Hotels and motels can celebrate National Tourism Week by signing up to participate in the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s successful water conservation program known as Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.)
National Tourism Week is May 13 through May 20. According to VISIT FLORIDA, the states official tourism marketing organization, approximately 85.8 million people visited the state last year. That translates to more than $57 billion added to Floridas economy, but can also add up to quite a strain on our water resources.
“Hotels and motels can use up to 300 gallons per occupied room per day but most average about 150 gallons per day,” said Dorian Morgan, senior communications coordinator. “Becoming a Water C.H.A.M.P. property can save an average of 50 gallons per occupied room per day.”
More than 200 hotels and motels throughout the District’s 16-county region have signed on to become a Water C.H.A.M.P. As part of the program, hotel and motel owners, operators and management participate in a linens and towels reuse program. The District supplies printed materials for guest rooms and educational materials for employees. By implementing the program, the hotel or motel management agrees to launder linens every third day of a guest’s stay unless requested otherwise by the guest. This practice has become highly popular in the hotel industry because it can save a significant amount of water, staff time and money as well as minimizing the amount of detergents that enter the environment. By participating in this program, hotels can also benefit by saving up to $1 per occupied room per day.
The District also provides the hotels and motels with educational workshops on additional ways to save water.
The Water C.H.A.M.P. began in September 2002 as a pilot project in the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin, and has now expanded to include every basin within the District.
For more information on Water C.H.A.M.P., or to add your hotel or motel, please contact Dorian Morgan at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4782.