NATIONAL REPORT—In a competitive hospitality market dominated by big hotel chains and the burgeoning presence of Airbnbs and home vacation rentals, small hotel owners must use strategies to distinguish their properties. For those committed to environmental sustainability, this ethos offers a compelling way to differentiate your hotel. Here are three ways to make your small hotel stand out by embracing green practices.
Lean into Marketing Your Commitment to Sustainability
In today’s eco-conscious marketplace, your green initiatives are powerful marketing tools. Highlighting your commitment to sustainability can set you apart. Use your website, social media platforms, and all marketing communications to tell your story. This approach appeals to environmentally aware travelers and positions your hotel as a responsible member of the global community.
The US Green Building Council offers LEED O+M (Operations and Maintenance) Certification for existing buildings. The scorecards and checklists that the organization lists can be helpful to small hotel owners as guides for improving sustainability across all aspects of their service. Here are some practical ways to get started in making your small hotel’s operations more sustainable.
Conserve Water and Switch to LED Lighting
Water conservation is an essential aspect of sustainable living, and there are numerous ways your hotel can contribute. Installing low-flow showerheads and toilets significantly reduces water usage. Encouraging guests to reuse towels and linens decreases the frequency of laundry, further conserving water.
Lighting is another area where small hotels can achieve substantial energy savings. Hotels are benefiting from the advantages of LED lighting, as it can dramatically lower energy consumption. LEDs have come a long way and are now available in warm tones that provide the cozy ambience guests expect. These changes help the planet and reduce your operational costs, making them smart business decisions as well.
Explore Sustainable Menus for Your Dining Options
If your hotel offers dining, even if only for breakfast, embracing sustainable menus can greatly appeal to guests. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients establish your hotel’s dining room as a forward-thinking operation that supports small farms. Offering vegan and organic options, or even growing your own produce on hotel grounds, reduces the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and offers guests fresh, high-quality dining experiences. Highlighting these efforts can make your hotel’s dining options a draw for guests who value sustainability and wish to support environmentally friendly practices during their travels.
Install Solar Panels
While it represents a more significant upfront investment, solar energy can be a core strategy for small hotels looking to go green. Even a limited number of solar panels can significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut energy expenses over time.
Adopting these strategies to make your small hotel stand out as a greener choice helps the environment and provides a unique selling proposition for your hotel.
