When you’re managing dozens of hotels and thousands of guests, ensuring a high standard across every venue is key. This counts all the way down to the smallest details, like the layout of a washroom or how a space smells.
This year we’re working with Kew Green Hotels to standardise air care, housekeeping, recycling and waste management across their venues, with support from our distribution partner Bunzl Catering Supplies.
We got the ball rolling by installing new CirculAir 90™ air care dispensers at one of their central venues, voco® Manchester City Centre.
What was the challenge facing Kew Green Hotels?
Kew Green Hotels is one of the UK's leading hotel management companies, operating a broad portfolio of properties across major IHG Hotels & Resorts brands. voco® Manchester City Centre is among those properties - a hotel with a focus on a relaxed, elegant atmosphere and eco-conscious choices.
Before working with us, the hotel had been operating under a managed washroom service contract. As with many managed-service arrangements, this created a dependency on an external provider for routine maintenance – adding unnecessary complexity when team members were available in-house. The hotel team needed a solution they could manage directly: straightforward to install, easy to maintain in-house, and aligned with their environmental values.
Why did the hotel team choose CirculAir 90™?
CirculAir 90™ was introduced to the Kew Green Hotels procurement team through a triparty partnership between RCP, Bunzl Catering Supplies, and Kew Green Hotels. The case was straightforward: a passive, battery-free air care unit that used natural airflow to distribute fragrance, with a refill rated B-class for recyclability by RecyClass (UK, EU, CH, NO & US)
That means no batteries to source or dispose of, and no external technician required to change a refill. Not only that, but every component of the CirculAir 90™ refill is made from the same material, making it straightforward to recycle at end of life.
Sustainability was a key concern for Kew Greens Hotel, especially at voco® Manchester where they focus on giving guests an experience that is ‘both luxurious and eco-conscious'. CirculAir 90™ is backed by an ISO-compliant, third-party reviewed lifecycle assessment (LCA) conducted in partnership with global climate consultancy South Pole*, giving teams the evidence base they need to make procurement decisions that stand up to scrutiny.
What were the results of the new air care system?
What began as a washroom solution quickly extended beyond it. CirculAir 90™ is now placed throughout the hotel - in kitchens, hallways, and lift lobby areas as well as washrooms. CirculAir 90™ is available in six fresh scents to suit multiple areas of a hotel, and each refill covers approx 6,000 cubic feet, which is equivalent to a washroom with approximately three to four stalls.
Feedback from the team has been positive, particularly around fragrance performance and the product's ability to deliver noticeable, fresh scents across spaces, particularly for such a compact unit.
David Heeps, Procurement Manager at Kew Green Hotels said:
"Rubbermaid has demonstrated a genuine understanding of the challenges facing the modern hospitality industry, from labour efficiency and housekeeping productivity to cleanliness standards and guest satisfaction. Their ability to combine innovative products with practical hospitality expertise makes them a natural partner for Kew Green Hotels as we continue to enhance our operations and support our hotel teams. This partnership also aligns with Kew Green Hotels' broader sustainability ambitions and responsible procurement strategy."
Based on the success they had with CirculAir 90™ at voco Manchester, Kew Green Hotels are also introducing our products to support their cleaning mobility and waste management operations.
How are we expanding this partnership beyond air care? CirculAir 90 is just the start of the solutions we’re bringing to Kew Green Hotels. To extend the same high standards across all areas of their hotels, we’re also working with the team to introduce Sustain™ waste management containers and our Executive Series™ Housekeeping Carts.
Sustain™ was designed for front-of-house spaces, with a slim footprint to maximise floor space, and a matte black finish to complement modern interiors. It’s a modular waste management solution that can be customised with multiple recycling and waste streams, to align with Simpler Recycling legislation and the needs of specific spaces. This made it a perfect fit for Kew Greens Hotels, who were looking for waste management that met high standards in both functionality and aesthetics.
Our Executive Series™ housekeeping carts were also made with hospitality spaces in mind, developed based on direct feedback from cleaning professionals. They provide plenty of organised storage space without being bulky, as 360 casters offer manoeuvrability even in narrow corridors. even in narrow corridors.
A partnership built on shared goals
The adoption of CirculAir 90™ at voco® Manchester City Centre is the result of a joined-up approach between RCP, Bunzl Catering Supplies, and Kew Green Hotels - a triparty model that gave the procurement team commercial confidence at every stage.
To find out how a parnership with us could support your venue’s cleaning and waste management strategies, contact your regional team.
Special thanks to David Heeps and Ryan Small for their support in bringing this partnership to life.
* Compared to its predecessor, TCell™. Based on ISO compliant Life Cycle Assessment between CirculAir 90™ and TCell™ Citrus Zest and Citrus Mix (refill).
Share on Social Media
