Hotel Chains Ditching Mini Toiletries

[RooFlyer]

I think it depends on the country - in some like Western Europe and the US, single use plastics is a turn off, particularly for wealthier guests.

Germany, France and Finland were my countries for my last Accor Christmas stays, so .

Actually, its the more expensive places that I've found tend to still have them - its a sign of 'individual care' - Pullman at AKL the most recent example. Same with cruise ships. Ponant (small ships) still has individual items. I think it would be hard to supply stuff like Hermes in 1 litre dispensers. . But it won't be a universal 'rule'.

I know you'll want to say something contrary, but I'm only recounting my own experiences.

The EU has banned them from 2030.

Not in a great hurry, are they? Might explain why the small items are still somewhat prevalent.

 

[justinbrett]

Germany, France and Finland were my countries for my last Accor Christmas stays, so .

Actually, its the more expensive places that I've found tend to still have them - its a sign of 'individual care' - Pullman at AKL the most recent example. Same with cruise ships. Ponant (small ships) still has individual items. I think it would be hard to supply stuff like Hermes in 1 litre dispensers. . But it won't be a universal 'rule'.

I know you'll want to say something contrary, but I'm only recounting my own experiences.



Not in a great hurry, are they? Might explain why the small items are still somewhat prevalent.

And as I posted above, the Accor group has/had a policy to remove them by end of 2022. I found an earlier document that had end of 2020 as the deadline.

I stand by my comments about Europeans being against single use plastics, so it is surprising the European chain is dragging its feet while being shown up by the American chains. Probably says more about Accor being a lousy chain than anything else, at least in this regard.

 

[jase05]

Actually, its the more expensive places that I've found tend to still have them - its a sign of 'individual care' - Pullman at AKL the most recent example.

Yep, Raffles and Fairmonts in the UAE and Qatar plus Banyan Tree KL and Sofitel Mumbai on last trip all had them which was towards the end of last year.
Early last year they still had them at Sofitel Heathrow, both Pullmans in Paris we stayed at and the MGallery in Prague but the one that surprised me was the Mercure in Switzerland as the Swiss are usually at the forefront of these issues.
I’ve got 13 nights so far booked in various US Fairmonts in 2 months time so keen to see where they stand on the issue

 

[RooFlyer]

Probably says more about Accor being a lousy chain than anything else, at least in this regard.

ROFL. Raffles, Fairmont.

I think it’s more about Accor Group management virtue signalling (announcing a policy that they don’t - ?can’t - enforce) whereas the better hotels who have to deal with guests want to give them the better experience.

The cheaper brands will be keener to cost cut then the more premium ones, who charge accordingly.

 

[justinbrett]

ROFL. Raffles, Fairmont.

I think it’s more about Accor Group management virtue signalling (announcing a policy that they don’t - ?can’t - enforce) whereas the better hotels who have to deal with guests want to give them the better experience.

The cheaper brands will be keener to cost cut then the more premium ones, who charge accordingly.

At least in this regard

Keep on ignoring key phrases!

Yes as you’ve confirmed Accor is lousy at implementing and enforcing its own policies.

Plenty of other luxury brands from other chains have got onboard and I haven’t heard any pushback. Moot point anyway because it’s about to become law in most of the developed world.

As for Fairmont, I stumbled upon this article and thought it was interesting:

The Truth About Those Luxury Name-Brand Soaps in Your Hotel Bathroom

Think you're stealing the same MALIN+GOETZ you can buy in stores? Not quite.

www.thrillist.com

 

[RooFlyer]

As for Fairmont, I stumbled upon this article and thought it was interesting:

Oh, not news for me! I’ve said elsewhere in this forum that I’m pretty sure that every shampoo, shower gel, moisturiser etc has much the same cough in it as all the others. And I’m probably the least brand or fashion conscious person you’ll ever meet.

But I don’t get to choose what they put in cruise and Hotel bathrooms. Nor do I believe all the BS the hotels put around about saving the planet by using less towels, providing less amenity. It’s all cost cutting.

 

[jase05]

At least in this regard

Keep on ignoring key phrases!

Yes as you’ve confirmed Accor is lousy at implementing and enforcing its own policies.

Plenty of other luxury brands from other chains have got onboard and I haven’t heard any pushback. Moot point anyway because it’s about to become law in most of the developed world.

