Nature and its ecosystem services are at the center of the hospitality business proposition: from food and beverage offers to guests' enjoyment of natural landscape at a destination. Nature is not only a 'capital' component available to businesses, but a source of solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect biodiversity while ensuring the well-being of staff and guests alike. Nature is a prerequisite for a successful business, however, a 40% drop in natural capital per person has been recoded over the past two decades (Dasgupta, 2021). 'Burning' though this inventory of natural capital without a regeneration plan should result in alarm bells ringing. As the Science-Based Target Networks summarizes: "Nature is the backbone of human well-being and the foundation for all economic activity" (SBTN, 2020, p.2). Considering the value of nature to the hospitality industry and the threat of biodiversity collapse, recording and accounting for natural capital and integrating the outcome into the decision-making processes while setting regeneration targets is crucial. Ahead of the official launch of the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (on World Environment Day, June 5th) by the United Nations, here are a three questions to tackle ((choose one or answer all, sharing of best practices is welcomed):

  1. Hotels located in urban settings: which nature-based solutions result in value added to guests, staff, owners and community?
  2. Hotels located in natural settings (e.g. forest, coastline): what actions can be undertaken to maintain or restore the ecosystems?
  3. Cooperation/Support for greater impact: where can hoteliers obtain help, support or join forces to achieve results

References

  • Dasgupta, P. (2021), The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review, London: HM Treasury.
  • SBTN (2020). Science-Based Targets for Nature: Initiatil Guidance for Business. Science Based Tageets Network.
  • Tew, N.E., Memmott, J., Vaughan, I.P., Bird, S., Stone, G.N., Potts, S.G., and Baldock, K.C.R. (2021). Quantifying nectar production by flowering plants in urban and rural landscapes. Journal of Ecology, 109(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13598

We're seeing a number of hotels adopting measures that not only improve the guest experience, but also reduce waste and unnecessary expenses. Many travelers are already accustomed to making travel arrangements and having everything they need on their mobile devices, right in the palm of their hand, and a mobile-enabled guest experience ends up eliminating a lot of unnecessary printed collateral, like compendiums and ever-changing restaurant menus. Hotels that have adopted the use of a digital key on their guests' smartphones have subsequently eliminated their key cards and saved, in some cases, literally tons of plastic–and money in replacement costs–each year. Digital ticketing and guest messaging as part of a hotel's property management system streamlines operations, reduces labor costs, and drives staff efficiencies–fewer people are needed on site means fewer in transit as well, lessening the carbon footprint and use of resources. The acceleration of contactless mobile technology is definitely impacting hotels' eco-bottom line and helping them to implement more environmentally conscious practices in their operations and how they service guests.

 

For example, we've seen a handful of new customers like Hutton Brickyards in the Hudson Valley of New York creating immersive getaways in natural surroundings, where outdoor activities and relaxation in nature are the primary focus. Existing customers like 1 Hotels have established their entire brand around sustainable sanctuaries and setting new standards of sustainability in hotel design. Because nature is the main attraction, there is a focus on sustainable practices and operations and as little disruption to the natural environment as possible, encouraging guests to engage with nature to not only foster genuine relaxation but deep connections with the environment as well. 

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