Despite concern in many areas of society, it is clear that market forces are the most effective levers of change in sustainability.
As companies face increasing pressure to report their GHG emissions, the role of business travel, mainly flights, is coming under great pressure. Business travel contributes significantly to a company's carbon footprint. In my opinion, hotels will be less affected than airlines, but they will need to relearn to focus more on short—and medium-distance travellers.
The growing interest in sustainability and events is shifting competitiveness in a new direction. For those hotels and events venues that have been leading the way for decades by implementing sustainable management practices and measuring the carbon footprint of operations their hard work is paying off.
The role of sustainability information in business travel is increasingly critical, particularly for hotel groups like Radisson Hotel Group, as corporate clients prioritize sustainability in their procurement processes. A growing requirement for sustainability data in corporate RFPs significantly impacts the competitiveness of hotels.
Preserving local communities and fostering meaningful connections are central to the Group. By cultivating strong relationships with local stakeholders, integrating Heartists® and aligning our operations with the unique needs and challenges of each community, we promote more responsible travel practices. This approach encourages our guests to experience a deeper, more authentic connection to the destinations they visit. For our team members, these efforts create opportunities to contribute positively to their own communities, often in partnership with organizations attuned to local needs, giving greater meaning to their daily work.
In Vienna, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili held high-level meetings, reaffirming Austria’s important role in advancing sustainable tourism, including through having six of its villages as members of UN Tourism´s Best Tourism Village Programme and the region of Tyrol as one of the latest members of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO).
Properties should take resilience measures not just to lower insurance premiums but also to keep their doors open and stay in business. Insurance companies can protect their own profits and keep their customers by offering lower premiums to owners who better protect their properties.
While I would like to suggest that there is a massive "Game Changer Opportunity" presented here in accelerating sustainable best practices though engagement from the Insurance Industry, that is going to have to wait and see what comes unless someone has more information related.
To fully embrace their role as enablers and game changers, insurance companies could focus on two aspects that would make a difference in the way hospitality professionals make decisions. The first one is the availability of data about present and future risks (catastrophic events…) and their correlation with some hotel features (construction materials, construction year, location of technical equipment in the building…).
As we reflect on another year of dedication to sustainable growth and responsible hospitality, I am proud to present our 2023 Sustainability & CSR Report. At Mitsis Group, our commitment to excellence goes hand in hand with our unwavering dedication to sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical governance. This year, we have continued to make significant strides in our efforts to create a positive impact on the environment, empower our communities, and ensure that our guests can travel sustainably.
Auditing hotels involves a unique set of tasks distinct from other types of audits. Certifications may encompass various departments, including Human Resources, Purchasing, Legal, Food & Beverage (F&B), Maintenance, Excursions, Housekeeping, Front Desk, Training, and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). To effectively conduct these audits, an auditor must possess extensive knowledge of hotel operations. This includes an understanding of the dynamics between services and the complexities of both horizontal and vertical management. The primary role of the auditor is to gather evidence to ensure that the hotel complies with established standards. While some evidence can be visually assessed, many aspects require in-depth discussions to accurately evaluate the level of commitment from the staff. This necessitates strong interpersonal skills to gain the trust of the team and elicit an honest portrayal of the hotel's operations. The technical component of the audit is crucial, as it constitutes a significant portion of sustainability certifications for hotels. Auditors must acquire knowledge in areas such as HVAC systems, thermodynamics, water and wastewater management, energy efficiency, health and safety protocols, and chemical storage. Currently, there is no academic curriculum that provides the comprehensive knowledge and skills required for hotel auditors. As a result, many auditors must rely on self-directed learning or their personal experience within the hospitality industry to conduct effective audits. With the increasing demand for hotel certifications, there is a pressing need to establish structured support for auditors specializing in the hospitality sector. The credibility of certifications rests on the qualifications of the professionals conducting the audits. It is essential that auditors are equipped with the necessary expertise to meet and exceed the expected standards.
