With Earth Month underway, I think it's a good time to pause and highlight some hotels across the globe that are putting in substantial work to operate sustainably year-round.
By now you're probably receiving many emails about Earth Month/Earth Day.
Here at Hotel News Now, we are so lucky to be able to connect with experts in the field who are making a difference.
I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of our past coverage as well as put a spotlight on other content I've seen.
What I've learned from our past coverage is that making eco-friendly choices at hotels starts with hiring people that have the passion and knowledge to implement sustainability practices in a meaningful way without entering into greenwashing territory.
Not only should best practices start at the top, it should also trickle down into the guest experience.
Nintya Avriantari, landscape operations manager and designer of Bawah Reserve in Riau Islands, Indonesia, said in a previous interview with Hotel News Now that she engages guests through a guided permaculture walk through the property's garden.
"During this tour, I explain the principles behind our permaculture-based practices, emphasizing the integration of various elements to work symbiotically to maintain the garden's productivity. Additionally, I highlight the advantages of the native beehives around the garden, and often share a peek inside the hives to accompany the story of our team's experience in attracting and maintaining the colonies until they produce honey," she said.
Avriantari said she's inspired by maintaining a "balance between improving community well-being and welfare without compromising the quality of our natural environment," she said. "It is essential to continue fostering the growth and network of skilled workers who can transfer their eco-friendly mindset and knowledge through the services they provide."
We need more of these folks to carry on this knowledge. If you're a sustainability expert and feel there's not a career for you in the hospitality industry, think again.
A previous HNN blog states that sustainability "is and will indefinitely remain a key part of how the hospitality sector functions, both with regards to internal operations and external brand perception."
The blog mentioned that one way hoteliers are working to show guests that they are committed is through the adoption of accreditation schemes. Many platforms including Google and TripAdvisor have rolled out their own metrics for sustainability accreditation.
To prioritize environmental, social and governance requirements, another HNN columnist wrote that these five actions are a must: educate, measure, align, collaborate and communicate.
Many hotel brands are committed to ESG. I like to read between the lines and see which ones are committing to these practices for the right reasons.
Recently, HNN's Terence Baker spoke with Accor Chief Sustainability Officer Brune Poirson, who said Accor has its minimum targets that its hotels must abide by.
In regards to meeting those targets, Poirson said "it is very hard to execute, but it is one-size-fits-all. We trust our general managers to go one step further, and they have the empowerment to do so. We need to make ESG more luxurious, more a la carte. What we do not want to be is patronizing. Guests have brain power and new habits and knowledge."
Executives and other staff at Accor are required to participate in a six-hour training program on the science of ESG. Hotel companies, she added, must be willing to answer questions from guests about their sustainability strategies.
Now, let's take a look at some eco-hotels across the globe.
Hotel Marcel: Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Hotel Marcel is a 165-room zero-emission hotel. It holds Passive House and LEED Platinum certifications. It operates on 100% renewable energy, has more than 1,000 rooftop solar panels and 12 electric vehicle charging stations, among other eco-friendly features.
Our Habitas: Set in Chile, the 51-room property is built from the desert's own clay and in a way that prioritized tree protection. For every plank used, a tree was planted. The hotel is committed to local sourcing, bans single-use plastics, minimizes resource reuse and each guest stay funds local hospitality training and jobs through its Rise initiative.
Maslina Resort: Croatia's Maslina Resort uses heat pumps and LED lights to create energy efficiency, uses refillable organic and locally sourced bath products, and food waste is composted while water waste is processed in sealed bio tanks.
Kisawa Sanctuary: In Mozambique, the 750-room eco-resort on Benguerra Island was built with local timber and handiwork of artisans from the archipelago. It's also partnered with the Bazaruto Centre for Scientific Studies to preserve the area's ecosystem. Plus, its produce is sourced from its own permaculture gardens or from farmers and suppliers within a 300-mile radius.
This is just a short list of some properties that incorporate sustainable operations and guest experiences, but I know there's many more out there. I would love to hear more of those examples and what lessons have been learned along the way.
Send me an email or connect with me on LinkedIn.
The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hotel News Now or CoStar Group and its affiliated companies. Bloggers published on this site are given the freedom to express views that may be controversial, but our goal is to provoke thought and constructive discussion within our reader community. Please feel free to contact an editor with any questions or concern.