As tourism continues its upward trajectory it becomes all the more important for each and every stakeholder involved to ensure a planet-friendly and responsible travel experience. There are a plethora of tips and tricks for travellers looking to travel sustainably but the hospitality industry also needs to pull its own weight if it hopes to attract customers who are climate-conscious.
Here are a few dos and don'ts for hotels, hostels and homestays that will stand them in good stead with ethically-aware travellers.
Using technology like smart devices with care and consideration for travellers of all stripes can play a big role in elevating your hotel's sustainability rating and help optimise your hotel operations. Examples include personalised room settings, digital concierge services and online room check-in.
Single-use toiletries can easily be replaced by sustainable products that can be reused and composted, such as refillable shampoo, soap and lotion containers, wooden combs and bamboo toothbrushes.
Minimise the waste generated due to plastic use by reusing the available plastic, replacing them with biodegradable materials such as jute, cotton and wool fibres, and recycling them at their end-of-life. Food waste can be composted or avoided by only buying just enough fresh produce for your needs.
Your guests' stay will be more convenient if you digitise receipts and invoices instead of printing them. A lot of visitors chuck paper receipts the moment they complete check-out but sending bills and receipts via email cuts down on paper usage.
From paper cups lined with plastic to plastic cutlery and water bottles left for every guest in their room, the amount of plastic an establishment generates can be huge. Wherever possible, replace them with glass bottles, ceramic or reusable mugs, and products made of washable material, such as bamboo.
It is important to segregate waste and have a proper system to dispose of all waste material. Improper waste management can damage the natural world more than the amount of waste generated since it's usually left to fester in landfill, where it releases toxic gases and chemical into the air, groundwater and soil.
Inform and educate guests about reusing linen rather than having it changed every day. Consider washing linen on alternate days in order to curtail water waste and the heavy use of detergents.
Instead of using cleaning agents which have harmful chemicals, try to source biodegradable and organic cleaning products which reduce harm to the living world. There are plenty of planet-friendly detergents available, such as those made of reetha.