Verification and certification on hotel sustainability are a key element the success of a property's pathway to net zero and net positive impact. Hotels under the brand umbrella of Radisson Hotel Group are required to complete the online verification process of Hotel Sustainability Basics and / or be certified by a leading hotel eco-label. Quality is defined by the transparency of the program, regular audits conducted by well-trained auditors and third-party verification. It is also a great differentiator.
With new ESG regulations coming into force (e.g. the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), there will be an even greater need and demand of environmental and social auditing.
Could there be a bottle neck of skilled auditors - absolutely, but we know that legislation will require skilled auditors to assess certified properties so the question shouldn't be will there be a bottle neck, it's how are we training a new wave of auditors.
UN Tourism has announced the UN Tourism National Open Innovation Challenge, in partnership with France. This groundbreaking collaboration marks a significant milestone as it is the first time UN Tourism and the Government of France have joined forces to empower innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector.
RIU Hotels & Resorts continues to move forward with the Proudly Committed strategy after the circular economy plans in place at its hotels in the Balearic Islands have been certified by AENOR. The Riu Playa Park, Riu Concordia, Riu Bravo, Riu Festival and Riu San Francisco in Playa de Palma, as well as the Riu La Mola in Formentera, have received this certification.
A circular economy could boost the hospitality sector by reducing costs and making resources go further while at the same cutting greenhouse gas emissions, a new report finds.
At Accor, sustainability is rooted at the center of our design strategy. In practice, that means that the Design & Technical Services teams channel their talent and creativity into ensuring that the strategy and the concepts they create have a positive impact on the environment and society. Our teams have developed specific construction guidelines for sustainability for each of our brands, while a rigorous selection criteria for design, and construction products and suppliers has been set to guarantee that all our partners ౼ from conception to production ౼ share our commitment to sustainability. With circularity and carbon reduction in mind, we have also begun using an eco-design measurement tool to analyze the environmental performance of our design concepts.
Sustainable consumer behavior in hospitality encompasses actions that help preserve the environment, such as green purchasing, recycling and conserving natural resources. In the tourism context, this includes actions such as buying local products, saving water, reusing towels, conserving energy and reducing food waste. However, these behaviors and their motivations can vary significantly among different consumer groups. This makes it very difficult for hospitality actors to create sustainable offers – as what “sustainable” means varies between tourists and whether they will buy it or pay more for it is another under-researched question.
Guests staying at Premier Inn hotels can rest easy in the knowledge their stay is benefitting local communities following the publication of the company’s 2024 economic benefit and social impact report.
Sustainable hospitality is highly complex to deliver, so the prospects of using Responsible Artificial Intelligence are exciting and results are already strong.
My experience with the usage of AI is related to "Intelligent Scales" used to monitor food waste in the kitchens. This technology is combining scales and a camera that can analyse the content of the bin and help to make a choice when it comes to categorize the type of food waste, for example: trimmings, french fries, ...
AI is ushering in a new era of innovation and efficiency within the hospitality industry by enhancing utility consumption and waste management, ensuring regulatory compliance, and promoting eco-friendly behaviors among guests[1]. These benefits appeal to managers for their cost-effectiveness and competitiveness[2], while environmental advantages, like reducing food waste[3], are clear. Yet even the most adamant proponent of AI recognizes the challenges of data privacy, ethics, and the risk of over-reliance on technology [4]. Often overlooked are the energy demands of AI, such as AI-powered chatbots consuming the energy equivalent of 33,000 homes. Additionally, demand for new data centers to support AI is rising, with their own significant environmental and social issues[5].
While AI and technology are often heralded as transformative tools in the push for sustainability, especially in sectors like hospitality, it is crucial to recognise their limitations. AI can optimise energy usage, streamline operations, and provide valuable insights, but it does not physically insulate walls or address the skills gap necessary to design, develop, and construct hotels and buildings sustainably. Implementing sustainability measures, such as installing energy-efficient insulation and reducing embodied carbon, relies heavily on skilled labour and new construction practices. These physical and human elements are indispensable and cannot be replaced by AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly a powerful tool when paired with the right resources. In recent years, AI has significantly enhanced data collection, analysis, pattern recognition, logistics optimization, and operational efficiency across various industries.