The Significance of Sustainability in Hospitality

sustainability

 

For the past two decades, a giant digital display in Manhattan’s Union Square has clocked the accumulation of days, hours, minutes and seconds for the thousands of New Yorkers who hurry past it each day. Now, for the first time, it’s counting down. Revealing just how little time we have left to tackle the climate crisis before the planet is past a tipping point of irreversible change. Currently, that number is 7 years, 98 days, 15 hours… and counting. One of the largest areas of concern in sustainability is the hospitality industry. Hotels currently create over 1.9 billion pounds of waste each year. How is your hotel reducing its carbon footprint? For a few ideas, keep diving into this article.

Evaluating Energy Usage

A clear understanding of energy usage allows leaders to identify areas for improvement. What location of your hotel is using the most energy? Are there ways to reduce energy use in that area without negatively affecting guest experience? Additionally, leaders can routinely evaluate their energy use, seeking out energy-saving practices like having smart thermostat technology in each room that allows guests to customize temperatures. Recycling options in guest rooms also enable guests to maintain their green habits while away from home to improve efficiency and ultimately cut costs.

 

Hospitality leaders can incorporate current trends into their sustainability strategies, such as:

  • Eliminating single-use plastic
  • Creating paperless environments
  • Sourcing from sustainable suppliers
  • Purchasing green cleaning supplies
  • Developing recycling programs

Educating the Importance of Sustainability to Employees

Every aspect of a business can adopt practices that take sustainability into account, considering water and waste management, the use of organic products that do not contain harmful chemicals, and reuse and recycling. In this way, sustainability can become a part of an organization’s culture. Letting employees be a part of the movement is a great way to make them feel more included and boost their overall opinion of sustainability, making your company greener. These behaviors can range from turning off lights to changing the settings on washing machines and adjusting thermostats appropriately.

Long-term Financial Benefits

The federal government, along with states and some local governments, have enacted several programs to promote “green” business. Using renewable energy, reducing waste and implementing measures that enable reuse and recycling can add up to more than just energy conservation. Incentive programs reward businesses with tax write-offs, discounted insurance premiums, financial grants and faster regulatory permitting. In addition, innovative environmentally friendly technology can result in long-term cost savings. Though sustainable practices can require initial spending, the combined effects of energy efficiency and waste reduction lead to spending less money in the long run.

 

Contact us for ideas on how your hotel can implement digital applications in rooms, restaurants and collaborative spaces. For more tips and tricks for navigating the current hospitality trends, join our mailing list!