Picture a hotel bathroom free from single-use plastics; where sleek, refillable dispensers replace wasteful miniature bottles, offering a more sustainable and luxurious guest experience. As the hospitality industry embraces eco-conscious practices, high-quality dispensers are emerging as a crucial solution, reducing waste and enhancing operations while adding to both aesthetics and functionality.
From biodegradable packaging to ethically sourced, bespoke and cruelty-free formulations, hotels are rethinking their amenity offerings to align with modern sustainability goals and priorities of the modern-day guest.
To learn more about the current offerings, AccomNews spoke with Weatherdon, Swisstrade, and VANITY GROUP.
How are high-end branded dispensers transforming the guest experience in luxury accommodations?
Tobias Lord, Weatherdon’s Head of Brand : With the rise in eco-tourism and more environmentally conscious guests, hotels are increasingly sensitive to the needs of their visitors and their own eco-footprint. Some of the higher-end properties we work with are opting for more sustainable solutions with premium dispensers. Hoteliers can cut plastic waste by up to 33 times while saving thousands of dollars with a smarter, more efficient dispensing system.
Peter Weingartner, Swisstrade Principal: Luxury isn’t just about what guests see; it’s about how a space makes them feel. When a guest steps into their room and encounters beautifully crafted dispensers from globally renowned brands, it immediately sets the tone for an indulgent yet responsible stay.
Gone are the days when dispensers were viewed as cost-cutting measures. Today, they are statements of sophistication, sustainability, and seamless convenience. The best hotels curate their amenity experience, just as they do their interiors, by choosing fragrance, formulation, and design to create sensory moments that linger beyond the stay. Thoughtfully designed, high-end dispensers elevate the guest experience by blending aesthetic appeal, premium formulations, and an eco-conscious philosophy.
But the sensory experience doesn’t stop there. Forward-thinking hotels are expanding beyond traditional amenities to incorporate aromatherapy pillow mists, luxurious face masks, and calming bath soaks that turn a guest’s stay into a true sanctuary.
Some are also offering a retail component, allowing guests to purchase their favourite in-room amenities to transform a simple overnight visit into a lasting connection. This, in turn provides the operator with an additional revenue stream that offsets the cost of their amenities.
Belinda Shu, VANITY GROUP’s Global Head of Quality, Regulatory & ESG: Guests staying in luxury properties are now looking for more than just a beautiful room, they want to know the hotel they are staying in also shares their values, particularly when it comes to sustainability.
Switching from single-use plastic bottles to high-end, refillable dispensers isn’t just about reducing waste. While that is a significant part of the conversation—especially considering that a hotel switching from minis can achieve a 93 percent reduction in plastic waste—it’s also about delivering a cleaner, more modern guest experience.
These dispensers are designed to look beautiful, feel premium, and reflect the hotel’s brand. They’re not clunky or clinical, they actually elevate the bathroom space.
The best part is that guests still get the luxurious, high-quality product they expect, just in a more thoughtful and sustainable way. It shows the hotel is thinking ahead, about both the planet and the guest experience. It’s a smart move that combines design, quality, and purpose in one.
AdobeStock by iDoPixBox
With the industry moving away from single-use plastics, how can dispensers balance sustainability with cost savings?
Tobias Lord: Economic sustainability is just as vital as ecological responsibility. While we all share accountability for our environmental impact, hotels must also remain financially viable.
Dispensers offer a practical solution, balancing cost efficiency with sustainability by reducing waste and controlling product use. By allowing guests to dispense only what they need—rather than a standard portion—these systems help minimise excess while supporting both the planet and the bottom line.
Peter Weingartner: It is important to understand that not all dispensers are created equal. The initial uptake of retail-style dispensers post-COVID has proven challenging from a hygiene, safety and operational perspective. Unlike single-use amenities, retail-type dispensers are not replaced regularly, suggesting a cost-saving opportunity. However, this must be weighed up against the risk of bacteria build-up and cross-contamination during the labour-intensive refilling process. The latter point has led to the development of sophisticated dispenser systems specifically designed for the hospitality industry.
The latest factory-sealed dispensers eliminate these pain points, offering a sealed, tamper-proof, and ultra-hygienic solution while significantly reducing operational expenses.
Hotels making the shift are seeing substantial cost-in-use savings, paired with less waste, faster housekeeping turnover, and a reduction in plastic use that aligns with legislative trends. This is sustainability redefined: not just a compliance measure, but an intelligent investment in efficiency, guest experience, and brand reputation.
