Improving hotel sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing the hotel industry in the coming years. There are four main areas that should guide this mission: environmental and economic impact, social responsibility, and cultural awareness.
Indeed, a sustainable hotel has a smaller carbon footprint, is more cost-effective, and is more profitable. At the same time, guests tend to prefer companies that are socially responsible, which means the hotel will win in the end.
Generally speaking, improving a hotel's sustainability is based on three changes: reducing water consumption and waste as well as saving energy. Reuse programs and motion sensors were the first steps toward sustainability and have become industry standards. Unfortunately, these measures alone are not enough. Here are some suggestions to adapt and improve your hotel's sustainability:
Generally speaking, improving a hotel's sustainability is based on three changes: reducing water consumption and waste as well as saving energy. Reuse programs and motion sensors were the first steps toward sustainability and have become industry standards. Unfortunately, these measures alone are not enough. Here are some suggestions to adapt and improve your hotel's sustainability:
1. Collect rainwater
If your hotel has exteriors, using rainwater is the best way to keep your green spaces well maintained. By storing rainwater in tanks to be used later to water plants, you reduce water consumption. Plus, it reduces your environmental impact during the dry months.
2. Use local and seasonal products
Bananas from Costa Rica, meat from Uruguay, hake from South Africa... Can you imagine how transportation across the Atlantic pollutes the Earth? A good way to reduce your hotel's carbon footprint is to work on menus that highlight local and seasonal products
3. Avoid disposable products
From plastic cups and cutlery to the disposable products you leave with each guest in their room... Just think how much plastic you use per month? If possible, replace them with glass bottles or washable materials (e.g. bamboo) and reduce your hotel's waste.
4. Don't throw away leftovers
Between breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you're likely to end up with a lot of leftover food. Instead of throwing them in the trash, consider investing in a composting machine that will allow you to turn the leftovers and peelings into fertilizer. If your hotel doesn't need one, consider finding a partner, such as a city hall, that could use it for parks and help your local community.
5. It's time to change the key cards
Most hotels use key cards for each room. They are usually made of plastic because they cost less than PVC. In order to use less plastic in your hotel, we urge you to find more environmentally friendly materials, such as wood or bioplastic, which comes from used plastic bottles and biomass itself.
If you're already in the wonderful hospitality industry and dreaming of an environmentally friendly world, all you have to do is apply this to your hotel or establishment. Simple right?
Now, if you are not yet working in the industry but have always been attracted to it, find out how Placement International can help you by offering unique job opportunities in the world's most luxurious hotels and restaurants. For more information, you can contact info@placement-int.com with your resume or you can simply create a profile on the Placement International website.
