Firms join forces to slash hospitality waste removal costs.

HVS International and Refuse Environmental Systems, Inc. have joined forces, establishing the joint venture, HVS-R/E Hospitality Waste Management Systems, to enable the hospitality industry to slash its waste costs.

Combining the resources of the hospitality industry's leading consulting firm with the nation's largest solid waste management and consulting company creates a service that allows hotels the opportunity to decrease their current solid waste management expenses by an average of 35 percent to 60 percent, according to the new venture.

Through an innovative waste management program that controls and tracks each aspect of the waste removal and recycling process, HVS-R/E Hospitality Waste Management Systems tailors its services to individual hotels' needs in order to significantly lower the cost of solid waste removal, free management resources to focus on core business issues, streamline operations, and centralize waste recycling and disposal functions.

From the very onset of the program, HVS-R/E Hospitality Waste Management Systems manages all aspects of the hotel's solid waste disposal - from renegotiating service arrangements to continuous cost-control monitoring and serving as the customer service department for each property in the management system. HVS-R/E Hospitality Waste Management Systems actually establishes itself as the liaison between the hotel and the waste hauler, arranging payment of the hauling bills, and provides electronic monitoring of the waste pick-ups to insure that the hotel is paying for service actually received. Clients receive reports to show them what they are paying each month, how much they have saved for each property, and for the portfolio as a whole.

Part of the benefit of the HVS-R/E Hospitality Waste Management System comes from its considerable purchasing power. "Together we are working with over 6,000 hauling companies," said Chris Balfe, vice president at HVS International's New York office. "We are probably already working with your hauling company in other properties, so this first savings step is an easy one."

Richard Bisesti, president of Refuse/Environmental Systems, Inc., said, "We have high expectations for the joint venture to successfully provide our waste management services to the hospitality market. With the unprecedented volume of mergers and acquisitions in the lodging business over the past year, out-sourcing utilities management has become essential to ensure more centralized management of increasingly dispersed properties. We are confident that the teaming of two companies with high profiles in their respective industries will provide a strong basis for expansion in this ready market."

HVS-R/E Hospitality Waste Management Systems also provides access to a wide variety of waste disposal and recycling equipment at discounted competitive pricing, and assists in regulatory reporting to helps to ensure legal compliance (thus avoiding fines and penalties) and minimize environmental impact.

HVS-R/E Hospitality Waste Management Systems' comprehensive program can be structured to meet each individual client's preference - either on a shared-savings or flat-fee basis. Shared savings is a no-risk program that does not require any out-of-pocket fees from the client - no savings, no cost. HVS-R/E simply takes a portion of the savings that result from the implementation of the new waste management systems. The flat-fee option is structured in a manner whereby a management fee is allocated to each property and is paid on a monthly basis. In most instances, the greatest savings to the property owner is derived from the flat-fee option.

HVS International is a global hospitality consulting organization with offices in New York (Mineola), San Francisco, Miami, Boulder, Vancouver and London. Its professional staff of more than 100 industry specialists offers a wide range of services, including market feasibility studies, valuations, strategic analysis, development planning and litigation support. Through its divisions, HVS supplies unique hotel consulting expertise in the areas of executive search, food and beverage operations, gaming, operations analysis, asset management and investment counseling. With over 30 years of experience in the lodging industry, HVS International has provided consulting and valuation services for more than 8,000 hotels in all 50 states and over 55 foreign countries.

Additionally, HVS International's Eco Services division assists hoteliers in developing property-specific environmental programs designed to lower operating expenses and increase revenue. The firm was the winner of the 1997 Hotel Industry Leadership Award in the category of Environmental Awareness- Corporate/Multiple Hotels.

Refuse/Environmental Systems, Inc. of Agawam, Massachusetts, is one of the nation's largest waste management and consulting firms, specializing in reducing and monitoring solid waste collection costs. With over 20 years of experience, the company continues to successfully reduce costs for thousands of properties in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada.

For more information on how your company's hotels can take advantage of this service, contact Chris Balfe at (516) 2488828, ext. 238.