Image courtesy of Swisstrade
Belinda Shu: It’s a win-win when done right. Moving to dispensers reduces the environmental impact, but it also makes financial sense over time. Instead of constantly reordering and disposing of small plastic bottles, hotels can invest in systems that last much longer and significantly reduce product waste.
When hotels switch to dispensers, they’re not just saving on packaging, they are also using less product overall. By selecting a dispenser with a pouch system, hoteliers can also benefit from zero wastage and using only five grams of plastic per pouch. Housekeeping becomes more efficient, stock management gets easier, and waste disposal costs often go down.
While there is an upfront investment in high-quality dispensers, the return does kick in quickly. Beyond the cost savings, it sends a strong message to guests: we care about the planet and we’re taking action.
Guests are increasingly seeking vegan, cruelty-free, and locally sourced products. How can hotels integrate ethical formulations and bespoke amenities?
Tobias Lord: Many leading brands are prioritising ethical product design and sustainability with formulas that meet high standards of traceability, compostability, and plant-based, vegan solutions, all while aligning with a commitment to environmental responsibility for the benefit of guests.
Image courtesy of Weatherdon
Peter Weingartner: Vegan, cruelty-free, and locally sourced amenities have shifted from niche preferences to essential elements of modern luxury. Today’s guests expect authentic sustainability, not just greenwashing comments. What’s more, they actively seek products with clean formulations, locally inspired ingredients, and artisanal craftsmanship.
A number of brands are setting new benchmarks in this space, offering guests a guilt-free indulgence with high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients. From botanical-infused shampoos featuring Australian native extracts to exclusive amenity collaborations with ethical brands, hotels have the opportunity to curate an experience that reflects their surroundings, whether it’s a coastal retreat offering sea mineral-infused skincare or an outback lodge embracing eucalyptus and lemon myrtle fragrances.
Integrating ethical formulations enhances brand storytelling, deepens guest loyalty, and creates a connection to place.
Image courtesy of VANITY GROUP
Belinda Shu: It starts with understanding what your guests truly value. Partnering with the right suppliers makes it easy for hotels to offer vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably sourced products that don’t compromise on quality or luxury. Ethical formulations are no longer niche; they’re expected.
Hotels can take it a step further by offering bespoke amenities like signature scents or products made with locally sourced ingredients. This adds a personal, meaningful touch while supporting the local economy and reducing transport emissions. The result? A guest experience that feels thoughtful, responsible, and genuinely connected to place.
From a housekeeping and operational perspective, what are the key advantages of dispenser systems in terms of hygiene, waste reduction, and overall efficiency?
Tobias Lord: Beyond the time-saving benefits—crucial for housekeeping staff—refilling takes just seconds, eliminating the need to carry heavy 5L containers or discard half-used single-use products. Housekeepers overwhelmingly prefer this streamlined approach for its efficiency and ease of use, while hotel managers also recognise the significant cost advantages it offers.
Dispensers are changing the game in amenities by combining ecological benefits with economic efficiencies while helping housekeepers work faster and deliver world-class products in an affordable format.
Peter Weingartner: Unlike comparing single-use amenities, the choice of the right dispenser and wall-bracket is of vital importance. Dispenser technology has come a long way in recent years, predominantly dealing with the hygiene aspect and consumer safety.
That said, hotel operators will want to pay particular attention to the ease of refilling the dispenser, and the availability of pilfer and tamper-proof wall brackets, which are generally supplied for free with the dispenser. Wall holders today are an integral component of hotel-specific dispenser systems and ensure a safe and cost-effective operation of your amenities offering.
The shift to dispensers allows for smarter operations, enhanced hygiene, and streamlined efficiency.
Belinda Shu: Dispensers make life easier for housekeeping teams by cutting down the time it takes to reset a room, removing the need to replace tiny bottles every day. From a hygiene perspective, sealed and tamper-resistant systems also maintain cleanliness and product safety for guests.
There is also a significant reduction in plastic and product waste, meaning a more streamlined stock management process for hotels. It’s a small change with a big impact; more efficient, more sustainable, and a smoother experience all around.
Sarah is a freelance journalist with experience across print, digital and audio. After working for Multimedia Publishing as a contributing writer, she has recently joined the team in a part-time capacity for School News AU and AccomNews.
