Hospitality is an area where you can take sustainable actions that help not only to leave a friendly footprint on the planet, but also to attract guests. That’s because people who are aware of this issue will want to make a reservation.
For that, though, you need to make your hotel’s sustainability manual. A really effective one, with well-defined objectives and that serves as a guide towards a successful adaptation in the sustainable field.
That is what we will discuss in this article, and we invite you not to miss the details.
Table of Contents
Sustainability manual for your hotel: what is it?
It is a textual document that sets out a series of objectives that will lead a hotel company towards a sustainable future. So that the hotel’s operations will not affect the ecosystem and will contribute to the local economy.
For your hotel business to be truly sustainable, it must manage a balance between its economic, social and environmental spheres. This means that not everything depends on taking eco-friendly measures, but also on promoting employment, new business opportunities in the locality, etc.
Guide to create your hotel’s sustainability manual in 5 steps
Today, the hotel industry is facing an important group of guests who are aware of the need to take care of the planet. That is why entrepreneurs in this sector need to implement a sustainability plan.
One that can respond to this growing demand in the hotel sector and help you improve your brand image at the same time. So, let’s find out what you need to do from the following lines:
1. Analyse your current sustainability situation
To make your hotel’s sustainability manual, you first need to know what your current sustainability situation is like. This means that you need to calculate your carbon footprint and study your water and electricity usage.
You also need to document your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and other social, economic and environmental aspects of the hotel. This is your starting point for developing your new sustainability goals.
2. Define the sustainable objectives to be pursued
When you are finally clear about the current situation of your hotel company, it is time to take action. For this you need to create a list of clear objectives that will guide your new sustainable path.
At this stage it is important that your objectives are feasible, achievable and effectively address the areas for improvement in your hotel business. Also make sure to set up an internal communication plan, so that the whole team knows about your new initiatives and helps you to achieve results.
3. Think about the essence of your hotel
It is important to create a sustainability manual for your corporate hotel that is tailored to the essence of your business. To do so, you should consider its concept, mission, vision, values and business objectives, so that you can guarantee a successful adaptation
This is an important step to consider, if you really want to create an optimal manual for your lodging business. One where your sustainable objectives are in line with your business strategies
4. Set a communication plan
Your hotel’s sustainability manual will not be complete if you don’t set a plan to communicate your hotel’s new sustainable basics to your different audiences. Guests, business partners and suppliers are the ones you need to inform.
In this way, you can make a significant impact in the eyes of the market. Everyone will know that you are interested in taking action to safeguard the planet and will have a better perception of your brand.
5. Measure, evaluate and redesign
Finally, it is essential to set deadlines for the implementation of your sustainable objectives. The idea is to evaluate whether your new actions are generating positive results and if you identify failures, redesign and move on.
We also advise you to stick faithfully to your sustainable objectives, as sticking to the plan will avoid the likelihood of mistakes. But we are absolutely sure that if you follow these steps to the letter, everything will work out perfectly.
Tips on how to make a sustainable hotel and leave a friendly footprint on the planet
If you are wondering how to make a sustainable hotel, let us tell you that in this section of the article we will expose the tricks to achieve it.
have a look!
Renewable energies
We advise you to opt for the consumption of renewable energies in your hotel business. This will help to ensure that the consumption of electricity, air conditioning and refrigeration does not have a negative impact on our ecosystem.
LED lighting
LED lighting is a viable solution to reduce energy consumption by 80%. This helps you not only to mark your eco-friendly footprint in the hotel market, but also to save costs
Water efficiency systems
It is important that you set up systems to reuse water in your hotel and use it in automated toilets or irrigation mechanisms, for example. This will help you to reduce water waste by 50%.
Less waste
Work to reduce the amount of waste in your hotel. For this we advise you to reuse organic waste from food to make a compost that will beautify the green areas of the accommodation.
Sustainable building materials and techniques
When building or refurbishing your hotel, opt for the use of sustainable building materials and techniques. Some materials that have this certification are natural paints, wood and cork.
Biodiversity conservation
Your hotel company needs to actively contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems and the local landscape. Primarily in unprotected areas where help is most needed.
Promoting local employment
Your hotel business should be a source of jobs for the people who live in the surrounding areas. In this way you can contribute to boosting the local economy, an essential aspect for sustainability.
Buying local products
You should make a list of local suppliers and establish contracts with the ones that offer the best services. This will be your way of contributing to the local economy and making these small entrepreneurs visible
Supporting local entrepreneurs
If a local entrepreneur requests the spaces of your hotel for business meetings or other similar activities, support them without thinking about it. In this way you will contribute to the development of the cultural, social and commercial sphere of your locality.
If you already know how to make your hotel’s sustainability manual, then put this into practice and work towards leaving a positive footprint on our planet.
see you in a future article!
