guide to sustainable hotel resort standards, certification ecolabels — biofilico wellness interiors
Understanding Sustainable Hotel Resort Standards and Certifications
Hotels and resorts are linked to air and water pollution, consume considerable amounts of energy that may well be from fossil fuels, emit carbon, consume water, and create various forms of waste. A hospitality business now needs to consider its environmental and social impact as well as its economic performance to be considered truly sustainable.
This applies to the planning, construction, design, and fit-out phases in a hotel’s lifecycle, as well as during the operational phase. Food services play a crucial role in maintaining sustainability standards, with food services managers ensuring top-quality food ingredients and preparation. Additionally, higher quality facilities and expanded facilities that meet sustainability criteria contribute to an overall better service quality.
Below, we outline our views as hospitality sustainability professionals on the most prominent sustainability standards, certifications, eco-friendly practices, and ecolabels that provide structure and guidance in minimizing a hotel or resort’s environmental impact.
As hotel sustainability consultants, we work with all of the below to some extent, and can align a hotel sustainability plan with one or more of these solutions, upon request, whether a formal sustainability certificate or annual ESG sustainability reporting is required or not. Increasingly, being on top of this topic is about risk management and reputation, in addition to the climate-related imperative!
Aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 macro goals outlined by the United Nations in their SDGs are a global framework for tackling climate change and embracing sustainable development until 2030. These goals are vital for achieving a sustainable future and ensuring that economic development does not come at the cost of environmental degradation.
Not all of these goals relate directly to hotels and resorts, but most do, and many of the goals are interconnected. For instance, reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency are crucial aspects that align with these goals.
SDG 12, for example, is Responsible Consumption & Production, which has direct implications for hotel operations in the materials and finishes used in the interiors, operational equipment such as cleaning products, and in-room amenities. This connects us to sustainable agriculture and SDG 15 Life On Land.
By aligning hotel operations with these goals, hotels can significantly reduce their environmental impact while promoting social and economic sustainability. This alignment helps in achieving a balance between economic growth, environmental care, and social wellbeing.
Achieving B Corporation Certification for Sustainability
As with the UN SDGs, a B Corp certification is not specifically tailored to the hotel and resort industry but it represents a valuable addition to sustainability credentials. It thoroughly evaluates the social and environmental impact of a hotel business, encouraging higher standards of transparency and accountability.
During the Impact Assessment process, a hotel business will need to report on governance issues such as stakeholder engagement, ethical practices, health and safety of workers, career development, DEI policy, community engagement, supply chain management, health and wellness of guests, and environmental impact issues from renewable energy to toxin reduction and environmental education. This process helps ensure that business practices are aligned with sustainable development principles.
Achieving B Corporation certification demonstrates a hotel's commitment to sustainable business practices and can significantly enhance its reputation among eco-conscious travelers. It also encourages continuous improvement in sustainability performance, driving better practices across the industry.
Embracing World Travel & Tourism Council WTTC Sustainability Basics
In 2022, the WTTC introduced their own set of ‘sustainability basics’ for hotels and resorts—12 basic criteria split into three segments of four criteria each. Hotels need to sign up for eight criteria initially, with the other four to follow in due course.
The hotel sustainability efficiency section covers energy use, water use, waste, and carbon emissions. By implementing these measures, hotels can reduce their overall energy consumption and minimize their carbon footprint. The Planet section focuses on a hotel linen reuse program, green cleaning products, vegetarian F&B options, removal of plastic straws/stirrers, no single-use plastic water bottles, and bulk amenity dispensers. The third section is socially oriented, addressing community impact and reducing inequalities.
These basics serve as a foundation for hotels aiming to improve their sustainability practices. They provide a clear framework for action, helping hotels to make meaningful progress toward sustainability goals and meet guest expectations for eco-friendly accommodations.
Adopting Global Sustainable Tourism Council Standards
The GSTC is an accreditation body responsible for the widely used baseline standards that influence and guide various hotel and tourism sustainability certification standards. It is an umbrella organization that focuses on sustainability management, social and economic issues, environmental conservation, and protecting cultural heritage.
The GSTC standards are comprehensive, covering all aspects of hotel operations from energy and water use to waste management and community engagement. By adopting these standards, hotels can ensure that they are meeting the highest benchmarks for sustainability.
These standards help hotels to systematically reduce their environmental impact, enhance social equity, and promote economic sustainability. They also provide a clear pathway for hotels to achieve certification and recognition for their sustainability efforts.
Implementing Green Globe Certification Criteria
Green Globe has 25 years of history and covers 44 criteria in four groups: environmental impact, socio-economic impact, sustainable management, and cultural heritage. Green Globe's criteria relate to the UN SDGs, particularly Goals 8, 12, and 14, emphasizing worker rights, ethical business practices, supporting local enterprises, and reducing plastic waste production.
Implementing Green Globe criteria involves a thorough assessment of a hotel's operations and practices. This certification encourages hotels to adopt best practices in sustainability and to continuously improve their performance.
By achieving Green Globe certification, hotels can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, enhance their marketability, and attract eco-conscious travelers. This certification also provides a framework for ongoing improvement, helping hotels to stay at the forefront of sustainability.
