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Who Supports the Idea of Sustainable Hotels?
Hotels and all hospitality properties need to pay attention to the growth of tourism. Being a green hotel and a sustainable tourism property or destination are the wave of the future and the path to success.
"Buildings should be both an expression of the landscape and of the people who inhabit them", according to the new publication entitled "Sustainable Hotel Siting, Design and Construction". Beautifully put, I think. This publication is sponsored by the International Business Leaders Forum (ILBF) and Conservation International. It is geared toward those involved in planning or developing hotels.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), designed by the U.S. Green Building Council, has been available for reference in "green" construction and renovation, but it seems the "Sustainable Hotel" publication adds the elements of community and sustainability building techniques to its guiding principles.
The guiding principles detailed in this publication are a resource to help the thinking of developers and their advisors, hotel owners, investors, as well as planners. International experts on sustainable building have shared their insights and knowledge, making this a "must have" for anyone in the hotel industry. It addresses building efficiency, future flexibility and environmental and societal impact, and provides a collection of good practices that can be applied around the world. I suspect it can be used by anyone in any aspect of the hospitality industry, like restaurants, golf courses and spas, conference centers, and even cruise ships.
"Sustainable Hotels" was produced with the support world leaders in the hotel industry, including Accor, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Four Seasons, Hilton, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Marriott, Rizidor, Starwood, and Taj Hotels. It also has the support of HRH The Prince of Wales, who as President of the IBLF said, "The industry as a whole now needs to design, develop, and refurbish and operate a new generation of tourism destinations that have a minimal ecological footprint and which also support and strengthen the communities in which they operate." If only more hotels and world leaders actively supported this philosophy!
Covered topics include
* project inception
* pre-design
* creating the design brief
* architectural and physical design
* construction and refurbishment
* commissioning and operation
* interior design
* monitoring performance
* case studies
It seems to me that between the LEED and "Sustainable Hotel" guidelines, we should start seeing more hospitality venues making a smaller impact on the environment. As tourism grows in popularity worldwide, treading lightly is increasingly important. I hope those who actively pursue this way of developing and operating hotels have great business success.
Posted by Kit Cassingham
