Taking the path to sustainability in the hospitality industry

Finn Bolding Thomsen , Deputy CEO of eco-certification program Green Key International , describes sustainability in hospitality as “a journey.”

Sustainability is commonly misconceived as only affecting environmental impact. However, improvement is needed in a range of areas, including ethical practices, diversity and inclusion, cultural impact, and business models.

Cultural sustainability, for example, describes redirecting tourism to less populated areas to conserve biodiversity by reducing overcrowding and building stronger local economies. Booking.com’s Sustainability Report found that 84% of travelers believe this preservation understanding is crucial, and 73% want spending spread equally across all societal economies, which may explain the two-thirds planning to avoid hot destinations in future travel.

Studies show 77% of hotel guests are as careful with water and energy usage as they are at home, demonstrating how travelers are looking for the same accessibility to eco-friendly practices as they have in their daily lives. Hoteliers are already mindful of these changing expectations as previous services like complimentary plastic bottles of water can be received negatively now, but it’s not enough.

Tourism has the potential to contribute toward all 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. As Finn Bolding Thomsen recently said at the 2022 I Meet Hotel 's Sustainability Summit, the "need for sustainability is bigger than ever, climate change reports are alarming, and we need to act,” reminding hoteliers: “any work is better than no work with sustainability.”

Caroline Dal'lin also agreed and stated, “Green hospitality is, and will be, more regulated. Hoteliers need to be ready to address this.”

For additional information on sustainability in the hospitality industry,?download uGO's and Bidroom ’s white paper titled Sustainability in hospitality: where the industry is now and what the future holds.