Go Green, Let’s Win!

By Danson Imbwaga Matekwa

“Eco-consciousness is on the rise in the hospitality industry. Guests are looking for sustainable and authentic experiences and luxury hotels are going green as millennials demand sustainable travel options.” – WorldHotels

Among the world’s current pertinent concerns is the issue of sustainability. The hospitality industry has certainly not been left behind in the quest for improved environmental and social impact, while maintaining profit. Sustainability enhances establishments’ operations and development which in turn impacts on environmental, economic and social aspects. For sustainability to be realized, the above named must be harmonized. 

The environment is perhaps the single most important tool for the hotel industry by producing majority of resources needed while also acting as a ‘sink’ for waste generated. Energy is needed in hotels for power needs, as a source of fuel, for lighting among other needs. Water is needed in the bathrooms, for cooking, cleaning among others. A few sceptics have equated the idea of green operation as being expensive and hardly noticeable by guests. On the contrary, green operations have been proved to be of great importance to many hotel establishments. 

Cost saving is the most spoken benefit of eco-labels. The goal of any hotel is to make profits at the end of the day. The policy of re-use, reduce and recycle has been warmly welcomed and adapted by many hoteliers which, combined with other practices, continue increasing their net profits. Cost reduction can be achieved by investing in different environmentally friendly technologies.  

In the recent past, many governments have been enacting a number of regulatory laws which are to be implemented by the hotel industry. Such enactments are to address issues such as waste management, cooperate social responsibility, environmental health and safety among others. However, being a member of an eco-label helps to adhere to such regulatory measures, which helps in smooth running of a hotel’s operations. 

Modern and well-informed hoteliers clearly understand that customer satisfaction is essential for their retention and loyalty. Currently, more than ever in the hotel industry, customers are not just looking for hotels, they want a home like environment. Hotels capable of providing green operations have been attracting increasing number of customers, increasing their operations.

Eco-labels help in improving a hotel’s brand image. Constant mentions on different platforms including websites, newspapers etc. helps in not only marketing of the hotel, but also retaining customers, with most millenials preferring to work in environmentally friendly environments. Sustainability and eco-labeling is now a defining issue for the hotel industry. Rising populations and increasingly scarce resources will provide a challenging business environment in which sustainability will need to be embedded within all facets of the industry, rather than regarded as a standalone issue.