Currently, hotel chains are not adopting electric vehicle charging stations as quickly as popular opinion may suggest. There are many reasons for this but the hospitality industry can’t afford to ignore this emerging technology. With the right tools in place, hotels can not only increase the adoption of electric vehicles, but they can also realize a host of other benefits from the technology including increased loyalty from EV drivers. This blog will explore those benefits and explain why the hospitality industry should be an early adopter of this technology.
In this Blog we will review:
- Why hotels should adopt EV charging
- Providing the EV charging amenity
Why Should Hotels Adopt EV Charging?
With more and more drivers shifting to electric vehicles, it is becoming a necessity for hotels to offer charging facilities to their guests. EV drivers typically charge their vehicles at night when they are at home. This leads them to seek out hotels that allow them to do the same while they are traveling. Check out any forum of EV drivers and you will find numerous posts from drivers stating that EV charging is the number one reason for choosing a hotel while traveling.
Several hotels around the world, including the likes of Marriott and Hilton, have already started to provide EV charging points in some of their hotels. A study published in Stanford University has found that when hotels install EV chargers, they become more appealing to EV drivers. This in turn leads to more positive reviews on sites like TripAdvisor, which leads to more bookings. The best part is that it doesn’t cost too much. There are some hotel chains that have already started installing EV chargers.
The Right EV Charging Amenity
Hotels and motels provide a place for people to recharge when they travel. In recent years, hotels have had to adapt to providing outlets for guests to recharge their devices as well. Electric Vehicles are another item many guests will be looking to recharge while staying at a hotel. This presents a challenge for hotels. Charging an EV requires more infrastructure and electricity than a common smartphone. Since the cost of the EV charging stations and the power can be significant it’s important to have the right approach. EV charging is a desired amenity among the EV community and hotels need to offer solutions to attract these guests but that doesn’t mean it has to be a free offering.
Coming up with the right model for EV charging stations in hotels and motels is a challenge, but there are some important things to consider. Most locations will find that EV charging alone will not generate significant revenue. The real value in EV charging is in the added business attracted to the hotel by the charging network, like additional room nights. When designing the right solution for a particular hotel it’s important to develop a strategy on how to cover the costs of the charger installations as well as the power while still maintaining control over the guest experience. While there are solutions in the market where networks will install free chargers, these solutions require that the hotel surrender control of the guest experience. Losing this control is something that few hoteliers are willing to give up.
Start Reaping the Benefits of EV Charging
Although some hotels have already begun offering EV charging services, it’s still a long way from being a common practice. This is often because hotel owners may not feel the need to invest the money into installing one yet because there are not enough EVs on the road. However, after reading this blog post, you should have a better understanding of how to build a beneficial relationship with electric vehicle owners. In fact, you may even want to consider installing EV charging stations at your hotel; it could help you generate more revenue each year.
