According to the study Sustainable Travel Report 2023 of the digital platform Booking.com72% of travelers consider that they have to make decisions on how they will travel. sustainable travel to save the planet. 73% of travelers intend to stay at least once a year in a hotel or resort. sustainable housing and the percentage is growing year after year, which opens up an opportunity for hotels that have the same vision.

But what characteristics does a hotel need to have to be considered sustainable? On your sustainability blog, BBVA stresses that this goes beyond purely environmental criteria, as it also involves social and cultural criteria. These are the three pillars that the World Tourism Organization establishes the criteria for considering tourism as sustainable.

To be sustainable, a hotel must optimize environmental resources in order to reduce its impact on the environment and to reduce the carbon footprint. You can do this through the following actions:

Use of renewable energies

By adopting these technologies, the establishment will achieve zero emissions due to electricity consumption for lighting, air conditioning or refrigeration during the hotel activity, since this type of technology does not emit gases that are harmful to the planet.

Make use of LED lighting

Thanks to this type of lighting, consumption can be reduced by up to 80%.

Establish water utilization systems

Such as water purification systems that allow water to be reused for, for example, the hotel's irrigation systems; or the installation of automated faucets and toilets that reduce water waste by up to 50% compared to manual faucets. In this area, we are also working to raise awareness by incorporating messages aimed at guests to reduce the change of towels, taking into account the water consumption this entails.

Reducing waste through recycling or reuse

On many occasions, the organic waste from the food is transferred to areas where it is composted for the landscaped areas of the lodge.

Using recycled materials or biodegradable products

Many hotels already choose to place eco-friendly amenities or dispensers in the bathrooms to avoid single-dose toiletries and reduce the amount of waste generated by these containers. They also use biodegradable detergents or cleaning products to reduce water pollution.

Use of sustainable materials and construction techniques in the facilities

These can be recycled or those that can be recovered or recycled and are not harmful to the environment. They must provide good energy efficiency and guarantee a long life.

Contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, ecosystems and landscapes.

This involves the conservation of the environment and the protection of local species, especially in protected areas and areas with high biodiversity value.

But, in addition, to be sustainable, a hotel to promote local employment, the purchase of local products to contribute to the local economy and make small traders visible.

The sustainable hotel accommodations prioritize local and fair trade suppliers, support local entrepreneurs in the development and sale of sustainable products and services that are sourced from the natural, cultural and historical environment of the area.

The promotion of employment, the consumption of local products and support for local products are key to the construction of a sustainable and sustainable circular economy which, in addition, will reduce poverty.

A sustainable hotel also respects the socio-cultural authenticity of local communities, thus preserving cultural and architectural assets and traditional values, which involves maintaining and integrating protected heritage areas when designing the hotel or making modifications to it.

Source: BBVA