ESG In Hotel Real Estate: Understanding ESG & The Hotel Asset Lifecycle
Profit, People, Planet – the triple bottom line 'Holy Grail' that many companies preach – but how many practice it?
By Adrian Flück and Kimberly Yoong
Opinion Articles
EHL Success Stories: Startup Edition - Project Planet
EHL Success Stories: Start-Up Edition is a new series to show support to our EHL Family and, more specifically, our hard-working AEHL entrepreneurs. This project aims to showcase EHL's entrepreneur mindsets, support new and upcoming ideas and businesses. While overcoming a challenging time for all companies, these Start Ups prove that resilience and hard work can overcome any problem.
By Silvia-Cristina Vasquez, Bachelor student and Communications Intern, EHL
Autism And The Hospitality Industry: An Interview With Autism Double-Checked
World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day held on April 2 that promotes societal awareness of individuals living with autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including Asperger syndrome. It was first proposed by the United Nations' Qatar representative, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, and was supported by all member states, officially passing on November 1, 2007, and adopted on December 18, 2007. Although World Autism Awareness Day takes place on April 2, autism awareness organizations work throughout the month of April and beyond to educate the public on ASD with material on interacting with, encouraging, and supporting those living with autism disorders. More information on autism and ways to get involved are available through the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN).
By Christian Cross and Kyndall Wiedrich
Stepping into heart leadership, redefining resilience
If there is one group least likely to attract public sympathy for the challenges of the last 12 months it's probably corporate leaders. But it has been a tough pandemic for those at the top. Many have had to make and implement very difficult decisions, as well as displaying extraordinary versatility in responding to changing circumstances at rapid pace. For a few, the pandemic has represented an unprecedented opportunity; for far more, it has posed an existential threat to their organisation.
By Anni Hood, Co-founder & CEO, Well Intelligence
The Evolution of Data Science and Hotel Energy Optimisation
With the COVID-19 vaccines finally being distributed worldwide, travel and tourism are now poised to resurge in greater force, albeit with some interesting new changes. The post-pandemic world is one where people are now more attuned towards the future of the planet and highlighted how sustainability lies at the core of the ideal travel experience. In fact, many forward-looking hotels have already begun to shift their priorities towards developing strategies around minimising waste and resource consumption. Such efforts allow them to market to increasingly eco-conscious travellers as well as help their country as a whole to make greater strides towards achieving their net-zero emissions targets in the global fight against climate change.
By Saikrishnan Ranganathan, Co-Founder and CEO of SensorFlow, SensorFlow Pte Ltd.
EHL Sustainability Week 2021: A Virtual And Inclusive Event
This March, EHL organized its third Sustainability Week as part of the movement for positive change within Swiss universities.
By Natacha Reymond, Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator, EHL
Sustainability-Driven Legislation - Setting The Right Conditions For Hospitality? A Review Of Viewpoints
From single-use plastics to building efficiencies, from extended producer responsibility (EPR) to user-pays principle (UPP), regulations are an intricate component of how society governs environmental impacts. Of course, there seems to always a fine balance between reactive and proactive approaches to regulations, between 'Too late: cleaning up' and 'Too early: stifling innovation'.
By Willy Legrand, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences Germany, IU International University of Applied Sciences
How The World’s Largest Brewer Uses Innovation And Sustainability
EHL Alliance founding member, AB InBev is brewer of some of the world's best beers, like Stella Artois, Corona, and the American brand, Budweiser. Among many others, their brands also include Leffe, Löwenbräu, and Bud Light. We took a look at what one of the most influential brewers in the world is doing to keep up with today's trends, and how they are able to stay ahead of the game and remain relevant in such changing times.
Insights From Gen Z: Why Sustainability Is Important In The Hospitality Industry
In this article I will address the reasons I personally feel sustainability is important in hospitality industry and why, we "Generation Z" have a reponsibility to create a sustainable Industry. Climate activist Greta Thunberg is certainly not afraid to speak truth to power. Not only was she willing to confront world leaders for their lack of action on the climate crisis, but she has inspired an entire movement of global environmental activists—including me.
By Julia Barbey, BOSC 3 student and President of the Student Social Responsibility committee, EHL
How Online Consumer Reviews Impact The Future Of Sustainable Practice
All business must embrace sustainability, especially at a time when customers are more enlightened and informed about their purchase choices. Media suggests that ethical and sustainable issues have become a key consideration for consumers. Unsurprisingly, concerns for the environment are becoming increasingly important for the tourism industry. More hoteliers recognize environmental, social and financial factors.
Regenerative Hospitality: Sustainability, Experiences and Well-Being
How do we reinvent the hospitality industry that has been shaken to its core?
