As an ever-increasing number of well-informed consumers, travellers and hotel guests worldwide consciously make healthier lifestyle choices, countries around the world, including Thailand, have introduced legislation to curb smoking in public areas in an attempt to reduce health risks associated with exposure to second-hand smoke.

Thailand continues to make steady progress in its nationwide smoke-free campaign. To date, there are smoke-free flights, buses and other forms of public transportation, smoke-free work places and public buildings, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and, most recently, government offices.

Green Leaf hotels are recognised for their commitment to environmental conservation through the implementation of a stringent in-house programme that fosters environmentally-friendly practices, such as the efficient use of energy and water, water management, recycling, proper waste management, and policies that favour the purchase of products and services from equally committed environmentally-friendly companies.

The Hotel Smoke-Free Programme is being funded by a six-million baht contribution from the Action on Thai Health Promotion Foundation. This will be rolled out over a period of two years from 2006 through to 2007. Based on project estimates, there will be approximately 300 certified smoke-free hotels in Thailand by the end of the project period.

The Green Leaf Foundation Smoke-Free Hotel Standards
The Green Leaf Foundation Smoke-Free Hotel standards are divided into three categories – Basic, Silver and Gold.

The star is symbolic of the widely-recognised hotel star-rating system. The leaf is symbolic of industry standards set by the Green Leaf Foundation and reflects the attainment of outstanding environmental quality standards. The white frangipani (plumeria acuminata) or leelawadee in Thai Other common names for the frangipani tree are temple tree or pagoda tree.

The five petals of the white frangipani is symbolic of partnership with various industry partners coming together to contribute to the success of the Smoke-Free Hotel programme.

The number five also signifies the highest rating awarded for excellence such as in the five-stars rating awarded in the hotel rating system and the five leaves in the Green Leaf Foundation awards signifying environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient hotel operations.

The leelawadee plant is also known by a less auspicious Thai name – lantom, meaning misery. This aptly reflects the state of misery associated with the chronic suffering experienced by smokers [more overkill – most smokers don’t suffer much until the habit catches up and actually kills them].

Silver Standard Smoke-Free Hotels
Participating hotel (or resort) properties offering between 65 to 75 per cent smoke-free accommodation out of the total rooms available, have over 75 per cent non-smoking staff and meet health-related criteria as specified will meet the Silver Standard. They will be presented with a certificate with a silver star.

Gold Standard Smoke-Free Hotels
To be awarded the Gold Standard and be presented with a certificate with a silver star, a participating hotel or (or resort) property needs to offer over 75 per cent smoke-free accommodation and over 85 per cent or more of its staff must be non-smokers. It also needs to meet other health-related criteria as specified.

Participants in the Smoke-Free Hotel Programme will enjoy greater visibility. The list of participating hotels and resorts will be widely publicised and promoted throughout Thailand and in over 30 countries around the world, particularly in the key markets for visitor arrivals to Thailand.

As a result of the implementation of the Smoke-Free Hotel Programme, the number of smokers in hotels is expected to reduce to 40 per cent and 80 per cent of the participating hotels are expected to recruit non-smoking staff.

Increased awareness of the considerable health risks posed by second-hand smoke in public areas, the costly consequences of chronic and fatal respiratory diseases, particularly cancer, and concern for public safety have led to an active movement around the world to impose a total ban on smoking in public areas. More and more cities around the world are becoming smoke-free; stiff fines and penalties are being imposed for the violation of non-smoking measures.

The Thai Hotel Smoke-Free Programme, launched by the Green Leaf Foundation with the full support of the Action on Thai Health Promotion Foundation, has been inspired by international ‘Smoke Free’ initiatives, case studies and positive role models in countries such as the United States, Europe and Japan where strict smoke-free policies have been successfully introduced. The timely launch of the programme reflects a concerted response by various sectors of the Thai hospitality and tourism industry and Thai community to these concerns.

Contrary to the widely held belief that the imposition of a total ban on smoking in hotels would have a detrimental effect on the hospitality and tourism industry, actual responses from consumer surveys conducted worldwide since 1997 have proved these fears to be unfounded.

