Does every hotel room need a minifridge? Empirical evidence from consumer self-reports and an automatic sensor-based system measuring electricity consumption and guest use

Sara Dolnicar; Danyelle Greene; Siamak Layeghy; Marius Portmann

doi:10.1016/j.annale.2024.100134

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Does every hotel room need a minifridge? Empirical evidence from consumer self-reports and an automatic sensor-based system measuring electricity consumption and guest use

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Does every hotel room need a minifridge? Empirical evidence from consumer self-reports and an automatic sensor-based system measuring electricity consumption and guest use

Sara Dolnicar, Danyelle Greene, Siamak Layeghy and Marius Portmann

Annals of tourism research empirical insights, Vol.5(2), 100134

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annale.2024.100134

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Abstract

Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism

Social Sciences

Social Sciences - Other Topics

Most hotel rooms contain a minifridge. Manufacturing, operating, and disposing of minifridges is environmentally unsustainable, and costs money. Given the potential to reduce carbon emissions by reducing the number of hotel minifridges, we ask whether it is necessary to provide minifridges in each room. We collect (1) electricity consumption and guest use data for 19 minifridges across four hotels using a newly developed automatic monitoring system, and (2) survey data to gain insights into hotel guests' stated preferences. Results indicate that electricity use is independent of minifridge use and that only a subset of hotel guests use the minifridge. Most guests prefer having a minifridge, but do not react negatively to it not being available. It may be worth reviewing the current default inclusion of minifridges and considering alternative minifridge provision systems.

Details

Title: Does every hotel room need a minifridge? Empirical evidence from consumer self-reports and an automatic sensor-based system measuring electricity consumption and guest use
Authors/Creators: Sara Dolnicar - Univ Queensland, Room 439,GP North Bldg 39A,St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
Danyelle Greene - Univ Queensland, Room 439,GP North Bldg 39A,St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
Siamak Layeghy - Univ Queensland, Room 439,GP North Bldg 39A,St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
Marius Portmann - Univ Queensland, Room 439,GP North Bldg 39A,St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia
Publication Details: Annals of tourism research empirical insights, Vol.5(2), 100134
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Number of pages: 7
Grant note: FL190100143 / Australian Research Council
Identifiers: 991005881352807891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Psychology
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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