Creative Designs Eco-friendly Hotels Adopt To Attract Travelers
The hotel industry is in a state of change. For the past couple of years, green hotels have focused on decreasing energy and water consumption. But hotels are going even greener by thinking about their design from the inside out. Designers are now designing and building eco-friendly hotels that are sustainable and travel-minded.
How is the hospitality industry accounting for climate change?
The tourism industry is one of the significant greenhouse gas emitters in the world. According to research, 4-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from tourism each year [1]. Fortunately, hotels are becoming more and more eco-conscious. In the Asia Pacific Sustainability Trends 2021 report published by Horwath HTL [2], researchers noticed a significant reduction in energy consumption and costs for hotels in Asian countries since 2016, with Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand all seeing a decline trend for two consecutive years.
Contrarily, hotels still need to put more effort into reducing water consumption as they remain one of the most significant water consumers due to the nature of their operation. Despite this, a continuous reduction in water consumption per occupied room was seen in Singapore and Indonesia in 2017 and 2018, respectively, indicating the start of a positive change.
Green Hotel Designs on the Rise
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make traveling more sustainable, hotels worldwide are improving their practices. Let’s look at some of the critical areas in green hotel designs.
Using Solar Power & Conserving Water
Green hotels are now opting for renewable energy like solar power by adding solar panels to their premises or simply requesting solar power from their electricity provider. For instance, Cambodia’s Eden Eco Village takes advantage of Kampot’s ample sunshine to power lights and fans for its signature bamboo and thatch bungalow built on stilts. Each bungalow generates its own solar energy.
Green hotels are reforming their utilities to reduce water consumption by switching to low-flow showerheads and water-saving laundry machines. Indonesia’s Lodges Ekologika is known for its use of solar power and the many water conservation practices such as using collected rainwater and reusing greywater. [3]
Image of Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay via journal.mydayaway.com
Reducing Plastic
Eco-friendly hotels are phasing out their heavy reliance on disposable toiletries and plastic water bottles in an effort to reduce plastic waste. Singapore’s Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay has successfully avoided producing 360,000 plastic bottles each year by providing in-room water filtration and reusable glass bottles in each room [4]. Similarly, Hong Kong’s Rosewood has obviated the need for single-use water bottles by installing Nordaq water filtration units in its residences. [5]
Going Plant-based
When it comes to food and beverage, many eco-friendly hotels are redesigning their menus to become more inclusive, giving guests the choice to opt for meat alternatives such as Omnipork, Beyond Burger and Impossible.
Green procurement is also another area of focus. Eco-friendly hotels ensure that their food purchases come from reliable and responsible sources. Last year, Eaton Hong Kong launched a ‘Live Clean, Go Green’ package as part of their staycation promotion. The package provides guests with a helpful Green Guide and the opportunity to enjoy plant-based meals and vegan snacks. [6]
Questions and Answers
Q1: How do you make a hotel eco-friendly?
Eco-friendly hotels adopt energy and water-saving practices in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, such as switching to solar energy and reusing greywater. Reducing single-use plastic and offering plant-based food alternatives are also common sustainable practices.
Q2: How do you create a luxurious and green hotel at the same time?
Green hotels include sustainability as part of their marketing to practice sustainability while offering guests a luxurious experience. They replace disposable plastic bottles with designer brand water filtration systems and luxurious reusable glass bottles.