Smoke-free hotels on the rise as FreshStay.com celebrates its 4,000th member

We have all been there before – well, most of us. You check in to a decent hotel room, drop your bags at the door, and take a diving plunge onto the supposedly-sanitary bedspread to unwind after a long haul to a distant destination. Just as you let your mind drift into the unknown of where this particular adventure may take you – sandy beaches, exotic locales, rowdy theme parks – you catch the first whiff of an all-too-familiar stench; old, stale tobacco fumes baked into the sheets, the walls, the carpets, the pillows. And suddenly, in that very instant, your trip is ruined.

If you are anything at all like me, cigarette smoke and the like could possibly be one of the most obnoxious smells around – not to mention the most hazardous to your health. So, how can a health-conscious traveler keep their distance from this airborne burden? I mean, sure, most hotels offer non-smoking rooms, but what about in the cases where those are all filled up?

Well let me shine a light on one of the premiere resources for smoke-free travel: FreshStay.com; arguably the most comprehensive online directory of entirely smoke-free lodging properties throughout the entire world.

FreshStay.com is today celebrating its 4,000th property listing – Comfort Suites in St. Charles, MO – a huge milestone for the startup. The St. Charles Comfort Suites joins 3,999 other 100% smoke-free  hotels who have reached out to health-minded travelers through FreshStay.com’s simple-to-navigate search function and integrated online booking option.

“We’re proud to join the growing ranks of FreshStay.com and excited to host a smokefree celebration marking the milestone,” says Natalee Keathley, General Manager of the St. Charles Comfort Suites. “We believe that a healthy, 100 percent smoke-free hotel experience is good for our guests, our employees, and also our business. Teaming up with FreshStay.com will help us connect with the millions of travelers who prefer to stay in clean, comfortable guest rooms free of the danger, and smell, that comes from secondhand smoke.”

Sparked by social responsibility

The growth of FreshStay.com to 4,000 member hotels is due in no small part to the huge increase in interest for socially responsible travel throughout the hospitality industry. Last year, the American Automobile Association (AAA) reported there were more than 8,000 smoke-free lodging properties in the U.S., and that number continues to climb this year. FreshStay.com provides those hotels focused on healthier travel the best way to reach those customers who share their values.

“Studies have found that nearly 90 percent of travelers now prefer a smoke-free hotel,” says Dave Janicke, FreshStay.com’s CBO — Chief Breathing Officer. “For some it’s just a preference. But for others, allergies or medical conditions require them to avoid the dangers of secondhand smoke. That is why all FreshStay.com properties are certified to ensure smoking is not allowed anywhere in the property.”

“We at FreshStay.com envision a day when all hotels are completely smoke-free. But until then, we will continue to add to our growing roster of hotels, motels and B&B’s that have made the choice to ban smoking throughout their properties,” Janicke says.

“Reaching 4,000 members is important to us because it demonstrates our wide-range of coverage over all 50 U.S. states, Canada and around the world,” says Ray Burger, President of Pineapple Hospitality, which operates FreshStay.com. “It’s just a bonus that our 4,000th member happens to hail from our hometown of St. Charles, Mo.”

“There is strength in numbers, and together, FreshStay.com’s members are proving the difference they can make in presenting a cleaner, healthier future for the hospitality industry,” he adds.

Top 5 Reasons to Go Smoke-Free

Members of FreshStay.com have found a number of benefits from kicking their smoking habit. Here are the top 5 reasons they’ve found to go smoke-free:

1. Guest satisfaction — No more complaints about rooms that reek of smoke, whether lingering from previous guests or wafting in from nearby smoking rooms.
2. Save your staff — Not only is a non-smoking workplace better for your staff, but it certainly make their lives easier too by not having to take the time and effort to clean up ashtrays and cigarette butts.
3. Protect your property — Members of FreshStay.com have found that furnishings, linens, carpets and other amenities are lasting longer because they are not being damaged by smoke or cigarette burns.
4. Better business — Smoking rooms that used to go unoccupied or discounted can now serve guests 365 days/year.
5. The prestige — A smoke-free environment creates the right “atmosphere” that encourages repeat customers. The sense of smell is strong, and as more restaurants, office buildings and public places ban smoking, those places that still allow it are all the more noticeable. For those travelers concerned about their personal health, it is essential to go smoke-free to protect your property’s image.

Whatever the reasons may be, for both hotels and guests, smoke-free is the definite way to go. I know that this healthy-traveler will be planning her next trip with FreshStay.com.