It’s no secret that more and more people are becoming eco-conscious. Nearly two thirds (61%) of UK consumers feel sustainability was more important to them at the beginning of 2023 than it was two years before, and constant warnings about climate change have pushed many to be more sustainable, including hotels.
According to Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel Report 2023, 76% of global travellers said they want to travel more sustainably. People are now actively searching for eco-friendly hotels, which means you and your hotel might need to implement some changes.
So, if you’ve not already taken the step, it’s crucial that your hotel clearly showcases its sustainability credentials.
Sustainability credentials refer to a company's demonstrated commitment to sustainable practices and showcase how dedicated you are to protecting the planet.
Examples include cutting down your carbon footprint, using renewable energy sources and having eco-friendly hotel initiatives. But it’s not enough just to implement them, you need to make it easy for guests to find out about the good work you’re doing.
To help you make a change, we’re sharing five ways you can showcase your green credentials and become a more sustainable hotel.
1. Share your policies and credentials
If you’re a hotel that’s taken steps to be eco-friendly and more sustainable, but hasn’t communicated this anywhere, how do you expect people to know where you stand?
Share your environmental policy (if you don’t have one, now is the best time to create one) on your website so that customers can see it when they’re enquiring. This will show them that you’re a sustainable hotel, which could push them to make a booking.
Likewise, if you have awards or certificates from an independent third party for your sustainability work, make sure you display them in the hotel reception or on your website.
These certificates and awards prove to guests that you know what you’re doing when it comes to sustainability, which is likely to make customers feel good about your hotel. Supporting research had found that a third (34%) of consumers would trust brands more if they were recognised as an ethical/sustainable provider by an independent third party.
At BWH Hotels GB we’ve partnered with Quality in Tourism for the REST Accreditation – Responsible Ethical Sustainable Tourism and this is what we encourage our hotels to obtain, this will allow us to have a united brand message.
2. Focus on your amenities
Pay attention to the little details, which includes your amenities – the things guests see when they stay. Stock hotel rooms with reusable coffee mugs and glasses rather than plasticware, paper, or Styrofoam, and have eco-friendly toiletries such as organic and biodegradable soaps, shampoos, and lotions.
These amenities might cost more to get your hands on but they have a positive impact on the environment and show guests that you’re willing to go the extra mile for sustainability.
3. Encourage guests to make changes
Get everyone involved in becoming more sustainable, including hotel guests.
Encourage them to reuse hotel towels (place a sign in the bathroom telling guests to place towels in a specific place if they’re to be washed), tell them to fill up water bottles in the hotel instead of buying plastic bottles all the time, encourage them to limit their shower time and to turn off AC when it’s not needed.
These might be a big ask for some hotel guests but for those who are focused on sustainable travel, they’ll appreciate the requests and will do what they can to become greener travellers.
4. Be energy efficient
Think about ways your hotel can be energy efficient. Introduce remote check-in/check-out and keyless entry to cut down on plastic key cards and paper usage and install LED lighting to cut down on carbon emissions.
Invest in renewable sources of energy by adding solar panels on the roof – they don’t take long to install so you won’t have to worry about lengthy and disruptive construction work.
5. Reduce food waste
If your hotel deals with a lot of leftovers from the restaurant or the breakfast buffet, make sure the food doesn’t go to waste. Donate food to local food banks, invest in training for your chefs so that they know what to make from leftovers, and if you have outdoor space, dedicate a section to composting.
By taking these steps, it’ll be clear that sustainability is something your hotel takes seriously.