TRENDS 4. Provide a competitive edge. As with other amenities, if your property offers something nearby hotels don’t offer, you gain a competitive advantage. 5.Create more partnership opportunities. Hotels and motels often partner with other businesses— restaurants for example. By installing EV charging stations for their guests, hotels can collaborate with other businesses to enhance visibility and broaden marketing. 6.Progressive planning. Often termed “future proofing,” this is simply preparing in advance for something you know is going to happen. As EVs become more prominent on the roads, state and local governments will likely require installation of EV chargers. 7. Apply financial aid incentives. Many local and state governments and even the federal government offer rebates, grants, and/or tax incentives to encourage EV installation. 8.Generate additional hotel revenue. By offering guests an opportunity to charge their vehicles, your hotel/ motel might encourage guests to stay longer—not necessarily adding nights but perhaps lunches, spa visits, or even just a drink at the bar while their vehicle charges. Essential Decision-making Factors There’s more to installing EV chargers than the base per-unit installations costs mentioned above. Other factors that should play a role in determining if EV chargers are right for your hotel/motel include: • Start-to-finish installation costs. Charging station location, distance of the charging station from the power source, and state of electrical infrastructure all factor into the overall cost of EV charger installation. • Number of charging stations. This will depend largely on the number of rooms of your hotel/motel. • Financial aid. As mentioned above, a variety of types of financial assistance are available from the federal government, states, and local governments. • Ongoing maintenance. Like any equipment or technology exposed to the weather, chargers will require maintenance throughout the year. • Revenue generation. One important decision hotel/motel managers and owners will have to make is whether to have guests pay for charging or provide it free. Why You Need an EV Vendor Partner Installing EV chargers at a hotel or motel can be a difficult proposition—not only because of the new (and fast-changing) technology but because of the financial assistance that can make installation more feasible. Working through the planning and installation process requires a vendor partner who has a complete grasp of EV technology and the EV market—and who understands the business of hotel and motel management. Such a partner would be proficient in EV technology, local laws and regulations, governmental and utility financial assistance, insurance, electrical infrastructure, safety, and more. A vendor partner will lead your hotel or motel management team through the complete EV process, from determining if you should add a charging station, to determining how many and which type of chargers to add, identifying charger station locations on the property, identifying financing options, and more. A vendor partner will also work closely with the installer/provider of EV charging services. So, look for a vendor partner that has experience working with hotels and motels, and who has strong relationships with installers/providers of EV charging. A vendor partner that can help you navigate the complex EV world will make the installation process run more smoothly and will assure success. 1.75 million EVs purchased between 2010 and 2020 www.calodging.com November + December 2024 17
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