How to incorporate sustainability into your hotel sourcing strategy

Emissions should be a key consideration in hotel evaluations. Measuring and reducing emissions per traveler, per room night is essential to any sustainability strategy. But don’t stop there. Consider the other environmental and social aspects of the hotel program. Ask your potential hotel partners about their initiatives in the following areas:

• Energy consumption: Hotels are significant energy consumers, especially when it comes to heating and cooling. Ask: What is the share of electricity in your total energy consumption?
• Renewable energy: Hotels that invest in renewable energy make a substantial impact on reducing their environmental footprint. Ask: Does the hotel generate or purchase renewable energy? What percentage of their energy comes from renewable sources?
• Water consumption: Hotel guests often use more water than they would at home. On average, hotel water usage can be up to 500L per room per day. Ask: Does the hotel have initiatives to reduce daily guest room cleaning and sheets/towel changes? Does the hotel use low-flow and flush guest-facing water fixtures?
• Waste management: Single-use plastics and food waste are major environmental concerns for hotels. Ask: Does the hotel have a food waste reduction program? Are they recycling? What initiatives have they taken to reduce single-use plastics?
• Biodiversity: Hotels can impact local biodiversity through habitat destruction and chemical pollution. Ask: Does the hotel use eco-certified cleaning products? Does the hotel serve organic food? How are they involved in their local community?
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I): Social sustainability is as important as environmental sustainability. Ask: Does the hotel have a strong DE&I program? Has the hotel publicly shared their commitments and progress in this area?

2. Use custom questions to drive strategy

For companies new to sustainability, resources like the GBTA (CR) module offer a database of basic questions to evaluate suppliers’ sustainability efforts. For those more advanced, custom questions in your RFP can provide deeper insights. Develop a strategic weighting system that aligns with your company’s overall objectives. This data-driven approach helps in making informed decisions about including or excluding hotels from your preferred program.

3. Ensure accuracy in supplier responses

Accurate supplier responses to RFP questions are crucial. Encourage suppliers to provide detailed and honest answers, especially regarding sustainability. Often, suppliers may not fully appreciate the importance of these questions, so clear communication is key.

4. Source eco-certified properties

When selecting hotels, prioritize those with reliable eco-certifications like Greenkey, Nordic Swan, or European Ecolabel. These certifications cover a broad spectrum of sustainability concerns, from CO2 emissions to biodiversity, waste management, employee training, DE&I, and respect for local culture. Selecting eco-certified properties gives you confidence that these hotels are committed to sustainability.

5. Engage travelers in sustainable practices

After integrating sustainable hotels into your program, the next step is traveler engagement. Educate your travelers on making sustainable choices during their stays. Here are some tips to share:

• Reuse towels and bed sheets: This simple action can significantly reduce energy and water consumption.
• Mind lighting usage: Encourage travelers to turn off lights when not needed, as lighting accounts for 15% of a hotel’s energy consumption.
• Lower the thermostat: Remind travelers that lowering heating by just 1 degree can save 7% of energy.
• Promote public transport: Encourage the use of public transport from the airport when available.

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