Your essential checklist for communicating as a green hotel property or restaurant
Photo: Jerome Courtial - Arial shot of Kynance cove in Cornwall, UK.
The green revolution is here: What are the key sustainable efforts to make in your property or for your business? And how to market your business as eco-friendly or eco-responsible?
To be what is called a ‘green’ hotel is to commit to an environmentally sustainable business that has made important environmental improvements to its structure in order to minimize its impact on the natural environment. Before communicating on green principles, it’s important to consider if your hotel or restaurant has started implementing them internally.
We’ve compiled 22 points to give you an idea to measure your sustainable efforts:
Have you created a 'green team' at your hotel with the goal of continual improvement, evaluation and reporting?
Do you have a renewable energy system?
Are you using a certified renewable electricity provider?
Have you considered carbon offsets and can demonstrate? your carbon footprint for meetings, events, hotel stays?
Have you reduced water use in the hotel?
How about linen origin (towels and sheets)? Have you got an ozone laundry system or energy saving machines?
Are you using LED regular or tube lights in guest rooms, restaurants, and hallways?
Do you have occupancy sensors in common areas and exterior areas? What about the guest keycard?
How about the property heating? Do you have an energy saver heating and cooling system?
How is waste managed? For food, water etc
Do you have a process in place for recycling? Communal and guest only bins - For paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, cardboard, metal and plastic.
Does a tracking system exist for energy, water and waste internally?
Do you have a green roof or solar panels?
Does the restaurant serve organic, locally-grown food?
Does your menu reflect an awareness of endangered species and avoid particular fish?
Are you donating leftover foods to a local nonprofit organization and/or compost?
Have you joined a green program?
Do you have reusable items such as cloth napkins, glass cups, ceramic dishes, etc. related to F&B services.
Are you using green cleaning services and products? cleaners, sanitizers, office supplies throughout the hotel?
Are you buying environmentally-friendly paper (office paper, toilet paper, paper towels)?
Is the furniture recycled, fair trade or locally produced?
Are all your hotels or restaurants equipped in the same eco-friendly way?
Please note this list is not exhaustive and it is intended to give inspiration towards a greener way of working.