Blog: The Spin
#LaundryMarketingNews
August 07, 2015
Hospitality Sector Failing to Calculate Full Cost of Laundry
Majority agree outsourcing laundry is better for the environment
Two national surveys recently completed by opinion and research firm Fabrizio Ward found a large segment of the hospitality sector is failing to calculate the full, accurate cost of laundry on their businesses and that outsourcing laundry services is better for the environment. The surveys were commissioned by TRSA, the leading global textile services trade association headquartered in Alexandria, Va.
By reaching out to both textile service decision makers and consumers nationally, key findings for the hospitality industry included:
- Less than half of all hotels account for key laundry cost such as energy, water, machinery maintenance and employee labor costs.
- 77 percent of consumers feel hotel conservation programs are about saving money while nearly 60 percent want hotels to pursue more environmentally friendly laundry practices.
- One in three hotels prefer to outsource laundry services but could not locate a textile services provider
“What this survey data is telling us is that there are huge opportunities for the hospitality sector,” explained Joseph Ricci, president and CEO of TRSA. “There is significant room to improve on laundry cost calculations and to better educate guests on specific steps hotels are taking – on their own or with a commercial laundry partner – to reduce their carbon footprint. It also presents our members with the challenge of doing a better job connecting with and educating the hotels in their regions.”
In addition, when presented with data about commercial laundry operations, 52 percent of hospitality decision makers with an opinion agreed outsourcing laundry is better for the environment because it uses fewer resources such as water and energy.
The complete surveys are available for download at www.trsa.org/research
The two surveys were completed between Feb. 24 and March 9, 2015 by Fort Lauderdale-based Fabrizio Ward. The business-to-business survey was conducted across the healthcare, hospitality, food and beverage and industrial sectors. Consumers were asked for their views on textile-related issues with healthcare, hospitality and food and beverage businesses.
ABOUT TRSA
TRSA (www.trsa.org) represents the $16 billion textiles services industry which employs 200,000+ people at 1,500+ facilities nationwide by advocating for fair regulatory and legislative policy affecting the textile services industry and promoting the environmental benefits of reusable textiles. TRSA increases productivity, sustainability, safety and professionalism through education, certification, research, benchmarking and information-sharing. Most Americans benefit at least once per week from the cleanliness and safety of laundered, reusable linens, uniforms, towels, mats and other products provided to the service, industrial/manufacturing, hospitality, restaurant and healthcare sectors. TRSA quantifies our industry’s commitment to cleanliness and sustainability through its Clean Green and Hygienically Clean Certification programs.
ABOUT FABRIZIO WARD
Fabrizio Ward (www.fabrizioward.com) is an opinion research and consulting firm focused on supporting successful communications. Our job is to help organizations meet their business objectives by providing research-based insights that bring clarity to a situation and provide recommendations to guide decision making.
Our clients have varied objectives, from surviving crises, managing issues, influencing public policy, enhancing reputations, seeking competitive advantage. But their common thread is the desire to have the most effective communication plan possible. One that targets the right audiences, strikes the right tone, avoids unwinnable battles, delivers the most compelling messages and achieves the objective.
The firm’s partners have conducted research on behalf of a host of trade associations dealing with a wide variety of objectives and purposes. Some of the more recent experience with associations includes: National Retail Federation, National Auto Dealers Association, America’s Natural Gas Alliance, and Global Automakers Association.
