Ignoring the "greenwash" in their press release that follows, this appears to have some merit. We like the idea of the fresh, contemporary look and the practical aspects of continued maintenance.
What do you think?
Oct 23, 2008
H&MM Week In Review
Dallas – Motel 6, known for offering a clean, comfortable room for the lowest price of any national chain, is saying “sayonara” to carpet and “hello” to a clean, green, wood-effect laminate flooring in its new Phoenix Prototype and property renovations (retrofits). Motel 6’s new flooring is made of 80% pre-consumer recycled material, including an inner wood core comprised of oak and cherry wood chips that would otherwise be burned or thrown into a landfill.
The new flooring is also a critical component of the updated Motel 6 design, providing the first “wow” as a guest walks into the room. As the literal foundation of the room, this flooring plays a major role in defining the feel of the space, giving it an updated, larger, and cleaner look that complements the modern design of the new Phoenix Prototype room.
“We have more than 900 Motel 6 properties in the U.S. and Canada, so we are aware that our actions are likely to cause a significant impact on the environment,” said Olivier Poirot, CEO, Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. “Accor North America is constantly working to find ways to minimize its environmental footprint, and this flooring decision is just one of the many efforts we take to make our properties more environmentally friendly.”
In addition to the beneficial environmental impact of choosing wood-effect laminate flooring, Motel 6 selected this flooring for practical reasons, among them being its durability and its wooden look that complements the sleek modern design of the new Phoenix Prototype room. Laminate flooring is a great alternative to carpet for several reasons: It doesn’t retain odors from smoke or pets and is overall more hygienic than carpet; it is easy and takes less time to clean and, unlike carpet, does not require regular steam cleaning; and it is durable and has a 10-year warranty.
Motels 6’s new wood-effect laminate floors are manufactured by Tarkett™ and are composed of four layers that are pressed together under high temperatures to create a product that provides solid, uniform strength that is highly resistant to indentions, scratches and wear . Tarkett Laminate’s exclusive 100% hardwood core board, Americore, is comprised of Oak and Cherry wood chips that provide superior durability and indention resistance. The top layer is made of melamine and aluminum oxide which protects the design layer by providing scuff, scratch and abrasion resistance. This top protective layer provides a nice smooth finish, eliminating the need for waxes and polishes to keep the floor looking new.
Motel 6 has practiced environmental management since the early 1990s and has been recognized as an EnergyStar Partner since 2006. Today, Motel 6 reduces its carbon footprint in a few of the following ways: properly disposes of hazardous waste with a Fluorescent Light Bulb and Battery Recycling Program; reduces energy consumption in all energy management systems, including installing energy-efficient PTAC units; and reduces water consumption with low-flow aerators for faucets and shower heads and 1.6 gallon low flow toilets at all of its properties nationwide. Motel 6 strives to be in accordance with Accor’s Worldwide Hotel Environmental Charter, a 65-point set of actions that each Accor brand is encouraged to take to make their properties more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.
The first new build of the Motel 6 Phoenix Prototype property will be in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is scheduled to open in 2009. Motel 6 has already begun retrofitting properties across the country, and newly renovated rooms are becoming available nationwide at select locations beginning this fall.
http://www.hotelmotel.com/hotelmotel/News+Wire/Feel-the-green-under-your-toes-at-Motel-6/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/560788?contextCategoryId=1238
