Hotel Kudos

This past weekend I was staying at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  In town for an Animal Law conference, I was already feeling inspired when I arrived at Harvard Square.  Adding to my delight, I found my hotel room stocked with bath & body products by EO, one of my favorite cruelty-free product lines.  It was like walking into my own private little spa!  I’ve already extolled EO’s Hinoki & Ginger Bubble Bath; today, I sing the praises of The Charles and other hotels making similar choices that reflect a more eco-conscious and animal-friendly philosophy.  When you consider just how many people come and go in a single hotel room, and then multiply that by the number of rooms in a single hotel — what an impact the hospitality industry can have in creating a greater demand for cruelty-free alternatives on the market!

In addition to the bath & body provisions, hotels also are making great strides when they offer down-alternative pillows and comforters.  Although this is likely in large part a response to all of us with allergies, the availability of alternatives to down deserves some attention and praise as well.  I recently booked a room for an upcoming conference at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington DC.  As part of the online reservation process, I was able to select a feather-free room.  Magna Cum Laude, Marriott!

Once upon a time, non-smoking rooms at hotels were available upon request.  Now they’re the norm.  I’m optimistic that “cruelty-free” rooms can be the next new norm.  How to keep us moving in that direction:

• If you stay at a hotel that provides cruelty-free products and feather-free rooms, express your appreciation!  Tell the front desk, tell the concierge… and include some kudos of your own in any written comments.  Let as many people at the hotel know you noticed, you care, and you’re happy about what they have to offer.
• If you stay at a hotel that doesn’t offer such amenities, offer some polite feedback.  Again, let the hotel know you notice the details, you care, and you’d appreciate any efforts they make in the future.  Also, you might mention another hotel that does include cruelty-free options — nothing like a little bench-marking to provide some extra incentive!

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