A welcome reception for EV charging points
Richard Jackson, Designs for Lighting
When it comes to making a good first impression on guests, many hoteliers focus on the customer experience at reception or the atmosphere in the lobby.
But despite the fact these elements are both cornerstones of a good hotel, the truth is that customers start making judgements about an establishment as soon as they arrive on site — or pull into the car park.
To ensure hotel guests are impressed from the get-go and set the right tone for their stay, every arrival must have access to a secure, accessible parking space.
And to reassure people that their cars are safe whilst they’re away, hotel car parks must have CCTV cameras, security personnel and gated access, as well as sufficient lighting.
However, hotels must also provide well-lit EV charging points to keep car parks up to standard as the world shifts towards more environmentally friendly technologies and more people switch to electric vehicles (EVs).
These necessary facilities will help hotels cater to the needs of a growing customer base, attract more guests and increase their revenue.
Plus, as the transport sector is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, EV charging points will allow hotels to play a vital role in climate change efforts — and give them a licence to position themselves as environmentally conscious.
So, how do you do it?
Implementing well-lit EV charging points
Many suppliers offer EV charge boxes and are quick to tell you where to install them, but this won’t always be the best way to go about things.
For example, you might have plans to put the charging point in the far corner of the car park, but this can be costly and cumbersome from an electrical perspective.
That’s where it pays to work with a design team who can place the charging points nearest to the electricity board and save hotels money on installation, providing a much more cost-effective and streamlined scheme for the hotel and its guests.
More generally, hotels should also consider investing in energy-efficient lighting systems for their EV charging points and car parks.
That’s because keeping these spaces lit around the clock can be costly and damaging to the environment.
Still, dark spaces welcome anti-social behaviour, compromise safety and make it difficult for guests to find their cars at night, leading to frustration and potentially deterring existing and prospective customers.
An expert design team might suggest LED bulbs as a solution due to their high efficiencies and long lifetimes, which can help hotels save on energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint all in one.
LEDs also offer better visibility than incandescent alternatives and can enhance the aesthetics of the area if installed with the right design features.
By implementing these changes, hoteliers can offer customers a safer, more convenient stay and contribute to the fight against climate change — all of which will go a long way in ensuring the best possible guest experience.
Of course, there’s a lot to think about when embarking on such a project.
But hotels don’t have to do it alone! Investing in a good consultant that specialises in exterior lighting and EV charging points can help prevent any bumps in the road, often saving hotels money in the long run and resulting in a better final product.
Richard Jackson is Executive Director of Designs for Lighting (DFL) one of the UK’s leading independent lighting consultants.