Hydration Stations are currently being rolled out at City Lodge Hotels, consisting of water filtration units that supply free, magnesium-enriched filtered water to guests. Guests are increasingly requesting free, safe water in their rooms and the group is keen to do this in an environmentally responsible manner. In addition, delegates can top up their reusable bottles before heading into a conference or meeting room, further reducing their carbon footprint as fewer single-use plastic water bottles will be consumed.
Hydration Stations will be located in the public areas of hotels, next to the vending and ice machines. By the end of March 2021, 43 of the group’s 56 hotels in South Africa will offer free, magnesium-enriched, filtered water from Hydration Stations, with the remaining 13 hotels to follow suit. This is a R1.3-million investment in enhancing the guest experience. The water dispensers have been well received and are very popular in the mornings.
The filtration units are supplied by Best Water Technology (BWT) and purify municipal water (regular tap water) while adding magnesium for improved taste. The BWT magnesium mineralised water filters use patented magnesium technology which exchanges calcium ions for magnesium ions. Reducing the pH level and enriching the water with magnesium creates delicious tasting water. The units have capacity to filter approximately 30 to 40 litres per hour.
Guests are encouraged to use their own reusable bottles or cups, or purchase reusable water bottles from reception. Glass tumblers will also be available for on-the-go hydration. Reusable glass water bottles and/or jugs will be provided for delegates using the conference and meeting rooms and boardrooms.
“We are excited to launch this new offering that dispenses free, filtered water for our guests and removes as many single-use plastic water bottles from the system as possible. At City Lodge Hotel Group, we are on a ‘sustainabili-tree’ journey to lighten our carbon footprint. Essentially, like the tree in our logo, we integrate sustainability initiatives into our operations, branching off in several directions at once – solar power; energy and water conservation; reduced single-use plastic; community upliftment; waste reduction and recycling; animal anti-cruelty; and technology to reduce paper use while offering safe, contactless operations. We embrace sustainable business practices and believe that guests, like ourselves, are keen to do their bit and appreciate having eco-friendly alternatives to hand,” explains Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, chief operating officer.
Guests using the Hydration Stations, like all other public areas and offerings, are sanitised between uses as part of the group’s extensive and effective Covid-19 protocols. For more on this, go to www.clhg.com.
