INSIGHT
Integrating sustainable hotels into travel programmes
Hotels, from the large chains to the independents, have been focused on sustainability initiatives for decades, including how they work with local communities and businesses.
With travel programmes required to find more ways to reduce their carbon footprint; the choice of accommodation is an important one. Especially when your travellers are spending thousands of nights away from home.
Here are just some of the reasons why sustainable hotels should be part of your hotel sourcing.
What is a sustainable hotel programme?
More travel programme owners are including sustainability measures in their hotel programmes. It’s one way to contribute to company goals, minimise environmental impact, and uplift the social economic benefits of travel.
It’s worth adding that sustainability in this instance doesn’t just mean environmental impact. There are many hotels also focused on the social part of sustainability – for example, using local produce or volunteering with local communities.
Similarly to how sustainability works with airlines, travel manager goals are often to source more sustainable hotel partners that share your values, to educate your travellers on supporting your carbon reduction goals, and to communicate the positive impact.
Consumers are 77% more likely to buy from a company with a CSR pledge, according to Forbes.
Everyone knows reputation is important to a growing number of consumers. Job satisfaction is higher when you’re doing something positive, which means hotels focused on CSR activities are not only a contributor to reducing emissions but could make you more attractive as a hirer too. With so many accommodation providers focused on their sustainability initiatives, you can capture these benefits without increasing spend.
What to look for
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has rolled out Sustainable Procurement Standards to advise travel programme owners what to look for. The standards touch on the range of certifications and accreditations available – you can learn more about those here. The carbon footprint of properties is also a major factor.
To fully understand a hotel’s commitment to sustainability, GBTA advises buyers to look for initiatives such as:
- Reducing energy use and moving to renewable sources.
- Food and beverage initiatives such as using local product or more plant-based dishes.
- Offering sustainable travel options and electric vehicle charging.
- Reducing waste including food and water.
- Initiatives that support local communities and inclusion, as well as preventing human trafficking.
How to start the change
Investigate where your programme is
All projects start with the data, right? Look into yourcurrent sustainability dashboardsto understand what your carbon emission impact is, and which hotels are being booked. This will help inform which direction you take and how close (or far!) away you are from your targets.
Travel policy and programme
Introduce sustainability questions and targets into your hotel RFPand travel programme. By selecting more sustainable partners or leaning towards those with credentials, you are more aligned to your company’s overarching goals. You may even be able to get your colleagues involved in volunteering or local activities while teams are visiting a city or neighbourhood.
Engage your travellers
Raising awareness of your targets, sustainable hotel partners and changes is important. You could engage some sustainable travel champions across your business to help spread the word. Employees need to feel it’s easy to do the right thing, and want to understand what progress has been made.
Hotel chain pledges
With so many properties around the world in major business destinations, travel programme owners often partner with large hotel chains. Here are some of the CSR initiatives underway from some of the biggest hotel groups.
IHG Journey to Tomorrow
IHG’s 10-year responsible business plan aims to champion diverse cultures and improve the lives of 30m people in communities close to its properties. It has also pledged to reduce energy use, carbon emissions, waste and water usage.
Hilton Travel With Purpose
Among the projects at Hilton are Sustainable Design Checklists for property partners and focusing on sustainable cuisine. Its Hilton Global Foundation extends its efforts outside of hotels, and there is also the Meet with Purpose programme for its event facilities.
Marriott Serve360
Under the four categories of Nurture, Empower, Sustain and Welcome – Marriott is investing across initiatives to support the environment, communities and a more diverse team. This includes human rights training, and opportunities for all.
Accor
Accor has committed to reaching 100% certified hotels either through programmes such as Green Key. It is also using its ALL loyalty programme to drive behaviour – members can opt out of daily room-cleaning to earn points or points can be converted to donations.
Bring in expertise to help
Through their trusted six-step process, the team at FCM Consulting can use their expertise and deep knowledge of the hotel market to enhance your next RFP and ensure it's aligned to your goals.
Analytics
From hotel programme diagnostics and by evaluating current booking trends, the team can assess the score of your hotel programme. They then make recommendations on how to meet sustainability targets through simple changes.
Sourcing
Identify the best-fit suppliers and hand over your hotel sourcing project to the expert team. They'll deliver on agreed KPIs suited to your programme, from sustainability targets and savings to traveller satisfaction.
Elevate
A travel programme never sits still, so hotel programme management is on-going too. Our team can help gather and analysis traveller engagement and feedback, or put a communication plan into effect. If they believe travel policies need to change, the team can review and make recommendations.
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