Sustainability is not a trend. It’s a way of life and a necessary business strategy for hotels in order to stay competitive. In this article, we’ll explore what sustainability means for hoteliers, how they can implement it effectively and measure their progress towards reaching their goals.
Sustainability and the Hotel Industry
As a hotelier, you are likely to be aware that your industry has a major impact on the world around it. In fact, it’s not just that hotels have an impact–they are also a major contributor to the economy and employment in many countries around the world.
The hotel industry is one of the largest consumers of water and energy in most countries where they operate; this means that as an industry leader, your company can make significant strides towards sustainability by reducing consumption at all levels. Hotels use huge amounts of resources (such as electricity or water) each day, which significantly increases their carbon footprint and has implications for both local communities and global warming.
Why Is Sustainability Essential for Hoteliers?
Sustainability is essential to the future of the hospitality industry. In fact, it’s one of the most important factors in attracting and retaining customers.
The benefits of sustainability go beyond just saving money; there’s also an emotional component that makes people feel good about staying at a hotel or resort where they know their actions are helping to preserve nature and create positive change for future generations.
Sustainability is also a good business decision. For example, hotels certified by the Green Key Eco-Rating Program can expect an increase in revenue of 3% to 8%.
A hotel’s sustainability efforts can also be used to attract and retain employees. In fact, 75% of millennials say they would prefer to work for an environmentally conscious company.
How Can Hoteliers Measure Their Progress in Sustainability?
Sustainability is a complex topic. While it’s easy to see the benefits of sustainable practices, it can be difficult to measure the impact of your efforts. But measuring your impact is essential if you want to truly achieve success in sustainability.
What makes measuring your impact so tricky? One reason is that sustainable practices don’t yield immediate results—they’re long-term investments in the health and well-being of your business and community, which means they take time to show up on your bottom line. For example, reducing water consumption might not save money right away, but if you do it consistently over time, it will save money in the long run because you won’t need to replace pipes or appliances as often.
Conclusion
We view the achievement of sustainability goals as a journey, not a destination. Every year, new advances are made in technology, industry research and especially consumer demand for sustainable products and services. We encourage hoteliers to take an active role in their industry association and become involved in their local communities to help lead this long-lasting movement toward sustainable practices.