Notebook

Sustainability is a major issue as people are becoming more and more concerned about how we use natural resources and protect the environment for future generations. For those in the hospitality industry looking for ways to incorporate sustainable practices in their company, the five blogs listed below provide relevant information on how to accomplish the goal of promoting a better environment.

1. Hospitality role in driving communities and sustainabilities

As one of the largest industries in the world, travel and tourism businesses can learn a lot from the blog post Hospitality Role in Driving Communities and Sustainabilities, which explains how to help contribute to the well-being of the planet and give back to their local communities, especially during times of crisis. One way to accomplish this goal is through voluntourism, geared toward travelers who want to have experiences that bring meaning to their lives. An example of voluntourism discussed in the blog is COVID-caring, where hotels and others in the hospitality industry have opened their doors to those in need, as well as provide valuable food donations people struggling to feed their families at a time when joblessness is at an all-time high. Other examples include vacations with a few days of volunteering at local hotels in programs that promote giving back to the local community, whether through school supplies for disadvantaged youth or food donations.

2. Sustainability in luxury hotels

If you are looking for an example of how luxury hotels have implemented new sustainable strategies while still providing guests with the service and quality they expect from an upscale establishment, then Sustainability in Luxury Hotels is a must-read. The piece discusses the hotel that has become known as the best luxury eco/green hotel in the world: Inspira Santa Marta. This boutique hotel has provided such sustainable initiatives as bottling their own water in-house, providing recycling bins for all their guests and creating “green” meeting spaces. The path to sustainability was not an easy one for the hotel, but one they felt was important. Read more on how the 18th-century building was converted into an eco-friendly hotel, which has become the inspiration for many luxury hotels to follow suit. From food donations to solar panels, the hotel is definitely a shining example of what sustainability in the hotel industry can look like.

3. Sustainable tourism: Why hotels should lead this effort?

With the tourism industry accounting for 10.4% of the gross domestic product and 10% of employment in previous years, it is easy to see why many in the industry feel the need to be leaders when it comes to sustainability. The blog, Sustainable Tourism: Why Hotels Should Lead This Effort, delves into the reasons why hotels need to take the lead in the crusade for sustainability in the tourism industry. When it comes to sustainability, hotels need to step up to the plate because of their close relationships with the communities upon which they are built, especially those that become hot spots for tourism. Due to their immersion in the local community and their reliance on them for survival, it is important that hotels find ways to give back and protect the local areas that provide them with the sought-after destinations they need to bring in guests and drive up revenues. The post also discusses the desire of more and more consumers to be involved in social issues such as sustainability, with many global visitors in favor of booking accommodation in hotels that they known to be eco-friendly.

4. From lockdown staycation to sustainable tourism

From Lockdown Staycation to Sustainable Tourism is a piece that looks at the shift to sustainable tourism as people emerge from the state of lockdown and move and begin to move about more, taking long-delayed vacations. People are anxious to escape the drudgery of their homes, and have had a long time to reflect and rethink how they feel about tourism – now that they have spent a significant time without it. It is the hope of many that this new way of thinking may include a strive for sustainable tourism when they finally feel comfortable enough to leave their homes and venture out into the world.

The blog also discusses how the ongoing health concerns may also help to alleviate some problems that led to environmental destruction, disrupted ecosystems and depleted natural resources, largely caused by over-tourism. The lack of consideration for pollution and environmental disruption that comes from overcrowding at popular attractions may become a thing of the past, as visitors are restricted at many locations while the COVID-19 crisis continues to spread.

The reduction in the devastation caused to the environment due to an enforced slowing down of movement has already been noticed. Sustainability has also been brought to the forefront of people’s minds as a reduction in waste has been incorporated into business strategies as contactless interaction is becoming the norm. The hope is that the awareness of the necessity of sustainability will continue as the people consider the principles of movement and making travel plans.

5. Sustainable hotels: Learning from designing a carbon positive hotel

Designing a carbon-positive hotel is the topic of discussion in the blog post, Sustainable Hotels: Learning From Designing a Carbon Positive Hotel. The piece discusses a number of topics about the development and design of eco-friendly hotels. It starts by delving into the practice of greenwashing. This involves companies making false claims publically about being environmentally-friendly and sustainable to attract consumers who are eco-conscious. In the hospitality industry, these cases of greenwashing can lead to consumer mistrust which can be devastating to those intent on creating genuinely eco-friendly hotels from operations through administration.

The piece goes on to discuss how too many of the companies in the hospitality industry are focusing on presenting a sustainable image by making one or two simple changes instead of refocusing their business model to include sustainability in every aspect. Finally, the post wraps up with examples of how companies in the industry can design carbon-positive hotels through such means as reducing energy and water consumption.

Sustainable practices are becoming increasingly common place in the hospitality industry, with the birth of eco-conscious tourism, voluntourism and regional tourism slowly becoming acceptable alternatives to standard commercial attitudes towards going on holiday. It’s important to take inspiration from industry professionals who have managed to merge their financial returns with their commitment to implementing genuine sustainable practices. Staying positive, innovative and believing that one CAN make a difference is key, especially in these sensitive times.