According to consumer data from the Westin Hotels & Resorts Smoke-Free Poll conducted online by Russell Research from November 9 – 10, 2005 among 1,054 online adults across the United States, there is clear demand from guests for a healthy smoke-free hotel experience.

In the study, 92 per cent of the hotel chain’s guests request a non-smoking room when travelling and do not smoke in any part of the hotel, including public areas. Additionally, the poll also indicated that the majority of consumers who travel prefer a smoke-free environment. Eighty-six per cent of the respondents agreed that creating a non-smoking environment is an important first step in creating a healthier environment, and 80 per cent prefer restaurants and other indoor public spaces to be free of cigarette and cigar smoke. In January 2006, Westin Hotels became the first 100 per cent smoke-free hotel chain. Smoke-free policies (including all guestrooms and public areas) are in place at all 77 Westin hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. All Westin hotels and resorts offer a designated outdoor area for guests who smoke.

On average, between 70 to 80 per cent of survey respondents rate a clean, smoke-free hotel environment and superior air quality as being important aspects of service quality and environmental quality. Survey findings also indicate that most frequent travellers are non-smokers and travel four times more frequently than smokers.

Non-smokers are particularly sensitive to the lingering stench of cigarette or cigar smoke absorbed by clothing, bed linen, curtains, carpets and other upholstery in hotels. They find the experience extremely unpleasant and intolerable. Invariably most customers will ask to be moved to non-smoking accommodation or will switch to another hotel or resort property the following day if this request is not met. If alternative choices are available, non-smokers do not return to properties that are unable to provide designated smoke-free accommodation.

Additionally, hospitality industry research findings indicate that hotels which do not allocate a fixed number of smoke-free rooms face the very significant cost of having to constantly replace air filters, deep clean walls and carpets and air-conditioning units and treat hard surfaces to eliminate allergens. To completely eliminate all lingering traces of smoke, linen, carpets, curtains and upholstery need to be deep cleaned at least ten times. All of this results in much higher operating costs. Studies have also identified smouldering cigarette buds or ash carelessly dropped on inflammable material as the primary cause of hotel fires. The concern for public safety, the welfare and well-being of hotel guests, as well as the financial implications based on the above findings have prompted many hoteliers worldwide to embrace the option of smoke-free accommodation.

In June 2006, an ABAC Poll was conducted to survey public response to a proposed ban on smoking in air-conditioned hotel lobbies, hotel lobbies, adjacent indoor air-conditioned areas. This is in addition to existing designated smoke-free zones. 77.90 per cent of the individuals/potential hotel guests and 81.50 per cent of business owners and operators who participated in the poll supported the imposition of a ban on smoking in hotel lobbies and other air-conditioned public areas.

ABAC POLL – JULY 2005
BAN ON SMOKING IN AIR-CONDITIONED HOTEL LOBBIES
Responses from 1,696 Individuals (18 years+) and 438 Owners/Operators with regard to a ban on smoking in air-conditioned hotel lobbies
Geographic areas in Thailand included in the ABAC poll:
Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Songkhla

On 30 December 2005, a Ministry of Public Health Ministerial Announcement was issued declaring air-conditioned hotel lobbies smoke-free zones. A Royal Decree imposing a total ban on smoking in public spaces has been drafted and is awaiting approval. With these developments on the legislative front, progress on the Smoke-Free Hotel Programme has moved at a much faster pace than had been expected.

The Green Leaf Foundation
Officially registered in 1998, the Green Leaf Foundation's founding partners are the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thai Hotels Association (THA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) and Association for the Development of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

Hotels are certified according to the level of their efficiency in managing energy, environment and natural resources. All hotels nationwide can apply. After completing the assessment, the participating hotels are awarded a Green Leaf Certificate ranging from one to five leaves. To date, 93 hotels in Thailand have been awarded the Green Leaf certification.

HOTELS AWARDED THE GREEN LEAF CERTIFICATE
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