WTTC Releases Sustainable Guidelines For Hotels

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced this week a list of standards that hotels should follow to promote responsible and sustainable tourism.

The initiative, named Hotel Sustainability Basics, was unveiled during the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Global Summit here. According to the firm, a list of 12 activities for hotels to do will assist even the tiniest facilities in addressing and improving their environmental effect.

WTTC created the standards in partnership with global hotel brands and industry groups, and they include steps to assess and decrease energy and water use, waste, and carbon emissions. It also includes a linen reuse program, the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products, the elimination of plastic straws, stirrers, and single-use plastic water bottles, the installation of bulk amenity dispensers, and community-benefiting initiatives.

WTTC CEO Julia Simpson said the actions are “fundamental to hotel sustainability” and will raise the base level of sustainability across hospitality.

“Sustainability is non-negotiable, but not every small hotel has access to the science on how to make a difference,” Simpson said. 

According to the WTTC, the effort has received support from hotel corporations and organizations representing over 50,000 hotels worldwide. They include the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and the Hotel Association of India, as well as Accor, Barcelo Hotel Group, Melia Hotels International, Louvre Hotels Group, and Radisson Hotel Group.