Las Vegas � (Nov. 6, 2002) How many hoteliers does it take to change a light bulb? The answer: A lot fewer hoteliers than it typically takes to order one!

Truth be told, up until now, re-ordering energy-efficient lighting has been time-consuming and error prone. Out-dated paper forms and missing product specifications and drawings, and pricing and quantities needed, made it difficult for those in purchasing, accounting, management and maintenance,
to adequately track and fulfill a property�s lighting needs.

"About 3 months ago, a number of our clients participated in a customer focus group that helped us develop a user-friendly, environmentally-friendly digital lighting re-order program appropriately named Lighting Made Easy," said Dan Bornholdt, President and Founder of the Upland, Calif.-based company that unveiled the solution at Best Western International�s annual convention in Las Vegas.

"Hotels were looking for a streamlined energy-efficient lighting reordering process with customizable, simple-to-use, easy-to-print, -fax or -email monthly re-order forms � and that�s exactly what we�re now delivering through our Lighting Made Easy program."

Advantages of having each property�s standard energy-efficient lighting information � from model numbers, specifications and drawings, to pricing and quantities needed � all on one form include:

• Saving time and money on the process of purchasing lighting;
• Ensuring ordering errors are virtually eliminated; 
• Further automating and expediting inventory restocking;
• Displaying all cost information for more-accurate budgeting and forecasting.

Simple & Smart

"It�s not rocket science, but that�s why it works," said Jim Schmidt, GE Lighting�s Market Development Manager. "Green Suites� Lighting Made Easy program brings it all together for independent hotels and management companies so they can easily and efficiently track their lighting needs and place orders."

Taking a customer-oriented approach, Green Suites International designed the electronic form so that it could be used by the greatest number of customers. Utilizing a simple "click and type" format, it does not require an Internet connection to use, and can be used with virtually any computer system. Once the form is completed electronically, it can be printed for record-keeping purposes, printed, copied, mailed with other supporting documents � or, ideally, e-mailed, shared and saved without paper consumption.

"While this doesn�t change the entire world, we believe it is an important step toward more-efficient paperless purchasing � saving our trees and reducing our clients� purchasing-related labor and costs," Burger said. "At Green Suites International, we�re all about developing and delivering ecological solutions that deliver significant and sustained economic benefit, and our new Lighting Made Easy program fits right into our mission."

Green Suites International�s customers are embracing the Lighting Made Easy streamlined purchasing process. Lexington. Ky.-based H&W Management Company, which operates nine lodging properties in four states, is typical of those that can benefit from the use of the Lighting Made Easy program. 

"Lighting Made Easy is great for hotels. I�m a big fan of simple, smart solutions that save time and money � and Lighting Made Easy is the latest in a long line of just such solutions delivered by Green Suites International," said George Ward, who helped co-found H&W in 1985 and now oversees human resources, marketing, and financial management for the hotels operated by the management company. 

In mid-October, Lodging Enterprises Inc., a Wichita, Kan.-based company with 33 lodging properties, most of which feature old-fashioned diners, began using Green Suites� Lighting Made Easy monthly re-order forms and today reports rave reviews on the streamlined purchasing process. Kelli Grate, Corporate Director of Purchasing for Lodging Enterprises, noted that 50 individuals at the company currently are involved in the program and able to share Lighting Made Easy order forms via e-mail.

"We love Lighting Made Easy. Put simply: It makes the purchasing process as efficient as the fluorescent lighting itself," Grate said. "We�re trying to get all of our properties on board with Green Suites� Lighting Made Easy program and the company�s proven GE Lighting solutions because they go hand-in-hand in capturing significant and sustained lighting savings with minimal investment."

For Lodging Enterprises, which has 21 Oak Tree Inns and 12 properties flying other brand flags, the fact is crystal clear that energy-efficient lighting can pay for itself in a matter of months. 

"With rebates and energy savings, these replacement bulbs quickly pay for themselves," Grate said. "We are encouraging all our properties to budget for Green Suites� Lighting Made Easy in 2002 and beyond."

Easy ROI

"Sometimes people miss the solution to a problem because they try to do too much on their own," Burger said. "We consistently rely on our clients� input to help identify problems and solutions in hospitality.

"We worked with customer focus groups to come up with Lighting Made Easy � a program that hoteliers can really use in their day-to-day work environments," he said. "This solution doesn�t require fancy technology, yet delivers real savings by simplifying the purchasing process. I know our customers appreciate that because they asked for, and helped develop, Lighting Made Easy by Green Suites."

Burger said the re-order form can be easily modified to add, delete or change items to customize it for any property.

"Lighting Made Easy helps management companies establish overnight simple best practices regarding money-saving energy-efficient lighting purchases so all properties in the family fold order precisely what they need, when they need it," Burger said.

Lighting Made Easy also helps hotels ensure they don�t "leave the lights off" for guests, as inventory management of energy-efficient replacement bulbs is further automated and expedited so no one need ever be left in the dark again.

The promise of computer technology has always been to make business processes more efficient and reduce office paperwork, but it seems that computers have usually ended up generating more paper use. Green Suites International realizes that if paper consumption can be reduced, we save time and money, and help preserve our planet�s limited natural resources for tomorrow�s hoteliers and their guests.

Properties report that Lighting Made Easy electronic order forms assist preventative maintenance programs because they reduce ordering errors and delays due to not having the correct lighting solutions on hand and/or necessary quantities of each bulb type. New builds also benefit because the forms provide all the specifications needed to meet brand/corporate lighting standards for prototypes.

"All your homework is done for you with Lighting Made Easy, and it automatically calculates totals for you," H&W�s Ward said. "We�re currently changing out incandescents and replacing them with energy-efficient compact fluorescents in our interior public spaces, and I must say the Lighting Made Easy program delivers exactly what it promises."

Green Suites International�s Bornholdt and GE Lighting�s Schmidt said energy-efficient lighting solutions can help hotels reduce lighting costs up to 75 percent, and rebates from many local utilities can shoulder 75 to 100 percent of the upfront investment in lamp replacement, allowing for paybacks in six months or less. Just as important, this energy savings will increase with time as utility costs continue to climb.

"Total lighting costs, including guestrooms and public areas such as lobbies, passageways, restaurants and meeting rooms, etc., typically account for 40 percent of a property�s overall electrical expenses," Bornholdt said. "Many hotels are suffering from electricity bills that have skyrocketed 50 percent or more since 2000, but compact fluorescent replacement lamps offered by Green Suites International can help properties reduce overall electrical bills by 30 percent just by replacing a few bulbs."

Energy Facts:

.
Lighting accounts for up to 40% of lodging property electrical utility costs.
.
Energy efficient lighting solutions can provide dramatic savings
and a positive impact on profitability.

.
GE Lighting Hospitality Solutions can reduce electricity consumption
by 70% or more over conventional light bulbs.

###

Also see: