There can be no doubt that the corporate social responsibility programs of large hotel groups have a substantial reach and impact on the local and global environment and upon surrounding communities world-wide. But the collective efforts of smaller scale establishments are no less significant. In fact, in some respects, it is easier for independent accommodation providers and smaller hotel chains to implement environment and social policies.
Consider Your Strengths
In a smaller establishment, decisions such as whether to install energy-efficient lighting, water-saving equipment or even soap and shampoo dispensers can be implemented swiftly and unilaterally by the hotel owner as soon as is practical and affordable. There are few corporate constraints such as the need for branding consistency or co-ordination across the chain. Another advantage is that smaller operators may be more tuned in to the concerns and needs of the community and how best to respond.
The more difficult obstacles for smaller hotels to overcome are the de-motivating forces of lack of time and resources and these are often the reasons given for not addressing environmental issues. However, not only can environmental programs save money, but they can also free up staff time, particularly when it comes to initiatives such as towel and linen programs. Susan Biemens of the Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba says:
"I think the issue for small independent hotels is to educate and motivate those who do not have an environmental program about how important and simple it is to implement one. We spend a great deal of time on stewardship on Aruba to help solve this issue, both in our industry and for Aruba's residents. There are now eight properties certified as Green Globe 21 in Aruba. None of them are chain-affiliated hotels, they are all individually owned and operated. This applies for the most part throughout the Caribbean - over 60 properties are certified".
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
A key to success is to remember that you are not the first organization to introduce an environmental program and to take advantage of the expertise and assistance that is available externally. This can include sourcing environmental information from the Internet or working with your hotel association (see the case study opposite) and with other hotels in the area by pooling information and resources. Find out whether you are eligible for any incentives that may be offered by your national or local government to encourage businesses to invest in resource-saving equipment. The New Zealand government, for example, has recently introduced a NZ$1.2 million project to help tour operators implement sustainable business practices.
Environmental help for small hotel operators in the Caribbean is available from the Caribbean Hotel Environment Initiative (CHEMI), while in the U.K. there are many regional schemes for hotel and tourism businesses. These include Scotland's Tourism & Environment Forum and, in England, the South East Cornwall Tourism Association’s (SECTA) Green Acorn scheme, the Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project (CoaST) and the Green Tourism Business Scheme (South Hams, Devon) to name but a few. They offer practical help to tourism businesses and run schemes to help visitors and tourists identify more environmentally proactive properties and tour operators.
International and national green tourism certification schemes (such as Green Globe 21 and the VISIT European eco-label program) provide tools and support to help tourism businesses to implement environmental and sustainability programs and achieve high standards. Another example is South Africa’s Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) which encourages and publicizes fair and responsible business practice by tourism establishments through its FTTSA Trademark and by providing links to other international sustainable tourism organizations and resources.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) assists trade associations, business development institutions, corporations and entrepreneurs to incorporate sustainability as a core value of any economic activity. UNEP provides technical assistance and supports voluntary initiatives such as the Tour Operator Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development. In the United States, the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development, a joint program of the Institute for Policy Studies and Stanford University, offers conferences, courses, and research projects in Washington and California. Another organization which can help any business onto a more ecologically, socially and economically sustainable path is The Natural Step (TNS) which is backed by an international network of sustainability experts, scientists, universities, and businesses in 12 countries.
A particular (and growing) concern for hospitality businesses is keeping up with the seemingly endless amount of environmental and other legislation. Research commissioned in the U.K. in 2003 by NetRegs (an online service providing free, practical guidance on how to comply with environmental legislation) revealed that many smaller businesses had poor awareness of environmental legislation and wanted more help. The site helps them to stay within the law and cut their costs in the process. In the U.S. similar guidance is available through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Federal Register of Environmental Documents and, in the Asia Pacific region, through the Regional Institute of Environmental Technology (REIT). REIT offers information on environmental legislation and other support in Singapore, The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. These are just a few suggestions for where to start.
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This article has been reprinted courtesy of greenhotelier magazine. It first appeared in the April 2005 issue of that publication.