While hotels are busy working on their environmental credentials, guests are busy undoing their hard work…
Many Aussie travellers abandon concern for the environment when they stay in a hotel, a study by online travel agency Zuji reveals.
The survey of more than 1000 travellers found nearly two-thirds have asked for an extra room key so they can leave the air conditioning running while they are out and 70 per cent admit having abnormally long showers during their stay. The appeal of fluffy white towels also appears to hold strong, with nearly a quarter of those surveyed saying they use fresh towels every time they bathe.
The environmental confessions fit with a pattern of travellers trying to eke every bit of value out of their hotel stays, with 40 per cent admitting to booking a room for one or two people and then smuggling in extra friends or family members. One in ten say they won’t book a hotel unless they get a free breakfast and free Wi-Fi and more than a quarter complain about breakfast finishing too early.
When it comes to choosing a hotel, price wins hands down, with more than half of those surveyed putting value ahead of location or reviews.
This article is an excerpt from Jane E. Fraser’s weekly travel column in The Sun Herald, Sydney.