By Willy Legrand, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences Germany, IU International University of Applied Sciences
Sustainable Hotel Management: Trends Hoteliers should know in 2021
Along with the pandemic and associated health and economic concerns, climate change is driving the world's agenda. Business leaders everywhere are wrestling with how to respond to rising public and political pressure and align their systems and operations with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, established to keep global warming below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C. None more so than for hotels, that means reducing their emissions by 90 percent by 2050. Let's take a look at what sustainable hotel management means in 2021.
By Natacha Reymond, Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator, EHL
Regenerative tourism will be at the forefront of the recovery effort
COVID-19 has and continues to put many strains on the tourism sector, which came to a near standstill in 2020. As professionals and international associations are preparing themselves to restart and recover, they have a exceptional opportunity to rethink the role of tourism and rebuild a better, healthier and more resilient industry.
By Carlos Martin-Rios and Marina Laurent
Cornell Roundtable Recap: Sustainability in the era of COVID-19
As with all things 2020, the 11th annual Center for Hospitality Research Sustainability Roundtable took on a distinctively different format, a virtual webinar format. It would have been easy to "take a pass" on holding the Roundtable given the dire state of the hospitality industry and the inability to gather in person. However, even though issues surrounding sustainability may not be at the forefront for operators, brands, or owners of hotels, it is still considered an important pillar in most organizations' corporate strategy. Therefore, the Center for Hospitality Research at the School of Hotel Administration in the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, moved forward with hosting the annual Sustainability Roundtable.
By Jeanne Varney and Aaron Adalja
COVID-19’s effects on future pro-environmental traveler behavior
Abstract: This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic will influence people's pro-environmental travel behavior (PETB) and potentially prompt more ecological/sustainable future travel. A comprehensive model using the norm-activation model (NAM), economic sacrifices theory, and the perceived risks associated with COVID-19 is presented and tested using structural equation modeling on data collected from US travelers during April 2020. The results revealed the adequacy of the proposed model and the above-mentioned theories/constructs in explaining post-COVID-19 PETB (R2 = 72.1%). Risk perception of COVID-19 was found to influence PETB indirectly through the NAM constructs of environmental concerns (EC), environmental responsibility (ER), environmental moral obligation (EMO) and willingness to make economic sacrifices for environmental protection. These results illuminate the mechanism through which COVID-19 is likely to influence future pro-environmental travel behavior as well as provide important managerial implications for tourism.
By Guy Assaker and Peter O’Connor
Growing Green – Funding, Investment and Finance in Eco-Hospitality: A Review
From advice on how to raise funds for eco-ventures to tips on how to pitch to investors, the organisers of The Glamping Show and International Glamping Business, in association with Eco Hotel Investment Summit bring out a timely report on the many possibilities to finance eco-businesses.
By Willy Legrand, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences Germany, IU International University of Applied Sciences
The 24 Hour Sustainable Hospitality Hackathon Vol. II: Highlight Report
Under the motto "It is time to collaborate, form bonds, share knowledge and solve problems", the second edition of the 24 Hour Sustainable Hospitality Hackathon took place at the end of December 2020. The idea behind this hackathon is the virtual working environment of students and experts who care about the same issues (i.e. driving more sustainability, more quickly in a post-COVID-19 world).
By Willy Legrand, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences Germany, IU International University of Applied Sciences
Resiliency and Sustainability in Hospitality in 2021: Paving the Way Forward
From encouraging longer stays to energy-performance contracting, the hands-on advice and strategic guidance provided by seasoned experts are geared towards future-proofing our industry.
By Willy Legrand, Professor, IU International University of Applied Sciences Germany, IU International University of Applied Sciences
11 Examples of CSR practices in the hospitality industry
In recent decades, consumer awareness of social and environmental issues has increased markedly. Companies are progressively integrating sustainable development into their growth strategies for both ethical and profitable reasons, especially if they are to continue attracting the younger, socially active customer.
Sustainability In Tourism: The Socio-Cultural Lens
In October 2020, EHL hosted its annual Sustainability Week with a vast array of online seminars, activities and discussion panels. Considering the current impact on the hospitality industry of ongoing COVID-19, the theme of sustainable tourism is more than ever a relevant and urgent topic. Under the direction of Joshua Gan (EHL regional director Asia-Pacific), the issues concerning the socio-cultural aspect of sustainable tourism - its meaning and implementation - were thoughtfully turned over by the two guest speakers: Dr. Peter Varga (Assistant Prof in Sustainability) and Mark Edleson (CEO of Alila Hotels & Resorts).
By Peter Varga and Beatrice Venturini