In the face of growing ecological awareness, a new expectation is emerging from travelers. Indeed, there is a growing demand for establishments that are more mindful of their environmental impact. In 2019, according to a study conducted by the Booking platform, 73% of them wish to choose accommodation that meets eco-friendly values. In the same year, Accor, a renowned French hotel group, inaugurated its first “Greet” hotel developed around eco-friendly concepts. Becoming an eco-friendly hotel is therefore essential and also allows you to achieve long-term savings.
Moreover, there is a strong trend around sustainable tourism. A strong desire from travelers that highlights the need for hoteliers to commit to an environmentally responsible approach.
Bring Your Region to Life
Embrace Slow Tourism
Become a proponent of Slow Tourism and offer your guests unique local experiences. Get back to basics by working with local businesses. Also promote less polluting means of transportation for discovering the region. Help them travel differently by recreating a closeness with local culture.
Support the Local Economy
For your internal dining services, prioritize regional and seasonal foods, preferably organic. Take the time to source products from local markets. This will show that you are sensitive to preserving local jobs and the quality of products you prepare for your guests.
You can also recommend a list of restaurants and activities around your area to your guests. Don’t hesitate to offer partnerships with regional businesses. This way, you can provide your guests with attractive offers while supporting the local economy. You will also gain visibility as the partner business will promote your establishment.
Encourage Responsible Travel
Commit to more responsible and environmentally friendly tourism. Consider offering bicycle or walking tour routes to discover the city differently. At your establishment, you can also provide a bicycle rental service or simply partner with a local bike shop.
Reduce Your Environmental Impact
Opt for Responsible Dining
Reducing your waste also contributes to becoming an eco-friendly hotel. Among this waste, food waste is a primary concern. To address this problem:
- Prefer smaller plates to limit food surplus.
- Favor table service rather than all-you-can-eat buffets.
- Give surplus food a second life by selling it on Too Good To Go at attractive prices.
- Raise guest awareness about responsible consumption and offer the option to come back for seconds rather than filling their tray all at once.
Furthermore, reduce your waste by prioritizing bulk foods to avoid over-packaging products.
Finally, no more single-use plastic products! It is time to find alternatives by prioritizing materials like bamboo or wood. As for paper napkins, avoid them as well and opt for cloth ones instead. Moreover, they are reusable (lower costs in the long run!) and give a higher-quality image to your establishment.
Reduce Your Water Consumption
Among the main costs at your establishment is water. Indeed, according to a study by Hydrao, a French startup offering eco-friendly showerheads, a hotel shower uses on average twice as much water as one at home — 300 liters per night compared to 150 liters at home. That is why it is important to equip your showers and faucets with flow regulators to achieve significant water savings. Reducing water consumption helps both reduce your environmental impact and significantly lower your costs.
Promote Waste Sorting
Raise your guests’ awareness about waste management. Get them involved in recycling by installing sorting bins in your hotel’s common areas and, if you wish, in your rooms as well.
Rethink Your Equipment
Rethink Your Room Equipment
Becoming an eco-friendly hotel also means thinking about room equipment in a responsible way. First, forget plastic containers for hygiene products. Prefer solid soaps and shampoos, preferably local ones! If you also offer toothbrushes or hairbrushes, opt for bamboo ones.
A major energy consumer, choose low-energy lighting with LED bulbs. You will reduce your electricity bill costs while limiting your ecological impact!
Used to changing linens (sheets, towels) daily? Offer this service on demand rather than making it automatic. This way, you will significantly reduce your environmental and financial costs.
Rethink your purchasing approach and choose furniture made with responsible materials and prioritize short supply chains.
The choice of cleaning products should also be reconsidered in your eco-friendly approach. Very harmful to the environment, opt instead for natural and ecological products.
Rethink Equipment in Common Areas
Energy consumption represents a large portion of your establishment’s costs. However, simple actions can save you money on your electricity bills in the long term while reducing your carbon footprint! Among these tips, you can:
- Use motion-sensor lighting in less frequented areas. For example, hallways outside guest rooms.
- Install solar panels to heat your hotel.
To give a warmer feel to your establishment, consider adding green plants in common areas. Subconsciously, this contributes to an eco-friendly image.
Guarantee Your Eco-Friendly Commitment
Labels
Tourism labels are a way to assure travelers that the hotel is committed to a responsible approach. Indeed, they allow you to guarantee the actual implementation of actions to avoid any form of greenwashing. Among these labels:
- Qualite Tourisme to demonstrate the quality of tourism services.
- Accueil Velo to help travelers identify establishments suited for cycling tourism.
- European Ecolabel to show that the hotel is committed to a responsible policy. It guarantees that the establishment has limited energy and water consumption, reduced waste production, and uses renewable resources and substances that are less harmful to the environment.
Sustainable Development Charter
Becoming an eco-friendly establishment also involves obtaining a sustainable development charter. It can be accredited by a recognized organization such as EarthCheck.
Go Digital
Focus on Paperless Communication
Today, new technologies represent a true pillar for the hospitality industry.
Prioritizing digital communication helps reduce your paper and ink consumption. You therefore limit your ecological impact.
Moreover, it represents added value over time. Indeed, digital communication is more adaptable. Opt for a digital room directory and restaurant menu and it will be much easier to constantly make changes when adding new dishes or new offers at the hotel! No more reprinting with every modification — a real money saver!
