New kind of demand
The demand for sustainability will be a strong one in 2021. People are increasingly concerned about whether their money is helping the environment and supporting people before they book a room. A staggering 53% of Australians say they would be willing to pay more for products and services with positive environmental credentials. This percentage is much higher for Millenials and Gen Z. There is clearly a demand for a better planet.
If you want your hotel to be resilient to climate change, and remain competitive in a modern market, then you must start to care more about the impact of its actions on the environment. This article will share ten sustainability tips that your hotel can use to help you protect the future of your area and your business.
Tips for sustainability in your hotel
Local products available
Your hotel’s carbon footprint is increased by food miles. Reevaluate your supplier relationships and work with local businesses if you currently source your products from faraway sources. You will not only be helping those in your area, but you will also reduce carbon emissions from the trucks and planes that transport your products to your destination.
Add vegan and vegetarian options to your menu
It is not surprising to learn that vegan and vegetarian diets result in lower carbon emissions in today’s world. Research from Loma Linda University has shown that vegans have 41.7% fewer carbon emissions than those who eat meat. While we don’t expect you to eat all animal products, it is important to make sure that your menu caters to those who can give up meat and eat only plants. Your hotel will be more welcoming and sustainable.
Redesign and simplify your recycling processes
The hotels are notoriously wasteful. The hospitality industry is notorious for throwing away plastic, food, cardboard, and bottles every day. It is possible to learn some things about recycling from everyone. Your hotel can make sure it separates waste correctly, regardless of whether you have three streams or four. Install a recycling bin in your hotel rooms to ensure that recycling is a hotel-wide endeavour (guests and staff included). To ensure guests and staff know where the bin is, you can install signage in your hotel.
Invest in green infrastructure
It is time to invest in green infrastructure for your hotel. Hotel owners interested in sustainability ROI can purchase big-ticket items such as solar panels, water recycling systems and geothermal cooling towers. You’ll feel proud of the switch to sustainable operations, and you’ll save money over time.
Set goals and monitor energy consumption
Incorporate energy efficiency and monitoring in your hotel’s monthly operations. Get to know how much electricity you use each month. Set a goal for your staff to reduce this amount in the next month. It might be worthwhile to focus on turning off unnecessary lighting, using cooling and heating systems when needed, and washing laundry in eco-friendly settings. You can reduce your carbon footprint even further once you have reached your goals.
Ditch single-use plastic
In 2021, single-use plastic will be banned in your hotel bar or restaurant in your guest’s in-room refrigerators. It can all be replaced if you sell water in plastic bottles or plastic cups, straws, take-out cups, or any other plastic. Switch to non-plastic items. There are many options today for non-plastic products. You can extend your no-single-use plastic policy to guest bedrooms and limit the use of single-use plastics.
Organize and partner with a charity
Local organizations that do their part for the environment are a great way of directly affecting the environment. You could ask for $1 optional donations and your meal to go towards local conservation charities or have a music festival that charges $5 entry fees to a beach cleanup organization. Your guests will appreciate your contribution to the local community and the environment, and it could even be used as a catalyst for further action.
Your efforts should be shared on your website.
Greenwashing is something that your hotel should never engage in. However, you can share your sustainability efforts on the website or social media platforms. You should avoid exaggerating or lying about your efforts and claiming that you are a sustainable hotel. It is great to share your journey towards sustainable hotel operations and be modest in your learning. This appeals to environmentally conscious guests (53% would pay more for sustainable services). It also helps make sustainability more prominent in the hospitality industry.
Offer sustainability training
If you don’t provide training for your staff to support eco-friendly hotel operations, it will likely have a less positive impact than you want. If you don’t give the right training and you make an attempt to increase waste streams, your staff won’t take advantage of this great initiative. Even if you only have a 15-minute session once a month, remind your staff how they can contribute to positive changes at your hotel. You can also encourage staff participation by using signage.
You might consider offsetting.
Although carbon offsetting is often associated with the aviation sector, did you know that anyone can offset their carbon emissions? You can offset anything, from a car trip to the hotel’s entire operation for one year to offsetting carbon emissions. Your hotel can offset carbon emissions by offering a shuttle service to the airport. Let guests know about this achievement. You can also reward guests with a freebie if you help them offset their car travels to you.
Sustainability is not something that can be achieved overnight. The journey is difficult, and there are always more lessons to be learned. We recommend implementing new initiatives in your hotel and sharing your progress with your guests. You will not only be making a difference for the better, but your hotel will also be able to provide eco-friendly services for guests.
