Sustainability
Climate change and the growing thirst for sustainable Swiss wine
The challenges faced by the wine industry globally are echoed in the Swiss wine industry too. Setting aside the challenges brought by the global pandemic, we took a look through the lenses of sustainability, innovation and global warming to analyse the current developments taking place in the Swiss wine regions.
UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit commits to Investing in Tourism’s Sustainable Future
Tourism leaders from around the world will once again come together for the UNWTO, WTTC & WTM Ministers’ Summit at WTM London this November, to commit to investing in the sector’s sustainable future.
COP26 is important, because if we ALL don't finally take action against climate change, things will get tight. But what is even more important is the COP15. Am I too late or did I get the numbers mixed up? No, from October 11 - 15 the COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (the CBD) will take place - and there, unlike with climate change, it is not about the question "how will we live in the future?" but about the question "will we live in the future?"
The hospitality industry has tried hard for long to live in its own bubble, feeling that until recently, the pressure (from customers and other stakeholders) to become genuinely sustainable was not high enough. Times have changed dramatically, alongside the realization that changing mindsets, processes and technologies to drastically reduce negative operational impacts was no longer a question of IF, but of WHEN.
The COP26 website defines its importance in one line: “The world's best last chance to get runaway climate change under control.” The hospitality industry cannot afford not to care about what is discussed and decided in Glasgow.
Launch of world’s first fully net zero carbon hotel
room2, the hometel brand, announces that it will open the world’s first whole life net zero carbon hotel in Chiswick, West London, in December. Expected to be 89% more energy efficient than the typical UK hotel per sqm, room2 Chiswick has been built with pioneering technologies to achieve net zero throughout both the design and construction stages and throughout its whole life, which, in a hotel industry first, includes both embodied and operational emissions.
“Football meets Culture” initiative enjoys the support of strong partners
Strong partners have come together to assist with an integrative education programme entitled “Football meets Culture”. In Frankfurt am Main, local supporters of the initiative introduced themselves and described their work with socially disadvantaged children.
Ecamir Launches First-of-a-Kind Environmental Sustainability Lessons Across Russia
Non-profit organisation Ecamir has been awarded a Hilton Effect Grant to introduce interactive lessons on environmental sustainability to more than 250,000 schoolchildren of all ages across Russia.
It is exciting to see first attempts of hospitality procurement moving away from a mere risk-driven CYA approach to more holistic, impact-driven initiatives. Procurement strategies should be aligned with company sustainability strategies.
Supply chain management allows a hotel to have a much wider impact than through its operations alone, since it links to many other key topics such as waste management, human rights or carbon emissions. Furthermore, hotels can address many of the SDG's through responsible purchasing.
A Hands-on Mentality Aimed at Enshrining Sustainability
Conserving resources for future generations requires a pro-active approach. The Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvédère Davos in the Swiss Alps has become one of the first active participants in the Davos Climate Fund, which was instigated today by the Destination Davos Klosters Tourism Office and the not-for-profit organisation myclimate. The goal is for the town to become carbon neutral by 2030. The financial resources made available via the fund will be used for purposes such as the establishment of renewable energies, investment in electromobility equipment including e-bikes, e-cars and charging stations or special measures to raise awareness amongst guests and the local population.
Many businesses continue to consider sustainability as something that is costly and necessary, rather than to get certified, to engage in additional measures on a voluntary basis and to then communicate all of these efforts pro-actively.
How should the industry communicate the added value of sustainability (rather than added cost) that resonates with guests that espouse similar values? There should be no added cost – in 2 decades of working with hotels on environmental sustainability I have never found a hotel that spent more than they saved – even with large capital investment projects as the savings paid for the investment.
Rather than focus on sustainability, communication should center on more fulfilling experiences that guests will enjoy and the higher quality which such measures often mean. This combined with sharing stories of people and communities who are part of it or benefit.
Future-Proofing UK Hotels
Malcolm Kerr, Managing Director of Horwath HTL UK has been talking to prominent executives and advisors to get their perspective on the major challenges facing owners and how they are preparing for an uncertain future.
Wine Tourism And Rural Development: Strategies To Support Recovery Will Be Discussed In Portugal On 9-10 September 2021
Following the success of the past four editions, the Conference will take place on 9-10 September 2021, in Reguengos de Monsaraz in the Alentejo region, in collaboration with the Government of Portugal.
Mallorca Joins UNWTO’s Network Of Sustainable Tourism Observatories
Mallorca, one of Europe’s top destinations for more than 70 years, welcoming millions of visitors every year, becomes the latest member of UNWTO’s global INSTO network. The Mallorca Sustainable Tourism Observatory (STO) is a key new element of the island’s strategy to preserve the destination and assess how the sector affects the natural environment, economy, and residents.
UNWTO And Greece To Collaborate On Maritime Tourism Research Centre
The new monitoring centre will be based at the University of the Aegean in Greece. From here, experts will capture and collate measurement data and analysis relating to the environmental, economic, and social impact of tourism.
Hilton Launches Carbon Neutral Business Meetings in Europe, Middle East and Africa
Hilton has partnered with social enterprise South Pole to offset the carbon footprint of meetings and events across almost 30 properties in the UK at no extra cost to the customer.
Our Pledge To Reach Net Zero Carbon Emissions Ten Years Early
Whitbread is making a pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. We’re the first UK hotel chain to publicly commit to such an ambitious target, but as the UK’s largest hospitality company, we’re proud to lead the charge.
What Does It Mean To Travel Sustainably In 2021?
Do you remember all the fuss about plastic straws? It wasn’t long ago when company after company realised that handing out 4.7 billion plastic straws each year in England alone wasn’t such a great idea after all. Hotels were quick to jump on that ‘green’ bandwagon. It was a clear win: something easy to phase out, that represented both a cost saving and a simple way of showing a brand’s eco credentials.
The value of being outdoors has been thrust into the spotlight by the pandemic and is now prized more than ever before. This is a perfect moment for urban hotel owners to leverage this demand by increasing access to, and encouraging use of, green areas.
Climate change is about "how do we live in the future?"; biodiversity loss is about "do we live in the future?" So the question "should we act?" does not arise. Hotels in the urban settings should design their facilities to be biodiversity-friendly and take the issue fully into account in procurement.
Ideas To Build Back Better: SDGS Start-Up Competition Final Held In Madrid
Innovators with ideas to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals have been celebrated in Madrid. The final of the UNWTO SDGs Global Startup Competition saw 25 entrepreneurs and enterprises recognized for their creativity and commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 ambitious goals.
Swissness: Solutions For A Regenerative Hospitality Ecosystem
Swissness is a synonym for precision, serenity, cleanliness, reliability and fairness, - and is marketed as being typically "Swiss", (Swiss Confederation). What steps can be taken to preserve this country's reputation for being a hub of natural beauty and civic efficiency when it comes to sustainable hospitality?