{"id":10133,"date":"2019-06-26T18:21:36","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T18:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/?p=10133"},"modified":"2019-06-26T18:21:36","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T18:21:36","slug":"eco-friendly-hospitality-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hotelsbyday.com\/blog\/eco-friendly-hospitality-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"Going Green: 9 Eco-Friendly Hospitality Trends to Look Out For"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In times of polarizing opinions and ongoing political debate, it’s slightly <\/em>less controversial to believe that the trajectory of climate change isn’t in the best interest of humans (or any kind of life on this planet). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our work is certainly cut out for us if we’re to keep climate change in check over the long-term. But change must start with action. And hospitality is one much-needed sector in which strides in energy and waste need to happen. Fortunately, guests are helping to fuel hoteliers’ motivations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last month, Booking.com released its 2019 Sustainable Travel Report<\/a>, finding that 72 percent of global travelers believe that we must travel sustainably to save the planet for future generations.
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In a wonderfully circular process, it is travel itself<\/em> <\/strong>that inspires people to travel more sustainably: in 2018, 60 percent<\/a> of travelers indicated that they found the beautiful natural sights as their inspiration to explore the world with an environmental conscience. Hotels worldwide are taking note of this trend, and developing a plethora of sustainable practices to quench their clients\u2019 thirst for green travel.
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Here are 9 eco-friendly hotel trends to look out for on your travels:
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1. Urban Beekeeping <\/strong>
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Hotels all over the world are installing apiaries (a collection of beehives) on their roofs, terraces, and grounds. It\u2019s a win-win-win\u2014for the bees, hoteliers, and guests. Bees flourish in these locally-run communities, because there\u2019s a total lack of pesticides; hoteliers benefit from contributing to the budding \u201cenvironmentally friendly\u201d narrative in hospitality, and by having a part to play in saving the bees. And guests? Well, they get an endless supply of fresh, delicious honey.
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A bee house modeled after the famous Bee Hotel at Place des Jardins in Paris, France. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Plastic Reduction<\/strong>
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Plastic is getting a bad rap these days, with good reason. Disturbing reports are emerging, declaring most of our drinking water is contaminated with plastic<\/a>. Last year, Bali had to declare a \u201cgarbage emergency<\/a>\u201d because of the amount of plastic washing up on a four-mile stretch of beach on the island\u2019s west coast.
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We\u2019re (finally) realizing the devastating effects plastic has on our health and our planet (the two, after all, are interrelated)\u2014and hotels all over the world (with hospitality giants Hilton<\/a> and Marriott<\/a> leading the pack) are taking action. Those single-use guest slippers wrapped in plastic? Gone. Plastic straws, bottles, and laundry bags? Also gone. And those little plastic shampoos and conditioners? They\u2019re cute, but not so adorable for the future of our planet\u2014refillable glass containers are the way to go. Sayonara, plastic. Your time is up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Eco-Friendly Design & Construction<\/strong>
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LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is\u2014excuse the pun\u2014the leading green building rating system in the hotel industry. \u201cGreen building\u201d is (according to LEED\u2019s<\/a> official website) the practice of \u201cdesigning, constructing, and operating buildings to maximize occupant health and productivity, use fewer resources, reduce waste and negative environmental impacts, and decrease life-cycle costs.\u201d
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Many major hotel chains (Fairmont<\/a>, Kimpton<\/a>, ITC<\/a>, and Marriott<\/a>, to name a few) have multiple LEED-certified establishments and are in the process of developing more. A LEED certification makes for healthier indoor spaces, happier guests, and the enhancement of a hotel\u2019s brand (going green isn\u2019t just ethical, guys\u2014it\u2019s cool<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Energy Reduction<\/strong>
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Switching to LED or CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) lighting results in significant <\/strong>energy savings for hotels. After Marriott changed their lighting back in 2006, they saved almost $6 million in the following year alone, and reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 70,000 tons<\/a>. Hotels are also leveraging increasingly affordable solar energy to reduce their operating costs. Energy reduction\u2019s dual economic-ecological advantage makes the change a no-brainer for most hoteliers.
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