Could old sails help hotels stay cooler?

Every summer, thousands of hotel guests leave the pool area during the hottest hours of the day. Not because they want to.

Because there simply isn't enough shade or the pool area is just too hot. 

The result is familiar. Guests often retreat to their rooms, close the curtains and switch on the air conditioning. It is comfortable for the guest—but expensive for your hotel and very unnecessary for the environment. 

Think what you might loose and can gain in sales. - Lets say that 10 families stay longer due to optimal shade then thats : 10 × €50 average spend = €500/day. Over a 120-day season, that's approximately €60,000 in potential additional food & beverage revenue if improved shade encourages guests to stay longer around the pool.

Every harbour has sailing boats, and every sailing boat eventually replaces its sails. Although many of these sails are no longer suitable for sailing, the material is often incredibly durable, UV resistant and designed to withstand years of wind, salt and sunshine. At We Help Hotels, we believe these materials deserve a second life.

Instead of importing new shade solutions, we help hotels create partnerships with local marinas, sailing clubs and organisations that collect retired sails. Together with local craftspeople, the sails can be transformed into beautiful shade sails for terraces, pool areas, children's play spaces or outdoor cafés.

The result is much more than shade.

It creates a story.

A story that connects the hotel with the local community. A story about extending the life of valuable materials instead of replacing them. A story guests can see every day while relaxing beside the pool.

Projects like these also support local businesses, reduce transport and demonstrate that sustainability is often about seeing existing resources differently—not simply buying new products.

This is exactly the kind of circular partnerships we love to help create.

Sometimes the best material for your next project is already lying just a few hundred metres from your hotel.

Could this work at your hotel?
We Help Hotels identifies local resources, builds partnerships and develops circular solutions that strengthen both hotels and destinations. If you'd like to explore opportunities in your area, we'd love to start the conversation.