“No Smoking” trend impacts hotels in Europe

Today, where the question about “smoking or no smoking” is primordial, some polemics arises. Indeed, it is easy to see that the sign “no smoking” is more and more present in Hotels & Restaurants. Apparently, it seems that in Europe 70% of hotel guests prefer a smoke-free environment.

The J.D Power Associates 2006 European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index studySM made a survey to identify precisely the new trends, customer needs and expectations. This analysis gives us some information like the top priorities/factors for today’s clients, the importance of such or such thing.

As Linda Hirneise (Executive Director of the travel at J.D Power & Associates), Groups and Resorts said “Non smoking hotel environments are also slated to be very popular in Europe and will have a very strong competitive advantage”
By contradiction, Westin Hotels & resorts and Marriott International Inc. implemented a policy of 100% smoke-free areas, and it seems that the trends will also hits the European market.

As a conclusion, a lot of new procedures, rules and regulations will appear in a near future (January 2007). In France especially, smoking will be forbidden in the most of public areas (Also in Hotels, Restaurants & Cafés). The frequentation of those places will then decrease.


http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/061019_no_smoking_trend_impacts_hotels_in_europe/