HOJO Canada goes 100% Smoke-Free
Howard Johnson Canada is currently in the process of converting all Canadian properties to smoke-free facilities.
The decision to become smoke-free is based on guest and franchise partners input and opinions. All parties have come to the collective agreement that becoming 100% smoke-free will result in a cleaner, healthier more family friendly hotel environment. We still welcome our smoking guests, but do require that all smoking be conducted outside of the buildings and in accordance with the smoking bylaws of that province or region.
This decision is another step in Howard Johnson’s “Fresh Approach” for the brand, which focuses on a higher level of quality, consistency, service and support across the brand.
Smoke-Free Frequently Asked Questions
What is Howard Johnson’s Smoke-Free policy?
Howard Johnson Canada’s new smoke-free policy will include all of its franchise lodgings across Canada.
This change will affect approximately 3,500 guest rooms across the country and also includes all meeting rooms, public spaces and employee work areas. In provinces or regions where appropriate, it will also encompass all on-site restaurants, bars and lounge areas.
How will Howard Johnson Canada be enforcing this new policy?
Guests will be reminded of our new policy upon check-in and all rooms will be inspected by trained staff for signs of smoking upon departure. A significant room recovery fee will be applied to any guests who do not comply with our new policy. The room recovery fee will cover the costs of restoring the guest room to a level that complies with the standards of our smoke-free policy.
This new standard will also become part of our Quality Assurance program. Each Howard Johnson location is inspected annually by a qualified Howard Johnson QA inspector to ensure that all company policies and standards are being met.
What is the reasoning behind this decision?
According to a North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study (SM) conducted by J.D. Power and Associates in 2006, it was found that 79 percent of hotel guests prefer a smoke-free environment that exceeds the boundaries of their guest room. During our research period we also found that majority of our guests stated that they would prefer smoke-free facilities that extend beyond the parameters of their room. The combination of both customer and franchisee feedback was the main motives behind making the move to become smoke-free.
This is in no way a discrimination against smokers; instead, we wish to give people the option of an entirely smoke-free environment when they stay with us anywhere across Canada.
Which hotels are affected?
All Howard Johnson properties within Canada are currently being converted to smoke-free facilities.
What are you doing to convert properties to smoke-free?
Howard Johnson Canada realizes that becoming smoke-free is not an easy step. To ensure that this policy is executed correctly we have partnered with JohnsonDiversey, one of the world’s leaders in developing cleaning and hygiene solutions, to create a “Smoke-Free Cleaning Program”. This mandatory program requires that guest rooms undergo an intensive cleaning and restoration process. After completing this program each room will be thoroughly inspection by a JohnsonDiversey representative to ensure all procedures were followed correctly. After passing the inspection, each property will then be certified as a smoke-free facility.
With JohnsonDiversey’s specially designed cleaning regiment, room renovations are not required.
How will smokers be accommodated? Will they be able to smoke anywhere within the building?
There will be no smoking in any of the hotel buildings. Smoking will only be permitted on the exterior grounds of the property in accordance with the smoking bylaws of that province or region.
