaning during a multi-day stay costs us a bit of revenue, but it directly results in a tree being planted. There’s no more concrete way to make an impact.

Marc van Boekholt, CEO of Blycolin, states, “The partnership with Hotels for Trees aligns perfectly with Blycolin’s vision. We want to take responsibility for a more sustainable way of doing business and offer our clients sustainable total solutions. Every guest who chooses to skip room cleaning during a multi-day stay costs us a bit of revenue, but it directly results in a tree being planted. There’s no more concrete way to make an impact.”

“The financial support from Blycolin over the next three years will be used to recruit, train, and guide a part-time market manager,” Floris adds. “This person will focus specifically on increasing our brand awareness and growth in Germany and France. We currently have fifteen hotel partners in Germany and twelve in France, and we hope to double these numbers by next summer!”

As an ambassador of Hotels for Trees, Blycolin will continue to promote the initiative to its more than two thousand hotel clients. These clients, in turn, can raise awareness among hotel guests, who will ultimately make the choice: daily room cleaning or a direct and concrete contribution to a greener world.