Hotels and Carbon:
How We Can Make a Difference on World Tourism Day?
Checking in to a greener future on World Tourism Day
Did you know hotels are responsible for approximately one percent of global carbon dioxide emissions? It might not seem like a lot, but to put it in perspective, out of the carbon dioxide released annually, it's equivalent to powering 45.7 million homes for a year. Turns out those luxury touches like themed suites, room service on tap, and butlers come at a cost to the planet, too. This is tough news to swallow as we celebrate World Tourism Day.
Fortunately, we are seeing a clear move towards green investment in hospitality. And it’s leading to a growing trend of eco-friendly hotels worldwide. Dubai has introduced a Carbon Calculator tool for hotels, America boasts its first "carbon-positive" hotel in Denver, and South Africa has unveiled an innovative 12-story Hemp Hotel constructed using hemp materials – all pretty remarkable, right? These hotels offer a chance to enjoy your stay while reducing your environmental impact, which travellers increasingly value.
These are some great sustainability wins, especially on World Tourism Day, which is all about "Tourism and Green Investments," according to Bonnie Smith, GM of FCM Travel. Of course, sustainability has been a hot topic in corporate travel for a while. And what we know now is that hotels are guilty of gobbling up a vast amount of energy.
A suite waste of resources
FCM's recent white paper “The heat is on for corporate travel to be more sustainable” shows that hotels alone can contribute as much as 17.5% of global carbon emissions from a business trip. That’s a lot of fossil fuels being consumed.
While this statistic is particularly relevant to the energy and resources sector, it emphasises the importance of aligning sustainability efforts with your business's industry and core activities, says Smith. The challenge then? Relook your travel programme – and where your business travellers are staying - and make adjustments.
The payoff? “Prioritising sustainability in hotels can lead to significant progress in achieving your governance, ESG and sustainability goals, given the impact hotels have,” she says.
The big carbon culprits in hotels? Power use, what we eat, how guests get around, and hotel room equipment. To be more environmentally friendly, hotels should consider switching to LED lights, using smart thermostats, serving local and organic grub, and running shuttles so guests don't need rental cars.
While the broader tourism industry needs to focus on changing traveller behaviour and offering more sustainable travel options, businesses have an important role to play too, says Smith. What does this mean for your travel policy?
Making a green investment in corporate travel
Smith has a few ideas to bump up the green factor in business travel. Consider offsetting the carbon emissions from your trips, ditching paper printouts, and setting up notifications for the more eco-friendly routes when booking.
Regarding hotels, she provides the following advice:
Assess your supply chain for eco-friendliness
Look at your supply chain and make sure your preferred suppliers align with your short-term and long-term sustainability goals. Smith recommends, "Go for hospitality providers that use solar energy, have moved to eco-friendly products, and have reduced plastic use."
Choose sustainable hotels
When selecting the hotels, give a thumbs-up to properties that follow local or national sustainability guidelines. Smith suggests looking for hotels doing their part for the environment and the conservation of natural resources. Need help with that? “FCM Consulting can help you find suppliers who share your green goals during the Request for Proposal process," she adds.
Strike the right balance
Sustainability rocks, but not if it messes up your stay or the service. Smith's two cents? "Find hotels and chains committed to sustainability without compromising your travel experience."
What’s your sustainability scorecard?
You need to know where you are to know where you’re going. Interested in a clearer picture of your business's green side? Together with our partners at CAPA, we can help you map it out with customised sustainability scorecards.
Smith further recommends that whether you travel for business, leisure or bleisure, you check out the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance's recommendations for evaluating hotel sustainability. "This will empower you to choose hotels or partner with suppliers who offer tools to track your carbon emissions,” she says.
Ready to make a green investment in your travel programme?
Let's make every day World Tourism Day by travelling the world with sustainability in mind. To start the sustainability journey, download the FCM white paper “The heat is on for corporate travel to be more sustainable”.