As for Fairmont, I stumbled upon this article and thought it was interesting:

The Truth About Those Luxury Name-Brand Soaps in Your Hotel Bathroom

Think you're stealing the same MALIN+GOETZ you can buy in stores? Not quite.

www.thrillist.com

I don’t think it’s ever been in doubt that most hotel toiletries are “watered down” or cheaper versions. As a rule we take our own everywhere as we both have particular brands that we like. We just collect the miniatures to give to family so no big loss when they phased out

 

[CMA222]

I noticed this during the week on my future booking for the Regal Airport Hotel in HKG. It appears the law is prohibiting disposable plastic toiletries:

Friendly Reminder

New Regulation on Disposable Plastic Products

As part of Regal’s initiative on sustainability, we strive to minimize the occurrence of environmental pollution in our business activities.

With the new regulation on disposable plastic products starting on 22 April 2024, disposable plastic toiletries and in-room plastic-bottled water will no longer be provided in hotels for free. All Regal Hotels will supply eco-friendly alternatives instead. Meanwhile, we also highly encourage guests to bring their own toiletries.

As a wise green traveller, please join us to reduce the use of disposable plastic products and co-create a better living environment!

It appears they are saying they will supply the toiletries in the large bottles but suggest the customers BYO. It also appears to suggest they are now only supplying water in bottles, at a cost.

 

[DC3]

It seems that these items will become increasingly scarce, so if you may have a need for them coming up then hang on to them for the time being.

 

[justinbrett]

It seems that these items will become increasingly scarce, so if you may have a need for them coming up then hang on to them for the time being.

Just buy a refillable set from somewhere like Howard Storage. Then you can refill from home or even the hotels.

I actually installed a triple dispenser at home as it makes showering more convenient and I can refill my travel bottles quickly.

I’m not so much doing it for the environment, but if your idea of luxury is cheap plastic bottles with questionable contents, you must be easily pleased! As a wise man once said, nothing is free, it’s built in to the price.

 

[DC3]

Maybe time to invest in a good steamer trunk to lug my high-end lotions around.

 

[DC3]

I’m not so much doing it for the environment, but if your idea of luxury is cheap plastic bottles with questionable contents, you must be easily pleased!

Best for presents for people that we don’t like that much.

 

[Pushka]

Keio Plaza in Tokyo offered three sets of L’occitane Shampoo, conditioner, Gel and lotion in a one bedroom room. Three bars of soap. Two bath bombs. Multiple razors brushes combs. So much.

There were three sets of these every day.




Alas we couldn’t take them as luggage at a premium.

 

[justinbrett]

Best for presents for people that we don’t like that much.

Or at all, it would seem!

 

[Quickstatus]

TB very honest I actually agree with not giving small almost single use toiletries to the homeless shelters.

If people really want to be charitable donate cash.

 

[clifford]

It seems that these items will become increasingly scarce, so if you may have a need for them coming up then hang on to them for the time being.

Too true.

I tend to save the miniatures from hotels for use when I go to AirBNB's. They're small, light and fit nicely into a toiletries bag.

And there are certainly many hotels around the world still providing them IME.

 

[Netty]

I have to say those little bottles have accompanied me on many trips both camping and flying to reduce space. I very much appreciated them. I understand the reasoning for removing them but just wish they would use pump containers that work and label the darn things better or have a standardised position for them in all hotels. Needing glasses means hubby washes his hair in the conditioner or body wash on a regular basis cause he forgets to look before he gets into the shower.

 

[RooFlyer]

TB very honest I actually agree with not giving small almost single use toiletries to the homeless shelters.

If people really want to be charitable donate cash.

Sure, but since you are given them on an airplane, you can either:

+ Leave them behind on the aircraft +/- opened - fate unknown

+ Keep them and use them yourself (toothbrush, face mask, earplugs, moisturiser, socks)

+ Give them away to some one/place that appreciates them (or used to!)

 

[RooFlyer]

I have to say those little bottles have accompanied me on many trips both camping and flying to reduce space. I very much appreciated them. I understand the reasoning for removing them but just wish they would use pump containers that work and label the darn things better or have a standardised position for them in all hotels.

Yes, and yes.

 

[Quickstatus]

Give them away to some one/place that appreciates them (or used to!)

I would not give them this. They are single use items and does not provide meaningful help. Use it at home but if you want to give suggest full size amenities. Cash better - By the time you take the stuff and drive down to wherever they are, it would be better to just send them $20 online.

Then there is the cost of producing these single use items. Terribly wasteful. Industry should be getting rid of them and the quickest way is to reduce demand.

Donations of goods can be problematic
MissQS 's school once decided to do a charitable drive for the Hamlin fistula foundation. They decided to knit shawls and then send to their Ethiopia fistula hospital. I got wind of it soon after and spoke to the headmistress of the school. I told her that the shawls would be expensive to ship and in the end it would be better to sell the shawls here and send them cash. I explained that with cash they can target their needs so much more and additionally it gets spent in their local economy - velocity of money etc.

Similarly sending toys to orphanages. I would rather give them the cost of shipping the toys.