Sustainability

What is there to Gain?

• Environmental element not new to accommodation sector

  • Increase in Greenwashing right now

• Investment in reducing GHG often seen as costing too much-lose competitive edge

• Utilizing an environmental approach can help differentiate one hotel from another

• Great economic potential from mitigating GHG

  • Numerous resources to help reduce

  • Legislation requiring reduction. Conviction is better

• Goal is to be carbon neutral

  • Encourage people to be more responsible

Eco vs. Sustainable Tourism

What are some of the major differences between ecotourism and sustainable tourism?

• Ecotourism is a highly niche approach to tourism with a some what limited philosophy

  • Bird watching

• Ecotourism does not address development and sustainability of local populations

  • Example - Galapagos islands

• Sustainable tourism dedicated to not only natural but cultural environment and changing the tourist

The Triple Bottom Line

• Triple bottom line

  • Utilized to fine true cost of business

  • Later incorporated into tourism sector

  • Shows the economic value of sustainability

• Many tourism companies have social responsibility programs

  • Nice to have approach

• Should not be a luxury

• Needed for better business development - Need to have!

Why a Need to Have?

• Excellent for the bottom line

• Tourism thrives on healthy destinations

  • Cannot move

  • It’s why people go places

  • Improve livelihood of local populations essential to this

• Consumers becoming smarter

  • Greater understanding of impact

  • Tourism providers can tap into tourism segment

  • Satisfies consumer demand

Creating a Criteria

• No common denominator of what is sustainable

  • Creates uncertainty among travelers

• Global sustainable Tourism Criteria

  • 37 individual criteria

• Maximize social and economic benefits to local populations

• Reduce negative impacts on cultural heritage

• Reduce harm to local environments

• Long term sustainable planning

Reduction and Elimination

Where is a lot of energy used unnecessarily?

• Heating of rooms

  • Often set incorrectly

• Utillize natural light

• Re-use of towels

• Provide incentives to clients and employees

  • Stratton Hotel, Norfolk UK

  • Locally sourced food

Increasing Efficiency

• Can increase savings up to 20% - 25%

• Some potential to ways to achieve are

  • Utilize thermal windows

  • Fluorescent lights

  • Solar panels

  • Recycled materials

• Crowne Riverwalk Hotel

  • Changed basic things

    • Lighting upgrades

    • Programmable thermostats

    • Variable frequency drives

Renewable Energy

• There is the technical know how to completely eliminate CO2 emissions

  • Major issue is cost

  • Payback periods often longer with renewables

• Use solar not just for energy, but to heat water as well

  • Accor Hotels

• Utilize own hydraulic power and sell back to the grid

  • Brignall Mall

  • Hotel and Spa Rosa Alpine

• Alternative forms of lodging - yurts, huts

Sustainable Supply Management

• Policy that promotes closer working between supplier and buyer

• Require supplier to sign agreement

• Supplies are taking notice

  • Working to provide green supply

  • Catered Linen Supply

    • Huge Reduction in Energy

Sustainable Events

• One area that is gaining more interest and is linked to tourism and hospitality is sustainable events

• How would you define a sustainable event?

• An even that not only considers impacts on environment, but also adapts eco-friendly practices to reduce carbon footprint

• Most also include positive social and economic impacts for local community

For your consideration

• What are greatest contributors to degradation

• Transportation, plastic and paper use, serving of food

• Choosing a venue that is can practice sustainability

• Sustainable supplers

• Remove some are all plastic

• Paper free

• Consider location in terms of transportation

• No print

• Reusable materials