One thing at a time
After a two year hiatus, following the havoc wrought by the pandemic, when the number one priority for hospitality operators shifted to health and safety, travel has returned in full force, and it’s now important to acknowledge how the behavior and priorities of travelers have changed. One key area has emerged as a clear front runner: sustainability. One in three potential guests’ research a hotel’s environmental policy prior to their stay and over 60%, are likely to choose an accommodation option that implements sustainability practices.
Now, more than before, where COVID-19 is no longer a major cause for concern and as the situation develops, how can the global community ensure that the tourism industry not only recovers from the COVID-19-caused crisis, but also incorporates lessons learned and becomes more sustainable in the future?
According to a 2018 study, the combined emissions associated with tourism across nine industries including transport, goods, food and beverage, agriculture, services, accommodation, construction, mining and hospitality, accounts for nearly 4.3 billion metric tons emitted per year. There are many types of GHGs, but carbon dioxide emissions are the main factor leading to global warming.
Tourism is responsible for around 8% of global GHG emissions and hotels, by consuming huge amounts of water, energy and items that cannot be recycled, significantly contribute to the crisis. So, why do hotels fight shy to implement strategies to rein in their carbon footprint? Admittedly, the hotel industry does face numerous barriers to implementing carbon reduction programmes.
The tourism sector is a complex system, one that includes industries of transportation, building and construction, food and waste management, among others. Although tourism transportation emissions are relatively easy to measure accurately, emissions generated from other parts of the tourism sector – including building and operating hotels, food production, tourism-related waste management, and the service segment are more difficult to quantify and measure.
The reluctance of hospitality operators to make changes towards shrinking their carbon footprint, for fear of diluting the overall guest experience, when seeking to provide high- quality amenities and services for guests is one compelling factor.
Then, there are the half-hearted efforts by hotels – partly because some hotel managers lack environmental knowledge or are unable to get the necessary ‘buy in’ from the various stakeholders, to implement a comprehensive programme that drives maximum lessening of emissions.
Whilst ISO 14001 is the global standard for environmental management, the absence of an affordable uniform system and a standardized approach to carbon auditing is a stumbling block. This is where a tourism-related agency can step in to develop a carbon footprint guidebook and a universally accepted assessment scheme. Many managers struggle to know how and where to start. Perhaps International hotel brands could take the lead by developing a “model and carbon footprint manual or audit.
Not only is Implementing sustainable hotel practices an overwhelming process, it comes at a cost. It represents an investment with no immediate return, and COVID-19’s painful infliction on the economy has pushed sustainability deep down the list of priorities. It all comes down to individual companies to design their own sustainability programs, which may vary considerably and may only be affordable for luxury properties.
Until then, sustainability will continue to be a subject of discussion and the main question is likely to remain: Can sustainability be profitable?
Shafeek Wahab – Editor, Hospitality Sri Lanka, Consultant, Trainer, Ex-Hotelier
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