Motel 6 Going Green Underfoot
click an image below to view slideshow
Motel 6 is using wood-effect laminate flooring, rather than carpeting, in its new Phoenix Prototype and in renovations of existing units. The eco-friendly flooring being installed by the budget hotel chain is made of 80 percent pre-consumer recycled material, including an inner wood core made of oak and cherry wood chips.
Motel 6 officials say the laminate flooring represented a practical design choice because it doesn't retain odors from smoke or pets, making it more hygienic than carpet. They also say it's easy to clean and does not require regular steam cleaning.
The flooring, manufactured by Tarkett, consists of four layers pressed together under high temperatures. The top layer is made of melamine and aluminum oxide, which protects the surface.
Other green initiatives Motel 6 is incorporating into its units include energy-efficient appliances in the rooms and offices, and low-flow aerators for faucets and shower heads in bathrooms.
The first Motel 6 Phoenix Prototype will debut in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2009. Meantime, Motel 6 has begun retrofitting existing properties across the U.S. with eco-friendly features.
Motel 6 is a unit of Accor North America. There are 900 company-owned and franchised Motel 6 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Hospitality Style Magazine
- November/December 2008
Recommended Reading
This new book reveals, in breathtaking images and lively reporting, why so many business and leisure guests find themselves impressed by the hospitality industry's...