A Vision of Change: Sustainability in the hotel industry

Student Name
MD SAZZADUR RAHMAN

Student ID
1913519

Module
Sustainable Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module code
BMIH5006

Lecturer
Dr. Huw Thomas
Introduction:

Sustainability — the mindful use of a resource so that it isn’t used up or damaged —

plays a vital role in the hospitality industry. Hospitality organizations’ success
depends on their preserving the natural and cultural attractions that compel tourists
to visit their destinations. Not doing so has consequences (University of Central
Florida, n.d.). In simple words, sustainability means that natural ecosystems can
continue to support life and provide resources to meet the needs of the present and
future generations. Evidently, the hotel sector puts increased pressure on the
environment and is demanding on the natural resources. However, the industry also
relies on the same natural environment – unspoilt landscapes, sandy beaches,
turquoise waters, glaciers, waterfalls, coral reefs and fresh air; all of which serve as
great tourist attractions. Therefore, there is an inherent danger that the we might
harm the very basis on which hospitality is built (University of South Wales,
n.d.). This essay will focus on critically analysing the relationship between
sustainability and the hotel industry along with how the hotel industry is responding
and adapting, and why sustainability is a key focus.

Main Body:

“All tourism relies on the natural and cultural resources that attract tourists and act as
the main driver of growth and development in the tourism economy. Some
destinations, such as those in the Caribbean, rely on pristine beaches and crystal-
clear waters to bring in tourists. Others, such as Paris, rely on their cultural heritage
—architecture, museums, cuisine—to drive tourist visits,” explains Sergio Alvarez,
assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality
Management. “As diverse as these destinations may seem, they all share one thing
in common: the attractions that make them world-class destinations are threatened
by human activity, and in many cases, tourism itself is a main threat to these
attractions.” Sustainable practices make hospitality organizations stand out. Today’s
travelers, restaurant patrons, hotel bookers and shoppers care about sustainability.
They want to know that the companies they give their business to follow
environmentally, socially and culturally sound practices. An overwhelming majority of
millennials and Generation Zers will pay more for products and services that don’t
harm the environment, deplete natural resources, or negatively affect the lives of
people or wildlife (University of Central Florida, n.d.).

In the past few years, the tourism industry has flourished with an exponential rate.
Both leisure and business travelers have grown in number and thanks to millennials
the concept of leisure travel is also introduced. So, now we have more reasons to
travel. And as the number of travelers increases per year, the pressure on the
environment also increases. So, we must take steps to curb the adverse effects of
our traveling on our environment. Travelers and hotels both have become aware that
of the fact that our activities have an impact on the environment whether we produce
or utilize goods. The role of sustainability is also significant in the hospitality industry.
Hotels need electricity, water, goods that are both consumable and durable and it
also leads to the creation of waste. The waste created is in the form of furniture,
equipment, appliances, bulbs, tubes, etc. In recent years, the green technology has
flourished so well that it is available at affordable rates. Many hotels have begun to
use the new green development projects. Such projects are based on technology
that uses the alternate source of energy like solar, air, wind etc. to produce energy.
The corporates that use such sustainable technology get the green building labels.
The green companies that employ sustainable practices are cost effective, have
better guest experience, improved brand image, built a corporate image that attracts
talent (Sharma, 2018).

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, hotels are accountable

for one percent of global emissions. This number will continue to rise as hotel
demand increases, which is why implementing sustainability initiatives in hotels is so
important to mitigate this negative impact. Beyond the importance of hotels reducing
their impact on the environment, sustainability measures also pose an important
strategy for attracting new clients. Accordingly, to a sustainability report by
Booking.com, 68% of clients are interested in searching out eco-friendly hotels, and
87% of travelers worldwide state that they want to travel sustainably. Furthermore,
sustainability in the hotel sector is important to create a connection with the local
population, while at the same time protecting the surrounding natural environment
and biodiversity. Giving this local touch to a hotel experience helps distinguish a
hotel from other hotels, providing high-quality experiences and contributing to
creating an individual identity for a hotel (M E W S, 2021).

