hotel sustainability
Sustainable Technologies: How Smart Hotels Reduce Environmental Impact
EHL | August 27, 2024
Given the immense climatic challenges we currently face and the growing consumer demand for more sustainable products and services, businesses in every sector are starting to take their environmental impact seriously. In hospitality, the situation is no different. Energy consumption in the industry is high, with cooling, lighting, heating, and ventilation responsible for up to 60% of a hotel’s CO2 emissions. Energy-intensive extras such as heated swimming pools, excessive water and plastic use, and food waste also contribute to the industry’s environmental impacts. Given these unavoidable energy requirements and resource needs,...
Green Key Global Announces Inaugural Slate of Board Members
Green Key Global | August 12, 2024
WASHINGTON (Aug. 12, 2024) – Green Key Global – the only sustainability certification designed specifically for hotels – today announced its first-ever slate of board members and the appointment of Heather McCrory, a hospitality expert with 40 years of experience in the industry, as chair. McCrory recently served as CEO of Accor’s North American and Central American operations, and currently advises the hospitality industry as principal of Heather J. McCrory & Associates. She joins other top hospitality professionals who will guide Green Key Global, the world’s leading hotel sustainability certification provider, which is j...
WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics Surpasses 1,700 Properties
WTTC | March 4, 2024
From Mexico to Mauritius, Basics is now a globally recognised scheme to verify hotels’ green credentials. Global partnerships strengthen as ITB spotlights sustainable Travel & Tourism Berlin, Germany: The World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics), the global initiative helping hoteliers on their first steps to improve their sustainability ratings, has reached a significant milestone with over 1,700 hotels verified across 70 countries worldwide. In her speech at ITB Berlin, WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson celebrated the achievement and highlighted the commitment of the industry towards a m...
WTTC Announces Next Stage of Its Groundbreaking Hotel Sustainability Basics Initiative
WTTC | March 6, 2023
Berlin, Germany: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has today launched the Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) verification scheme. Announced at ITB Berlin, Basics will enable tourist accommodation providers from around the world, regardless of their size, to begin their sustainability journey. Basics, an industry-wide supported initiative, is a globally recognised and coordinated set of criteria that all hotels should implement as a minimum to drive responsible and sustainable Travel & Tourism. Basics emerged as a result of a clear demand from a group of influential global hotel brands and whilst there a great numbe...
Make Sustainability Your Hotel’s New Year’s Resolution
Cicero Construction Group | January 3, 2022
PLAINFIELD, IL — January 3, 2022 — The pandemic forced hotels to modify how they operate, pushing safety to the forefront of the hospitality community’s consciousness, and derailing a burgeoning industry trend to make facilities more sustainable. Yet, hoteliers would be wise to make sustainability a New Year's resolution, says Sam Cicero, President of Cicero Construction Group, a general contractor specializing in hotel renovation. "Decreasing a hotel’s impact on the environment, no matter its size or location, attracts guests in the short term and saves money in the long term. When customers choose to spend money on a hotel room, ma...
HVS Monday Musings: Sustainability in the Hotel Industry Is Crucial to Combat Climate Change
Mandeep S Lamba | November 22, 2021
By Mandeep S Lamba, Dipti Mohan Extreme weather, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, storms, and cyclones across the world are undeniable proof of climate change's pervasive influence, which has resulted in massive social and economic losses in recent years. India has not been immune, with devastating floods, cloudbursts, and landslides wreaking havoc in numerous states this year alone. International organizations and governments from all over the world have recognized the crisis and are working together to reduce the impact and safeguard the environment for future generations. At the recently concluded COP 26 UN Climate Change ...
How Addressing ESG Can Also Save Hotels Money
October 7, 2021
Recent weather disasters, social unrest and a heightened awareness of racial bias have prompted hoteliers to double down on their commitments to become better corporate citizens and do more to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. These are moves toward a social good, sure, but also have ramifications on hotel company P&Ls. Marriott International, for one. It recently announced a commitment to reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The pledge follows the previous setting of goals by the massive global company to reduce single-use plastics, cut down on food waste by 50% and significantly amp up the...
Sustainable Travel Statistics: 6 Facts to Open Your Mind
EHL Insights | March 2, 2021
What do industry professionals need to know about the 'new norm' in tourism? In this article we take a deeper look at 6 sustainable travel statistics. While COVID has upended the $8 trillion global travel industry, the pandemic has also paved the way for tourism and hospitality professionals to reflect, rethink and reshape the sector, making it better - and ultimately more sustainable - for people and places around the world. As UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: Sustainability must no longer be a niche part of tourism but the new norm for every part of our sector. That means an opportunity to build back better and create ...
