MANILA, Philippines -- The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) this week launched a set of criteria it says hotels should implement to drive responsible and sustainable tourism.
The initiative, called Hotel Sustainability Basics, was revealed during WTTC's Global Summit here. The organization says that a list of 12 actions for hotels to enact will help even the smallest properties address and improve their environmental impact.
The criteria, developed by WTTC in collaboration with global hotel brands and industry associations, include actions to measure and reduce energy and water use, waste and 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; and measures to benefit local communities.
WTTC CEO Julia Simpson said the actions are "fundamental to hotel sustainability" and will raise the base level of sustainability across hospitality. WTTC called upon hotel operators, owners and associations to support the initiative and work across their networks to implement the criteria over the next three years.
"Sustainability is non-negotiable, but not every small hotel has access to the science on how to make a difference," Simpson said. "This gives everyone access to a global standard and provides consumers to travel with conference."
Federico Gonzales, CEO of the Radisson Hotel Group, said that the criteria would also help hotels communicate their sustainability efforts to consumers.
"We have to recognize that sustainability is becoming a bit of a buzzword," he said, and consumers are confused about what it really means. "Many owners were asking for help to communicate to consumers that they were aiming to be more sustainable and communicate what they were doing."
A 2021 cover story explored how the Covid crisis sharpened the industry's focus on sustainability.
Gonzales called the initiative "the first step to make a huge difference. It's a first step in a journey to greater sustainability, to net zero, and eventually to net positive. We can't deny net zero is not enough. We have to be net positive."
The WTTC said that initiative has gained support from hotel companies and associations representing more than 50,000 hotels around the world. They include Accor, Barcelo Hotel Group, Melia Hotels International, Louvre Hotels Group and Radisson Hotel Group, as well as the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and the Hotel Association of India.