Environmental concerns and the popularity of eco-friendly practices like green

meetings continue to increase. As these issues become more central, it's important
for meeting and event planners to continually expand their own knowledge
of sustainability, particularly as it relates to the venues, vendors, and work of other
event services professionals. One such topic is that of eco-friendly or "green" hotel
initiatives. Many hotels, from the budget-friendly to the luxurious, are taking steps to
make their practices more sustainable. Understanding these sustainable initiatives in
the hospitality industry can offer event planners more to consider when selecting
hotels for their clients' programs, whether as a venue for the event itself or as the
choice for overnight accommodations for out-of-town guests (Hard, 2019).

Some of the 10 best sustainability trends and initiatives for hotels are relating to the
following areas:

1. Energy conservation
2. Amenities
3. Waste reduction and efficiency
4. Promoting sustainable means of transportation
5. Choosing cleaning products wisely with minimum impact on the environment
6. Careful selection of local food products at the hotel restaurant
7. Encouraging guests to make sustainable decisions
8. Promoting ecotourism
9. Water conservation
10. Operational changes

There are several ways to increase energy, water, and waste efficiency in hotels, but
these aren't the only frequent approaches. Other popular hotel techniques include
employing utility benchmarking and temperature adjustments to make operational
modifications, as well as other technological updates such as high-efficiency water
fixtures or LED lighting. Let's take a look at the most frequent hotel sustainability
practices one by one.

Operational Changes

Using the reporting capabilities available from popular property management

systems, hotels have adopted improvements to benchmark utility consumption and
give set - point for temperature adjustments. It's much easier to regulate use when
the hotel controls and manages the temperature. Other operational-level
technological enhancements include the use of LED lighting and the installation of
high-efficiency water fixtures to reduce water use.

Waste reduction

Hotels generate an enormous quantity of garbage. In reality, hotels in the United

Kingdom generate 289,700 metric tons of waste per year. As a result, waste
management is linked to some of the most prevalent sustainability strategies.

Rather of delivering newspapers to each individual room, several hotels have

introduced recycling in common areas, reused food service items, and made
newspapers available in general spaces. Instead of using plastic bottles, hotels have
embraced the usage of reusable water bottles by providing filtered water stations
and providing guests with reusable water bottles.

Energy conservation

One of the most significant aspects of sustainability is energy conservation, since it

has been discovered that cutting energy usage has the same effect on revenue
management as increasing the average daily room fee.

Energy tracking, installing digital thermostats in guest rooms, and using LED light
bulbs are some of the most frequent energy conservation methods. Installing a one-
switch system for lighting to prevent lights from being mistakenly left on, as well as
installing solar panels to power water heating, are also popular ways to contribute to
energy saving.
Another popular strategy is to encourage customers to utilize sustainable modes of
transportation to get to the hotel by offering discounts or providing electric vehicle
chargers.

Water conservation

Water use accounts for nearly a quarter of all hotel utility costs. The areas that utilize
the most water include bathroom fixtures, laundry, gardening, and kitchens. Water
conservation is not only cost-effective, but it is also a fundamentally sustainable
activity.

Regular water tracking and low-flow toilets, as well as installing efficient faucets and
showerheads, are the most prevalent water saving methods that hotels have
undertaken. It's worth noting that high-efficiency bathroom fixtures use at least 20%
less water, which is an essential way for hotels to save money.

Another common practice is encouraging travelers to take sustainability into their

own hands through both energy and water conservation. For example, hotels can
have guests forgo daily towel and bed linen changes, which helps to reduce the
energy and water necessary for laundry.

Amenities and cleaning products

Choosing environmentally friendly facilities and cleaning materials is critical for

reducing a hotel's environmental effect. Instead of small amenities that generate
excessive waste, hotels have decided to install refillable soap and shampoo
dispensers. While this practice is more common in mid-range hotels, high-end hotels
have experimented with providing custom-formulated toiletries in recyclable or
biodegradable packaging.

