10 Green Ways to Deal with a Tough Economy

Pineapple Hospitality offers numerous products and services to enhance your guest experience and low

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. October 31, 2008

ST. CHARLES, MO, October 29, 2008. Along with the rest of the economy, the lodging and hospitality industry has reason to be concerned with the current financial crisis. When times are tough, one of the first things that gets cut from personal and business budgets is travel expenses.

Some hotels are already feeling a pinch from the tight economy. And as a sign that things might get worse before they get better, an analyst from Goldman-Sachs recently lowered expectations on the entire hotel sector for 2009 and through 2010, based on the growing supply of hotel rooms and weakening business travel trends - estimating that revenue per available room will drop 4% in the U.S. during 2009 and dip another 1% in 2010.

"Those hotels that have positioned themselves as 'green' will have a heads-up on the competition from both an operations and consumer perspective," says Ray Burger, President of St. Charles, Mo.-based Pineapple Hospitality. "Travelers are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental footprints, and prefer to stay where they can minimize their environmental impact. More so, hotels that have gone green have discovered significant savings - demonstrating that going green will keep you in the black."

To help you not just survive, but thrive, Pineapple Hospitality offers hoteliers its 10 Green Ways to Deal with a Tough Economy:

1. Energy Efficient Lighting - For those of you that have not already retrofitted every socket and fixture with Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLS), LEDs, Cold Cathodes or switched from T-12's to T-8's ... Are you waiting for energy costs to go down? Why not cut related costs up to 70% today. CFLs are available in various wattages from 3 to 42. Pineapple can prepare customized "lighting made easy" order forms for each of your properties. See our LIGHTING Special offers at:

http://www.pineapplehospitality.net/uploads/fall_2008_special_offer_rev.pdf

1. Programmable and Digital Control of your HVAC systems - If you are still allowing guests complete control of the HVAC function in your guestrooms then now would be a good time to reevaluate that decision. Numerous heating/cooling control options are available at reasonable costs. The Guestat programmable digital thermostat is one popular option saving hoteliers 25% or more. These thermostats display an exact desired temperature allowing guests to control the comfort of their rooms, but can be programmed with temperature ranges and setback periods which to saves energy. More options and information are available at:

www.pineapplehospitality.net/energy.html.

1. Amenity Dispensers - Pineapple's bathroom amenity dispensers are more attractive than ever. More and more hotels are seeking this solution because of the ever-increasing cost of oil used to manufacture plastic amenity bottles and the increases in transportation costs to deliver the plastic bottles to your hotels. Plus, no product is wasted and landfills are saved space. Using these dispensers with Pineapple's high-quality amenity products can save up to 70% of your hotel's amenities cost.

http://www.pineapplehospitality.net/Dispensers.html.

1. Green Earth towels and sheets are manufactured using Control Union-certified, eco-friendly dyes to reduce environmental impact. They also save money and resources by costing significantly less to launder, reducing water consumption by 30%, using less detergent and taking 10-20% less drying time. Cypress Hotel & Spa is the premier designer and manufacturer of luxurious bathrobes, towels, slippers, and sheets for the hospitality industry. As a true innovator in sustainable linens, we partner with one of the only zero-effluent discharge, agri-waste powered textile mills in the world to create exceptional bed and bath linens that are as luxurious and durable as they are environmentally friendly.

http://www.pineapplehospitality.net/Pineapple_Partners.html.

1. Key Card Energy Management System - The HS series Card Key Switch turns electrical circuits on or off when a card key is inserted or removed from the slot. The HS card key switches provide an easy solution to current requirements in both the IECC and ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, which now require a master switch at the entrance of every new guestroom to control the electrical circuits. Read more at:

http://www.pineapplehospitality.net/uploads/key_card_system.pdf.

1. Ozone Laundry Systems - Ozone Laundry Systems inject ozone into cold water throughout the wash process. Ozone reacts quickly by dividing organic molecules in the water and causing soils to separate from fabric and disintegrate. The oxidization power of ozone then sterilizes and deodorizes more effectively, less expensively and more reliably than other methods, leaving no chemical residual.

With an ozone laundry system:

70-80% or more of the need for hot water is eliminated.

There is an average water savings of 25%.

Linen replacement costs can be reduced 50-66%.

Ozone opens up textile fibers to allow chemicals to do a better job.

They extend the life of laundry equipment because fewer wash cycles are needed.

Water quality and chemistry is more consistent.

Chemical consumption can be reduced by 20-25%.

Ozone improves sewage water quality by 30-50%.

Working conditions are better for employees because the use of steam and hot water is reduced.

And cooler laundry facilities require less air-conditioning to cool.

www.pineapplehospitality.net/uploads/OWT.pdf.

1. Waste Management - Are you paying to dispose of recyclables? Pineapple Hospitality offers a guaranteed savings program including the management of your entire waste and recyclables program including a comprehensive Guest Room Recylcing Program. For attractive and appropriate recycling receptacles visit one of our Pineapple Partners - T2 Site Amenities at www.T2-Sa.com.

2. Indoor Air Quality - Create additional revenues by adding Pure Rooms. This cutting-edge, comprehensive system can dramatically improve air quality and enhance your guests' experience. It appeals to the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability market as well as allergy sufferers.

(www.Pureroom.com)(www.lohas.com).

You can dedicate 10% or more of your rooms to be sold at a premium each night. This program has proven to increase revenues and repeat business for nearly 60 hotels. We offer a No Capital Cost program.

1. Offer EcoRooms(R) and EcoSuitesTM - Pineapple Hospitality will create a customized EcoRoom and/or EcoSuites program for 10 percent or more of your guestrooms. The program is available with no capital cost on a per occupied room basis. This is the easiest way to "Go Green" and generate additional profits. For more information about basic EcoRooms visit www.EcoRooms.com.

2. Buffet BurnersTM - Ever give any thought to how much canned fuel costs? Instead of dumping the cans in the landfill after banquets and buffets, why not dump the purchase of canned fuel in favor of a greener, safer, and more economical way to heat your chafers. With a $1,500 purchase one of our customers eliminated a $33,000 annual expense. Find out more at:

www.pineapplehospitality.net/Buffet_Burners.html.