WTTC launches global hotel sustainability initiative

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched ‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’, a global initiative that sets out a list of criteria for  hotels to implement to drive sustainability. 

The initiative was launched at the group’s Global Summit this week, with WTTC saying it will help every hotel “address and improve their environmental impact”.

It was developed “by the industry for the industry”, and highlights 12 actions which are fundamental to hotel sustainability, helping to raise the base level of sustainability across the entire hospitality industry.

‘Hotel Sustainability Basics’ is said to focus on actions which are “fundamental” to hotel sustainability and addresses tourism’s impact on the planet across a spectrum of critical issues. WTTC said it also provides the global hospitality sector with a “baseline of positive actions” to be taken to ensure they meet at least the minimum sustainability requirements.

These criteria include actions to measure and reduce energy use, measure and reduce water use, identify and reduce waste, and measure and reduce carbon emissions. It also includes a linen reuse program, use of green cleaning products, the elimination of plastic straws, stirrers, and single-use plastic water bottles, the implementation of bulk amenity dispensers, as well as measures to benefit local communities.

WTTC is now calling upon hotel operators, owners, associations, and investors around the world to officially support the initiative and work across their networks to implement the criteria over the coming three years.

The initiative has already gained support from major global groups such as Jin Jiang International (Holdings) Co., Ltd. including its affiliates Jin Jiang Hotels, Louvre Hotels Group and Radisson Hotel Group, Accor, Barceló Hotel Group, Meliá Hotels International and Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).

Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, said: “We are launching the Hotel Sustainability Basics to ensure no hotel, however small, is left behind in the drive to introduce a basis sustainability measures within a minimum level the next three years.

“Sustainability is non-negotiable but not every small hotel has access to the science on how to make a difference. This gives everyone access to a global standard and provides consumers to travel with conference. WTTC wants the hospitality industry to lead by example so that sustainability becomes the basic requirement used to drive change forward for this generation and the next.”