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Opinion Articles

Opinion Article

My plea for action: Why I’m calling for an entirely single use plastic free hospitality industry globally by 1st January 2025

The hospitality industry could be one of the most beautiful and united working environments on the planet. So why, in 2024, are we seeing such global discrepancy across international tourism efforts to become single use plastic free? Tourists are the single biggest culprit of single-use-plastic waste and it is down to the hotels to motivate each other to take immediate action.

Christian De Boer
By Christian De Boer, Advisor to the UN and MD Jaya House River Park Siem Reap, Jaya House RiverPark
Opinion Article

Embedding Sustainability into a Hotel Starts with Leadership

Organizational structures and job titles grow and evolve the same as every other facet of running a business and adapting to the times. Two decades ago, we may have written about the dawn of online room sales and how hotels would be wise to carve out a ‘social media manager’ role which was quite novel at the time. Today it’s all but anathema to not have a team member solely devoted to this area or specific responsibilities assigned to the marketing director, depending on the size of the company.

Larry MogelonskyAdam Mogelonsky
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Opinion Article

How Sustainability is Impacting the Hotel Industry

The term "sustainability" has continued to evolve and is a crucial factor in the hospitality experience. Starting, of course, with the guest, who's environmental concerns are typically part of all of their buying decisions; this is a massive growing segment of opportunity for environmentally conscious travelers.

Chintan Dadhich
By Chintan Dadhich, Complex General Manager, Hilton
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Opinion Article

Why Sustainable Hotels Win: A Look at the ROI of Going Green

The hospitality industry accounts for about 1% of carbon emissions across the globe. With rapid growth in the industry, this adverse impact will only grow without sustainable intervention. Many hotels are now looking toward a different future, one that prioritizes green initiatives. Though shifting business practices can require a large investment, sustainability can potentially be a profitable solution that offers a notable ROI. We’ll review the benefits and challenges of hotel sustainability, along with some key ways hotels can make this change.

Indiana Lee
By Indiana Lee, Freelance Technical Writer, Indiana Lee Writes
Opinion Article

The Hidden Power of Travel

"Where are you from?" A seemingly simple question that I constantly grapple with. Does it refer to my place of birth, my current residence, or the roots of my culture? These days, I often say: "I was born in London, my heart is Brazilian, and I live in Amsterdam." Yet, simplifying it to just "Amsterdam" frequently prompts an odd look and a follow-up question: "Where are you from originally?" – which gets me struggling again...

Maria Rocha Barros
By Maria Rocha Barros, Sr. Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Booking.com
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Hospitality Net
Opinion Article

The Practice of Sustainability: Beyond Educational Boundaries

I've been teaching sustainable tourism and sustainable hotel operations at our local college for the past three years. The students are highly engaged, as the younger generation fully aligns with sustainable initiatives and business practices, ensuring they live a sustainable lifestyle. When I teach these classes, there is a relevance to each lecture, and there is a high level of engagement from the students. This is a topic that is at the top of everyone's mind. They understand the impact that they have on the world, and they want to strive to make it a better place in which to learn, work, and live.

Alan Young
By Alan Young, VP, Strategy | Hospitality, Infor
Opinion Article

Implementing Transformative Hotel Sustainability Data Management Practices

As the European Union gets set to introduce new regulatory frameworks governing environmental, social governance (ESG) and sustainability reporting, many hotels operating in the region face a similar problem: the efficient management and availability of trustworthy data about their environmental footprint that they can easily share with stakeholders in a standardized format.

Alina Arnelle
By Alina Arnelle, Chief Sustainability Officer, BeCause
Opinion Article

The elephant in the room: how hotels can take on the biodiversity challenge

While World Wildlife Day – which took place at the beginning of this month – should be a day to celebrate our rich and thriving ecosystems across the world, the current state of biodiversity makes for a more sombre occasion. Wildlife populations have declined by 69% since 1970, and up to one million species are facing extinction due to human activity.

Sarah Ivory
By Sarah Ivory, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Whitbread, Whitbread PLC
Opinion Article

Deloitte: Assessing and addressing sustainability risks in the hospitality industry

The hospitality industry is facing growing pressure to address its environmental impact and promote sustainable practices. However, while sustainability is often viewed as an opportunity for businesses to improve their reputation and attract environmentally conscious customers, the potential risk of climate change and non-compliance with the growing sustainability agenda is not yet seen as critical.

Anjusha ChemmanurCeline Fenech
By Anjusha Chemmanur and Celine Fenech
Opinion Article

The Role of Art in Hotel Sustainability

Did you know that 39% of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet come from buildings? And over half of the materials that go into landfills in the U.S. come from construction? These are just a few of the insights shared by Jon Buerge, Chief Development Officer at Urban Villages, on The NINE dot ARTS Podcast. And Jon isn’t the only leader I’ve spoken with who is increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of real estate development.

Martha McGee
By Martha McGee, CEO and Co-Founder, NINE dot ARTS
Opinion Article

Where Less = More: Redefining Luxury: The Shift Towards Minimalism and Sustainability in Hotel Amenities

In an era where environmental consciousness intersects with the evolving preferences of travelers, the hospitality industry stands at a pivotal juncture. The traditional markers of luxury—laden with an abundance of gadgets, amenities, and conveniences—are being reevaluated through the lens of sustainability and essentialism. This shift towards minimalism [sometimes referred to as doing a Marie Kondo] is not just a trend but a response to a deeper understanding of luxury, one that prioritizes experiences and values over material excess.

Terence Ronson
By Terence Ronson, Founder & Managing Director, Pertlink Limited