Many hotels are shifting away from abrasive cleaning solutions in favor of organic or
natural cleansers that are less hazardous to both housekeeping and the
environment. This also aids in the transition away from the usage of petrochemical-
derived goods.

Hotel restaurant
Hotel restaurants are taking sustainable initiatives to their restaurants, choosing to
promote the use of local, organic food in their breakfast and meal choices. As well as
promoting the careful and curated choice of ingredients at the hotel’s restaurant.
There is without a doubt a shift towards sustainably-sourced ingredients that also
help contribute to the local economy of where the hotel is located (M E W S, 2021)

Practicing sustainability in hospitality comes with many benefits. Aside from

attracting more customers and responding responsibly to what many consider a
moral imperative, in light of the current climate crisis, sustainable initiatives offer
hospitality businesses incentives. Using renewable energy, reducing waste and
implementing measures that enable reuse and recycling can add up to more than
just energy conservation. Incentive programs reward businesses with tax write-offs,
discounts on insurance premiums, financial grants and faster regulatory permitting.
In addition, innovative, environmentally friendly technology can result in long-term
cost savings. Though sustainable practices can require initial spending, the
combined effects of energy efficiency, waste reduction and the like can lead to
spending less money in the long run. Many hospitality organizations have adopted
sustainability plans. This intentional approach involves incorporating sustainable
practices that reach across all business operations. Sustainability plans can help
improve brand image (University of Central Florida, n.d.). 

Conclusion:

When it comes to sustainability, the hotel sector has shifted its focus and taken a
proactive approach. The sector is aiming to promote ethical business and tourism by
better controlling energy and water use, as well as decreasing single-use plastics
and food waste. It is clear that sustainability is becoming increasingly important in
the hotel industry. Leaders who can assist adopt sustainable practices and foster a
culture of social, environmental, and economic responsibility are needed in today's
hospitality businesses. As a result, sustainability should be approached holistically
throughout all areas of the hotel industry, from housekeeping to operations and the
restaurant. Guests should also be encouraged to participate in the process so that
they may play an active role in making sustainable decisions within the hotel and in
the surrounding environment, such as using local tour operators and purchasing
locally produced items. The link between sustainability and the hotel business is
extensively outlined in this article, as are the relevance and advantages of
sustainability in the hotel industry, and how the hotel industry is responding and
adapting by embracing measures for

References

Hard, R., 2019. The Most Common Eco-Friendly Hotel Initiatives. [Online]
Available at: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/sustainability-and-eco-friendly-hotel-initiatives-
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[Accessed 30 May 2022].

M E W S, 2021. The best sustainability trends and initiatives for hotels. [Online]
Available at: https://www.mews.com/en/blog/sustainability-in-hotels
[Accessed 30 May 2022].

Sharma, U., 2018. Why sustainability is an important factor in hospitality industry. [Online]
Available at: https://qloapps.com/why-sustainability-important-factor-hospitality-industry/
[Accessed 30 May 2022].

University of Central Florida, n.d. SUSTAINABILITY IN HOSPITALITY: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT AND HOW
INDUSTRY LEADERS CAN HELP. [Online]
Available at: https://www.ucf.edu/online/hospitality/news/sustainability-in-hospitality-why-it-is-
important-and-how-industry-leaders-can-help/#:~:text=Sustainability%20%E2%80%94%20the
%20mindful%20use%20of,Not%20doing%20so%20has%20consequences.
[Accessed 30 May 2022].

University of South Wales, n.d. Why sustainability is key for the future of the hospitality industry.
[Online]
Available at: https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/ba-hons-hotel-and-hospitality-management/
2484/why-sustainability-is-key-for-the-future-of-the-hospitality-industry/
[Accessed 30 May 2022].