Sustainability Opinion Articles - Hospitality Net

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Opinion Article

March 31, 2021

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.

Opinion Article

March 30, 2021

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

Opinion Article

March 29, 2021

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

Opinion Article

March 25, 2021

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.

By Juliana Mauro, Arsh Gupta, and Zixuan Chuang

Opinion Article

March 11, 2021

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

Opinion Article

March 9, 2021

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.

By Carlos Martin-Rios and Aurore Beaussaut

Opinion Article

March 8, 2021

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

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Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)

Opinion Article

March 4, 2021

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

Opinion Article

March 1, 2021

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

Opinion Article

February 23, 2021

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

Opinion Article

February 22, 2021

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

Opinion Article

January 18, 2021

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

Opinion Article

January 12, 2021

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

Opinion Article

January 8, 2021

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

Visit HITEC 2026 in San Antonio!

HITEC is the center for the latest conversations on hospitality technology. Come and see the technology shaping the industry.

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)

Opinion Article

December 18, 2020

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.

By Reza Etemad-Sajadi and Justine Gentinetta

Opinion Article

November 27, 2020

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

Opinion Article

November 20, 2020

Checklist to Optimize Hotel Energy Consumption During Low Occupancy

Around the world, all kinds of buildings - from offices to hotels to retail spaces - have transitioned to a state of low occupancy, with some nearly empty. For hotels, securing the safety and security of guests and staff are a top priority. But what is next?

By Chris Magee and Neha Jaitpal

Opinion Article

November 19, 2020

Why The Tourism Industry Needs Sustainability Champions

In the absence of leading role players in sustainability, the tourism landscape currently benefits from an eco-system of academics, startups, entrepreneurial businesses, NGOs and the public sector

By Carlos Martin-Rios, Associate Professor of Management, EHL

Opinion Article

November 12, 2020

A Primer on Hotel Sustainability Certification

Research done in the past years on the attitude of travellers and tourists (e.g. by Booking.com) have shown that there is an increasing expectation among travellers that the hospitality industry has a focus on sustainability. The pandemic crisis has been limiting the possibility for travelling, but as it emerged from the interaction between wildlife and humans, the current health crisis is linked to the biodiversity crisis, and the focus on health and sustainability in the travel industry will continue to increase in the years to come.

By Finn Bolding Thomsen, Deputy CEO and International Green Key Programme Director, Pegasus

Opinion Article

October 9, 2020

Sustainability Week: EHL students lead the fight against waste on campus

Global warming is an issue that the world has been facing for years, and time is running out. Every action we take has an impact on the environment and it is our responsibility to implement sustainable practices into our lives and into our campus.

By Julia Barbey, BOSC 3 student and President of the Student Social Responsibility committee, EHL

Lausanne, Switzerland