Daily Buzz: Say Goodbye to Free Shampoo at Hotels

Something to keep in mind if you’re traveling to California in the future: Small plastic shampoo and soap bottles would soon be banned at hotels under a new bill passed by the state Assembly, according to the Los Angeles Times  (opens in a new tab).

“Those tiny plastic shampoo bottles that are common in hotel rooms represent a sizable amount of waste that can be easily eliminated in more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives,” said Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), the bill’s author, in an interview with the outlet.

The bill, officially called AB 1162, would take effect in 2023 for hotels with more than 50 rooms and a year later for all other hotels and rental homes.

The California Hotel and Lodging Association is in support of the bill, noting larger hotel companies, such as Marriott International, have already begun phasing out small toiletry bottles in favor of large in-shower dispensers.

Marriott officials have said the change is expected to save an average of 250 pounds of plastic a year—or 23,000 plastic bottles—for each 140-room hotel moving away from the complimentary service. That’s a big impact for such small bottles.

What an Outside View Can Do for Board Meetings

https://twitter.com/meetingsnet/status/1135987135943716865

As an association’s members and needs evolve, so too should the organization’s board meetings. Brittany Olson, director of meetings for AMPED Association Management, told MeetingsNet  (opens in a new tab) that meeting facilitators can help make the most of strategic planning sessions.

“Having that truly outside perspective can generate new and different directions for conversations and push board members beyond what they have thought about before,” she said.

When it comes to conversations about an organization’s annual meeting, it’s also important to invite planners to the table.

“I use the discussions from board meetings to execute the longer-term vision of where leadership wants the association to go through the annual event,” Olson said. “It can’t happen all in one year, but having their end goals in mind about the next two, five, and 10 years helps me take a few concrete steps each year to get there. Hopefully a planner has the opportunity to hear those conversations, or at least has debriefing sessions afterward, to know what the priorities are in the bigger picture.”

Other Links of Note

Throwback Thursday tips. The Hootsuite blog offers insight into different ways brands can use #TBT to build engagement  (opens in a new tab).

Engaging first-time conference attendees looks a little different than for returning guests. The MemberClicks blog gives four ideas on how planners can go the extra mile for first-timers  (opens in a new tab).

Developing a member-first email strategy can help eliminate email fatigue. The MemberSuite blog explains how to do it  (opens in a new tab).

Expect small containers you can take with you to be replaced with larger ones you can’t. (olegbreslavtsev/iStock/Getty Images Plus)