Leveraging EarthCheck Certification for Comprehensive Sustainability
EarthCheck is a certification system for hotels, resorts, and destinations, also providing consulting, training, and sustainability software. Their segmentation includes categories for hotels, convention centers, tours, wineries, destinations, tourism precincts, local municipalities, developers, project managers, ESD consultants, small-to-medium size businesses, restaurants, eco-tourism operators, event organizers, festivals, and councils.
EarthCheck promotes guest well-being through health-focused activities, spa services, and recreational opportunities, enhancing guest expectations and overall service quality. This is crucial for ensuring facility quality and meeting guest expectations.
The EarthCheck certification process involves benchmarking and continuous improvement, ensuring that hotels are consistently reducing their environmental impact and enhancing their sustainability performance. This certification helps hotels to achieve higher standards of sustainability and to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
Pursuing Green Tourism Certification
Green Tourism is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and has a strong presence around the UK.
It promotes sustainability in hotels and tourism via a system based on three main pillars: People, Places and Planet.
Essentially, the emphasis here lies on the following criteria:
Reducing energy use
Saving water
Efficient waste disposal
Ethical buying
Staying local and seasonal
Minimizing food miles
Promoting biodiversity
Adopting a smart sustainable outlook
The PEOPLE sustainability category covers support for local communities and staff engagement, PLACES is about buying local and ethically while protecting biodiversity and promoting local culture to guests; finally PLANET zeroes in on reducing carbon emissions, limited the use of natural resources and engaging with Circular Economy principles.
Fees for the first year of registration are GB £75+VAT to cover admin costs, annual fees are specific to business type and size, ranging from a ‘micro’ hotel, B&B or guesthouse with 1-6 bedrooms (GB £150 per annum) up to ‘Extra Large with 91+ rooms (priced at GB £650 annually).
Other categories cover visitor attractions, hostels, self-catering accommodation and holiday parks. Collectively this gives a sense of the target audience for this particular certification
Green Key Certification
Green Key is one of the oldest certifications, especially strong in Europe. It is recognized by the GSTC and aligns with the UN SDGs. The certification involves monitoring water, energy, waste records, and carbon footprint data. It offers a structured 5-step application process managed by the relevant national representative, including an audit and third-party verification.
Green Key certification helps hotels to systematically improve their sustainability performance and to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship. This certification provides a clear pathway for hotels to achieve their sustainability goals and to gain recognition for their efforts.
By securing Green Key certification, hotels can enhance their marketability, attract eco-conscious travelers, and improve their overall service quality. This certification also provides a framework for ongoing improvement, helping hotels to stay at the forefront of sustainability.
Engaging with Travelife for Sustainable Hotels
Travelife offers sustainability certification for travel agents, tour operators, and accommodations. Their standards, recognized by the GTSC, involve a full onsite audit every two years. The certification covers environmental, social, and community criteria, focusing on energy, waste, water, wastewater, hazardous substances, biodiversity, human rights, fair wages, staff training, and supporting local communities.
Travelife ensures higher quality facilities and expanded facilities to meet the diverse needs of guests, including business practices that support sustainable tourism.
Travelife certification helps hotels to systematically improve their sustainability performance and to demonstrate their commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This certification provides a clear pathway for hotels to achieve their sustainability goals and to gain recognition for their efforts.
By engaging with Travelife, hotels can enhance their marketability, attract eco-conscious travelers, and improve their overall service quality. This certification also provides a framework for ongoing improvement, helping hotels to stay at the forefront of sustainability.
Utilizing WAYAJ Hotel Sustainability Rating
The WAYAJ Hotel Sustainability Rating evaluates and promotes environmentally responsible practices within the hospitality industry. It encompasses hotel energy and water efficiency, waste management and recycling, sustainable sourcing and procurement, environmentally friendly construction and design, and promoting local culture and biodiversity.
WAYAJ emphasizes a holistic approach, assessing various aspects of hotel operations, fostering continuous improvement, and enhancing guest experience and satisfaction through unique, eco-conscious offerings. This includes ensuring facility quality to meet and exceed guest expectations.
The WAYAJ Hotel Sustainability Rating helps hotels to systematically improve their sustainability performance and to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship. This rating provides a clear pathway for hotels to achieve their sustainability goals and to gain recognition for their efforts.
By utilizing the WAYAJ rating, hotels can enhance their marketability, attract eco-conscious travelers, and improve their overall service quality. This rating also provides a framework for ongoing improvement, helping hotels to stay at the forefront of sustainability.
Elevating Service Quality with a Star Grading System
A star grading system is essential for evaluating the quality of hotel facilities and services. It helps in setting clear guest expectations and maintaining high standards. This system also encourages hotels to invest in higher quality facilities, ensuring a superior experience for guests. By adopting sustainable practices, hotels can improve their star ratings while also contributing to environmental conservation and social responsibility.
The star grading system provides a clear and objective way to measure and compare the quality of different hotels. It considers various factors, including facility quality, service quality, guest satisfaction, and overall experience. By achieving higher star ratings, hotels can enhance their reputation, attract more guests, and achieve better business outcomes.
