Whether you've already made significant changes or are just starting to move from intention to action, sustainable hospitality can take many forms. To help you get the most from your efforts, Deloitte looks at some of the sustainability factors specific to the hospitality industry, along with some suggestions for how to realize a return on your investment into sustainability.
Like many other consumers, travelers are increasingly concerned about climate change and the environment. Sixty-eight percent of respondents to the Deloitte’s Global State of the Consumer Survey described climate change as an emergency, and Booking.com reports that 53% of global travelers say they're more determined to travel sustainably than they were a year ago. And for a large and growing segment of travelers, it's become more and more important to choose travel brands that embody their values.
Today, sustainable practices can be essential to the health of your business—not to mention the communities you operate in. Whether you've already made significant changes or are just starting to move from intention to action, sustainable hospitality can take many forms. To help you get the most from your efforts, Deloitte looks at some of the sustainability factors specific to the hospitality industry, along with some suggestions for how to realize a return on your investment into sustainability.
But first, how is "sustainable hospitality" defined? It depends whether you ask customers, employees, or management. Large hotel chains, local operators, and small ownerships groups will likely also have varied environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities, as will the corporate and client-facing divisions of a business. Despite these differences, hospitality companies should offer travelers an intentional—and compelling—sustainability experience across the brand.
The good news is that the hospitality industry has multiple proven, scalable opportunities to help minimize environmental impact—and innovative programs and technologies are emerging across the industry.
In sustainability as in life, however, one size doesn’t fit all. A successful environmental initiative should be tailored to the particular property, considering factors such as:
Some sustainability changes can be implemented immediately and may require little investment. Others may require a coordinated multiyear effort. Deloitte sees three major areas of opportunity:
Whatever improvements you make, take the opportunity to share them transparently and honestly with your customers, celebrating and reinforcing your commitment to sustainability. And as your sustainability journey continues, be sure to track, quantify, and disclose your improvements in environmental and financial impact reports.
If you're ready to move the ESG needle, Deloitte can help. Our extensive global network can help deliver sustainability knowledge in hospitality, tax, energy, transportation, food systems, waste management, utilities, and other critical areas. Deloitte’s strategic and operational specialists are ready to help you tackle your highest priority sustainability initiatives and help drive transformation in areas from tax advisory, data analytics, and change management to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable sourcing. Contact us today.
Katrina Goulden
Senior Manager, ESG Strategy, Deloitte US
kgoulden@deloitte.com