Sustainability in Hospitality

Recently the world presented a "landmark climate change agreement" after a two-week conference in Paris. The plan was hailed as a milestone in the battle to keep "Earth Hospitable for human life".

Green standards
When it comes to sustainability and green initiatives in the hospitality industry one literally falls over all the different badges, standards and labels that are out there. There are standards for hotels, lodges, tourism organizations, regions, countries, you name it. Everybody has a standard and a badge. It's not uncommon for a hotel to by certified by different organizations.

Hospitality industry
To keep "Earth Hospitable for human life" hotels create awareness by asking guests to re-use their bath towels, save water, turn off the lights and air-conditioning when leaving the room, install LED lighting and offer facilities for electric and hybrid vehicles.

There are also many airlines that offer their travellers the possibility to "compensate their CO2 foot print" by planting a few trees here and there or invest in "carbon emission certificates".

3P's
Many organizations nowadays are implementing the 3P's (Profit, Planet & People). This made me wonder; what is done with regards to sustainability and staff. The answer is: it's very difficult to find out…People are the core of every service organization such as the hospitality industry. We can "green wash" our organization but at the end of the day it's all about our staff members. So, if they are so important to us, why not focus more on them?

Training
Why not train your staff members continuously rather than some trainings during their induction? Why not create a year round training schedule for them, invest in them, develop them?

One can focus on hiring sustainability professionals, organize a yearly "community clean-up", use a sustainability promotional video to attract new applications but why not rather focus on ensuring that your staff is well-matched to your organization?

According to a study performed by Gallup Research in 2012 engaged employees have, among others:

• 37% lower absenteeism
• 25% to 65% lower turnover
• 10% higher customer metrics
• 22% higher profitability

In addition to this, engaged employees can become the best word-of-mouth marketing campaign your organization could hope for.

Recruitment
Rather than a primarily focus on Profit and Planet, one should focus on the staff he already has and use that to attract the staff you want. Sometimes you come across these recruitment websites where there is staff telling how great the company is to work for. I always have the feeling it's scripted.

Make it genuine, make it true, don't just show people who have an office job. Let one of your kitchen porters tell which trainings he has followed. Let one of your front-office employees tell about what the job really entails.

Make it visible for any applicant how your trainings schedule really looks like. There are still too many organizations out there who say "we've got an extensive trainings program for all level of employees" but at the end of the day, you followed twice a one-hour training given by a senior manager in the two years you worked there.

Conclusion
If you want to attract talents and professionals. Be genuine and use the right tools. Sustainability isn't a word developed to describe the state of our planet. It means: the ability to be sustained, supported, upheld or confirmed. Don't "wash" your organization to attract staff, they will find out rather sooner than later, leave and tell people about it. How sustainable is that for your Profit as service industry?