Hotel Owner Hotel Owner July 2017 digital | Page 19

hotel
owner
SUSTAINABILITY HOTSHOTS
SUSTAINABILITY
HOTSHOTS
2017
SUSTAINABILITY
HOTSHOTS
Sustainable practices in the hospitality industry have become a commodity in
themselves. With ‘eco-tourism’ now a highly sought after factor for travellers,
many hotels are having to align with the qualities and practices that eco-friendly
establishments offer. We search the industry for Hotel Owner’s 2017 Sustainability
Hotshots. By SHEKINA TUAHENE
R
esearch conducted by Unilever in January this year found cheaper and at times more sustainable sources. They promise to
that one third of customers chose to buy from brands help clients save up to 15% on annual fuel bill by switching to them.
that they believed were doing “social or environmental
good”. As well as this, in 2015 the United Nations declared 2017 CLEANING
the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development’, Some may choose to become more ‘green’ with daily operations
pledging to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to such as cleaning and housekeeping, as there are options to
economical, environmental and social benefit. make these practices less harmful to the environment. Diversey
As a result, many businesses are adopting corporate social
Care’s innovative SURE range of plant-based cleaning products
responsibility (CSR) as a core tenet of their business model, are as effective as other market choices, whilst being friendlier to
setting themselves goals to become more socially accountable, surfaces, fabrics and the atmosphere. The products have minimal
as well as self-regulating further than what is required by law. effect on the environment after use as their 100% biodegradable
In hospitality and the hotel sector, improved sustainability can makeup means they can be disposed of safely without having a
be achieved in many ways and there are plenty of steps an detrimental, long term impact.
establishment can take towards becoming greener and reducing
its impact on the environment.
SUPPLIERS
An area less well known in the sustainability arena is the choice
ENERGY of soft furnishings. The towels, duvets and cushions that are
Arguably one of the easiest ways of monitoring a hotel’s carbon used in hotel rooms can also go towards lowering a property’s
footprint is to look at its energy consumption and work towards carbon footprint. The Fine Bedding Company provides beddings
lowering it. Turning off lights, moderating heating and controlling which are manufactured in a sustainable way to reduce carbon
hot water temperatures are all simple but highly effective ways footprint, thus reducing that of the hotel they supply to. The firm
that a hotel can reduce its energy usage. manufactures its products with 100% of the energy used coming
Rointe’s energy-smart heating products help to monitor and
from “certified renewable sources” and it boasts a carbon footprint
optimise usage through meters and heating products which 19% lower compared with the industry standard. Products like
work to make the most out of minimal use. Its True Real Power these ensure that a hotel is sustainable at all chains of supply
meter gives hoteliers daily, weekly or monthly reports on energy and gives confidence that it is working with companies who have
consumption allowing a hotel to tweak its settings to be more similar goals and ethos with regard to sustainability. Maintenance
efficient and lower costs. The company’s D Series heating range and energy costs continue to be reduced as the range is easily
uses 38% of a radiator’s nominal energy for 12 hours of the day, washed in house, removing the need for laundering services.
meaning 62% of its power is being saved for the rest of the day.
Other ways hotels can improve their sustainability through the
Anton Treacy, manager of Treacy’s Hotel in Enniscorthy, Wexford, supply chain is by making use of the businesses and environment
says: “D Series allows us to control the bedroom setting from local to them. Some hotels pride themselves on keeping the
reception, anytime, anywhere. This is vitally important when community thriving through the use of local farmers, butchers and
controlling the businesses running costs.” produce. By using local business to supply food to the hotel, the
Switching energy suppliers is a significant method for
need to transport the goods across long distances is significantly
significantly reducing energy usage, as well as the amount that lowered. It can also lessen the cost of storage methods such as
is spent on it. AvantiGas are off-grid energy specialists who can refrigerators, as being in such close proximity to the raw supplies
create tailored solutions to help hotels switch energy providers to means it can be easier to get them fresh and on a regular basis.
July 2017
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