Eco Tourism: a guide for hotels

What is ecological tourism?

Tourism respectful of the environment is a form of travel which minimizes the environmental impact of the tourism industry, protecting natural resources and supporting local communities.

It can be difficult to define the term “tourism ecot” for hotels, because it can mean so many different things. A definition of eco-tourism focuses on reducing waste, another seeks to maintain local ecosystems, and another could again focus on the cultural heritage of an area.

But that means that hotels have many opportunities in terms of sustainable travel and tourism. And with environmentally friendly tourism become a goal For an increasingly conscious cohort of travelers, ecotourism hotels are preparing for future success.

Why is eco-tourism important?

Eco-tourism is important for the future of your business, the local community in which you work, and without overestimating it too much, the planet as a whole.

On the corporate level, it guarantees you that you respond to the growing (and often large expenses) group of eco-conscious travelers, and forces you to consider long-term investments in sustainable technologies that can you Save a lot of long -term money.

Planning your Eco Tourism hotel around the needs and forces of your local environment and your local community can help the region as a whole, and the wider environmental advantages of this effort, in terms of lower emissions and reduced waste, mean Whether you play your participle in the creation of a more sustainable and habitable planet.

What is an example of ecotourism?

An example of ecotourism is located in Costa Rica Monteverde cloud forest Reserve, where hotels have made great efforts to integrate in a transparent way into the amazing local landscape, and offer tourists with low impact to feel it.

A common question of hoteliers and customers is whether ecotourism is good or bad for the environment. Despite its name, ecotourism can be harmful if it is poorly done. It is important to provide a cautious approach and considered to these efforts.

In this guide, we will take a closer look at ecotourism and sustainable tourism for hotels, how a hotel can be environmentally friendly, to the way it can capitalize on opportunities such as luxury ecotourism .

Why “Eco” hotels are more expensive to use

Hotels are a business – they exist to provide a service And To make money. But sustainability initiatives rarely represent the cheapest means to manage your hotel. And this makes the management of eco-tourism delicate, as hotel managers can be forced to balance capital and operational cost considerations by attracting eco-conscient customers and doing the right thing by the environment.

Some of the challenges include:

• Important initial investment: The construction of energy -efficient hotels, including energy, water and CVC systems inside, can represent significant capital expenses (although they will be reimbursed over time).
• Sustainable supply challenges: You will pay more for organic foods and fair products, and some hotels may find it difficult to supply these products.
• Operational shifts: Certain eco-consciousness systems and process, such as waste reduction, recycling and water conservation efforts, may require more time and effort to function than standard systems.

The good news: Sustainable tourist hotels tend to reduce long -term operating costs, in particular renewable energy systems and water conservation systems that minimize waste. Even fair trade and sustainable origin can ultimately increase income, as they can order a higher increase and generate more profits for your business.

Is it worth targeting the environmentally friendly hotel market?

The short answer? Yes. Customers are increasingly aware of the impact that their trip can have on the environment, and many are ready to pay a little more to stay in a hotel that makes its share to minimize these effects, thus offering a stay without guilt.

But it must be done in the right way.

ECO Tourism with sustainable practices for hotels

You cannot just label yourself as “ecological” without supporting this declaration. Capitalize on the tourism ecot market consists in proving your information to identify sustainability by TO DOnot adageYou must therefore implement initiatives before you can talk about it. Speaking of that …

Laver errors in common green make

Greenwashing – overestimation or a lie downright on your ecological references – can often be involuntary, but it is quite common in a number of industries. And consumers become wise. Make sure to avoid the following:

• Wave reventions: “Eco-friendly” should always be combined with details on sustainability practices.
• No certification: A trusted third party should support your complaints.
• Minimum impact initiatives: Avoid doing things such as promoting napk -reuse programs while using single -use plastics.
• Compensation instead of reducing: Carbon offsets lose quickly. You should rather aim to cut your shows.

How hotels can be real durability

Errors avoided, how do you effectively target the ecotourism market?

• Obtain recognized eco-certifications: Secure sustainable sustainability accreditations, Green Key and Earthcheck.
• Publish impact reports on sustainability: Aim for total transparency in terms of water and energy consumption and your waste reductions.
• Aim for holistic sustainability: Incorporate ecological processes in all operations. from supply chains to customer experiences.
• Communicate your efforts: Make yourself honestly and openly as an ecological option and train staff to communicate your green initiatives effectively.

How hotels can attract eco-conscient travelers

Let’s change our framing. In reality, sustainability should not be considered as a cost or an obligation, but rather an opportunity to add value to your customer experience and increase the income of your hotel business.

How do you effectively attract travelers concerned with sustainability and earn more money in the process? The following strategies are an excellent starting point.

Create eco-experiences

An isolated retirement in the middle of nature. Permaculture and sustainability workshops. Visits to national parks and local ecosystems. These eco-experiences can be a great way to highlight your knowledge and good job, share your region and earn more money while you do.

Offer options optional

Eco-conscious travelers can be willing to spend more than your average guest (which is good news if you need to invest in sustainable on-site systems). But rather than simply increasing the basic prices and potentially alienating a large part of the other guests, you could consider offering premium eco-packages to those who are ready to pay a little more for an environmentally friendly experience.

Promote lasting behavior of customers

Present green loyalty programs, where you associate yourself with environmental organizations to offer points that contribute to environmental initiatives. Encourage the lasting behavior of customers by offering free discounts or equipment to customers who choose to reuse towels, refuse daily cleaning or choose energy efficient parts. You can also squirt sustainability efforts through applications or chamber challenges on the conservation of water and energy.

The future of sustainable hotels

What is the future of your tourism ecot – and more specifically of your ecological hotel – Remember? Examples of eco-tourism can inspire you for your own efforts.

First to certain statistics. Worldwide, 73% of tourists prefer hotels with lasting practices, and 81% Plan to choose sustainable options in the near future. It’s an already huge market, and it doesn’t back up.

Regarding your hotel, you are safe to base your strategic sustainability decisions that eco-conscious travelers are ready to pay more for a truly sustainable experience. This means that Ecoluxury stays have significant potential. You can build an autonomous room or villa where sustainability is at the front and center, and quickly recover the investment thanks to premium prices.

There is also sustainability focused on technology: intelligent CVC fueled in AI, energy production systems and renewable water recycling which could cost a little to install, but which are reimbursed more than time.

But all sustainability initiatives do not require intense investment – there are also green solutions for the budget, such as passing loose toiletries and minimizing single -use plastics.

Another less obvious room of the hotel sustainability puzzle is to maximize your internal resources. When you use automation to lift repetitive and low value of your staff’s shoulders, they have more time to focus on sustainability and experience of the eco-conscious.

This is where the siteminder comes into play.