Sustainability in hotel development and operations is moving at different speeds. Some hotel owners have yet to install LED lights, while others are embracing comprehensive programs like B Corp and BREEAM.
Gregor MacNaughton, chief technical officer at white label operator RBH Hospitality Management, said that attitudes to ESG investments vary considerably from one owner to the next.
But positive consequence of the spike in construction costs has been a new focus on the refurbishment and extension of existing properties. “This is the first year at RBH in my memory that we have no new builds in progress,” MacNaughton said.
Energy-Saving Measures
Some owners are investing in energy-saving measures like voltage optimization and in-room occupancy sensors.
The global hotel brands have moved at different speeds too when it comes to mandating sustainable practices.
In 2021, IHG were the first to set median monthly and annual energy targets for operators, while Hilton introduced a similar policy soon afterwards, and Accor and Marriott are still to follow suit.
“We took the best bits of the IHG and Hilton targeting systems and extrapolated that across all our hotels. So now we give all our hotels, monthly and annual energy targets, and we've incentivized our general managers to hit those energy targets. So it's become part of our ethos and culture,” MacNaughton expanded.
Pathway to Success
A lack of industry-wide mandates makes navigating the best path to sustainability far from straightforward. There are seemingly endless decisions to make.
“We're hotel people, not environmental scientists. It's a minefield out there. Where do you source your data? What's the best technology to use?” said Ben Harper, CEO, Watergate Bay, Another Place & Beach Retreats.
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