Young maid arranging blanket on bed in hotel room

Hilton's Travel with Purpose initiative will double the company’s investment in social impact and cut its environmental footprint by half by 2030, say Hotel Executive reports. As part of the initiative, Hilton’s extended stay brands have shifted to more sustainable housekeeping practices through the introduction of their Light Touch cleaning program.

Light Touch offers full-clean services for three instead of five nights of a guest' extended stay. The program also engages guests in reducing their environmental footprint. Guests who opt in are rewarded with Hilton Honors points for supporting the Light Touch effort.

In addition, Hilton’s All Suites and Focused Service brands use sustainable building practices by applying the three R's – reduce, reuse and recycle at every stage of a hotel's lifespan.

Tru by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton, for instance, both use soap, shampoo and conditioner dispensers, allowing owners to buy these items in bulk and reduce the single-use plastic waste.

Home2 Suites is one of the most eco-friendly brands in the Hilton portfolio, according to the article. Sustainable features include:
• Recycling collection both in-room and within common areas.
• Low flow toilets that use 20 percent less water than traditional toilets.
• Exclusive use of appliances with Energy Star ratings in guest rooms.
• Saline-based pools maintained with natural minerals instead of chemicals.
• Carpeting made of recycled material.
• Countertops made of 85 percent pre-recycled and 100 percent post-recycled content.
• Landscaping that includes indigenous-only plants, which significantly minimize water usage and irrigation needs.

In addition to green and sustainable initiates being implemented, hotels are also offering programs like this to lower costs. According to Hotel News Now, hotels are shifting their attention to housekeeping efficiencies to lower costs per room.

By taking a deep dive into analytics and key performance indicators, housekeeping departments are tracking productivity and improving processes to increase efficiencies. For example, one facility added more linens to cleaning carts, reducing the trips back and forth to linen closets. They saved three minutes per occupied room and increased cleanliness scores.

Cleaning efficiencies are one thing, but some hotels are also exploring offers where hotel guests forego daily housekeeping in exchange for loyalty points and/or discounts. Although this might save money for hotels, it causes other challenges for the cleaning workers, including scheduling work. Here are a few articles where CleanLink has addressed this issue:
Hotels Cut Back On Housekeeping
Hotels' "Green" Program Tough On Housekeeping
If You Don't Clean, Is It Considered Green?