With EV sales setting records nationwide, EV-owning travelers have begun to demand that the hotels they stay in offer EV charging. As E&E News’ David Ferris points out, at least the country’s luxury hotels are listening. Nearly 90 percent of these upscale hotels have installed EV charging stations at their facilities.
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However, most of the nation’s no-frills hotel options have yet to follow suit. Just over one-fourth of the United States’ entire stock of hotel chains offer EV charging. That’s an opportunity waiting to happen for enterprising hotel owners who want to grab their share of the EV-owning travelers’ business. If you’re a hotelier who wants to set your brand apart from your competition, take inspiration from 8 hotel chains that are integrating EV charging with their amenities.
1. Hilton
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In September 2023, the Hilton hotel chain announced that it would install as many as 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors at 2,000 locations throughout North America starting in early 2024. In his September 7, 2023, The Verge piece, Umar Shakir points out that each Hilton location will have at least six chargers. If all goes according to the chain’s plan, these installations will make the Hilton EV charging network the largest of all hotel chains.
These new connectors’ design can accommodate all North American EVs, enabling all EV owners to charge their cars while staying at Hilton properties. Part of Hilton’s ongoing commitment to “exceptional hospitality” and convenience, this move should earn the chain a massive share of EV drivers’ business. In fact, Shakir notes it is already paying off in spades, converting more searches to stays than ever before.
2. Marriott
With properties ranging from its luxury offerings to its few-frills Fairfield Hotels, Marriott has partnered with EV Connect to offer EV charging at many of its locations. By working with EV Connect, the hotel chain can offer its guests charging services without the need to hire an in-house team, saving the company time and money. And, it dovetails with the chain’s commitment to provide affordable yet clean energy to its customers.
As Electrek’s Scooter Doll observes, this development serves as a countermove to Hilton’s recent partnership with Tesla. With installations at as many as 6,000 of its hotels, this strategy should increase the hotel chain’s desirability factor among EV owners, making it a keen competitor for the EV-owning market sector. Guests will be able to locate the hotels with EV charging on the EV Connect app so they can plan their stays accordingly, according to Clean Technica’s Carolyn Fortuna.
3. Best Western
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In December 2023, Best Western (BWH℠) Hotels announced that it will partner with Tesla to install Universal Wall Connectors at some of its North American hotels. These charging stations join the brand’s already-existing collection of EV chargers, including the first hotel to provide EV charging along California’s legendary Highway 5.
As part of the brand’s sustainability pledge, the new stations should elevate customer experience among EV-owning travelers. Eventually, the brand wants to extend its charging network to include some of its international properties.
4. Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn continues to expand its network of EV charging stations with the addition of EV charging facilities to two of its North Carolina properties. Partnering with TurnOnGreen, the hotels installed networked Level 2 chargers that guests can activate using the TurnOnGreen app or chip cards or scanning a QR code.
Unlike some of the other hotel chains we’ve featured, Holiday Inn works with a variety of electric vehicle charging infrastructure providers, including New World, Tesla, and others, to provide their customers with the best local charging options.
5. Radisson Hotels
Radisson Hotels, too, has teamed up with Tesla to offer both diners and overnight guests free charging in the hotels’ parking lots throughout the US. The hotel chain also provides charging for EVs with Type 2 inlets.
In Europe, the brand partnered with PowerGo to build a network of chargers at 300 of its European hotels. As part of the brand’s commitment to net zero operations by 2050 on both sides of the Atlantic, this move represents a significant leap toward achieving that goal. The company’s long-term plans include equipping its hotels “in Europe and beyond” with EV chargers by 2025.
6. Hyatt Hotels
Like Radisson, Hyatt Hotels also provides its guests with free EV charging. With both Level 2 charging stations and Level 3 chargers capable of charging up to 80 kilowatts per hour, guests can charge their vehicles in a mere half hour if they use the Level 3 option.
One of its properties, the Grand Hyatt in Vail, even offers EV charging as part of its valet parking service. Guests needn’t do anything but hand over the keys.
7. Motel 6
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The ultimate in no-frills hotels, Motel 6 gives a whole new meaning to its tagline, “We’ll leave the light on for you,” as it begins to phase in EV charging facilities in several of its hotels across the US. Working with various charging infrastructure providers, including Tesla and Nema, the chain has made EV charging a key component of its overall sustainability initiatives.
8. Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Around the US and around the world, Sheraton hotels have installed EV charging facilities for their guests. As a part of most Sheraton properties’ sustainability plans, providing EV chargers is a sensible way to reduce their carbon footprint and encourage EV adoption. Partnering with a diverse range of charging providers, including ChargePoint, Tesla, and TurnOnGreen, Sheraton hotels now have EV charging stations at more than 50 locations worldwide.
Learn More About the Benefits of On-Premises EV Charging at the Summit
If you’ve been thinking about installing EV charging stations at your hotel, restaurant, or apartment complex, you’ll want to attend the next EV Charging Summit event. With a lineup of EV charging experts to share their knowledge on everything from monetizing your chargers to the latest technology, you’ll come away with the confidence to start your own EV charging project. Secure your spot today!
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