Enhancing Facility Quality in Apartment Hotels
Apartment hotels offer a unique blend of home-like comfort and hotel services, catering to long-term guests. Ensuring higher facility quality in these establishments is crucial for guest satisfaction and loyalty. Sustainable practices, such as energy efficiency measures and waste reduction, play a significant role in maintaining high standards in apartment hotels.
By implementing sustainable practices, apartment hotels can reduce their environmental impact while providing a comfortable and high-quality experience for guests. This approach helps in meeting guest expectations, enhancing service quality, and improving overall business performance.
Promoting Sustainable Business Practices
Sustainable business practices are essential for achieving long-term success in the hospitality industry. These practices include energy efficiency measures, waste reduction strategies, ethical sourcing, and community engagement. By adopting sustainable business practices, hotels can reduce their environmental impact, enhance their reputation, and improve their financial performance.
Sustainable business practices also contribute to the well-being of employees and guests, creating a positive and supportive environment. By focusing on sustainability, hotels can attract eco-conscious travelers, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve better business outcomes.
Meeting Guest Expectations with Sustainable Practices
Guest expectations are evolving, with more travelers seeking eco-friendly and sustainable accommodations. By meeting these expectations, hotels can enhance guest satisfaction and loyalty. Sustainable practices, such as reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, and promoting local culture, play a crucial role in meeting guest expectations.
By focusing on sustainability, hotels can differentiate themselves in a competitive market, attract more guests, and achieve better business outcomes. Sustainable practices also contribute to the overall guest experience, creating a positive and memorable stay.
Expanding Facilities to Enhance Guest Experience
Expanding facilities to include sustainable features can significantly enhance the guest experience. These features may include green spaces, energy-efficient systems, waste reduction programs, and eco-friendly amenities. By expanding facilities to include sustainable features, hotels can improve their environmental performance, enhance guest satisfaction, and achieve better business outcomes.
Expanding facilities also provides opportunities for innovation and creativity, allowing hotels to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. By focusing on sustainability, hotels can create unique and memorable experiences for guests, attract eco-conscious travelers, and achieve better business outcomes.
Achieving Comprehensive Sustainability
Achieving comprehensive sustainability requires a holistic approach that considers all aspects of hotel operations. This approach includes energy efficiency measures, waste reduction strategies, ethical sourcing, community engagement, and continuous improvement. By adopting a holistic approach to sustainability, hotels can achieve better environmental, social, and economic outcomes.
Comprehensive sustainability also requires collaboration and partnership with stakeholders, including employees, guests, suppliers, and the local community. By working together, hotels can achieve their sustainability goals, enhance their reputation, and achieve better business outcomes.
Enhancing Guest Satisfaction with Sustainable Practices
Guest satisfaction is a critical factor in the success of any hotel. By adopting sustainable practices, hotels can enhance guest satisfaction and loyalty. Sustainable practices, such as reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, and promoting local culture, play a crucial role in enhancing guest satisfaction.
By focusing on sustainability, hotels can create a positive and memorable experience for guests, attract more travelers, and achieve better business outcomes. Sustainable practices also contribute to the overall guest experience, creating a positive and supportive environment.
Achieving Long-Term Success with Sustainability
Sustainability is essential for achieving long-term success in the hospitality industry. By adopting sustainable practices, hotels can reduce their environmental impact, enhance their reputation, and improve their financial performance. Sustainable practices also contribute to the well-being of employees and guests, creating a positive and supportive environment.
By focusing on sustainability, hotels can attract eco-conscious travelers, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve better business outcomes. Sustainable practices also provide opportunities for innovation and creativity, allowing hotels to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements with Sustainable Practices
Meeting regulatory requirements is essential for the success of any hotel. By adopting sustainable practices, hotels can ensure compliance with environmental regulations, enhance their reputation, and achieve better business outcomes. Sustainable practices, such as energy efficiency measures, waste reduction strategies, and ethical sourcing, play a crucial role in meeting regulatory requirements.
By focusing on sustainability, hotels can create a positive and supportive environment, attract more guests, and achieve better business outcomes. Sustainable practices also contribute to the overall guest experience, creating a positive and memorable stay.
Enhancing Marketability with Sustainable Practices
Sustainable practices enhance the marketability of hotels, attracting eco-conscious travelers and improving overall business performance. By adopting sustainable practices, hotels can differentiate themselves in a competitive market, attract more guests, and achieve better business outcomes.
Sustainable practices also contribute to the overall guest experience, creating a positive and memorable stay. By focusing on sustainability, hotels can enhance their reputation, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve long-term success.
Achieving Financial Success with Sustainability
Sustainability is essential for achieving financial success in the hospitality industry. By adopting sustainable practices, hotels can reduce their environmental impact, enhance their reputation, and improve their financial performance. Sustainable practices also contribute to the well-being of employees and guests, creating a positive and supportive environment.
By focusing on sustainability, hotels can attract eco-conscious travelers, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve better business outcomes. Sustainable practices also provide opportunities for innovation and creativity, allowing hotels to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.