The Future of Hospitality: 7 Hotels Leading the Sustainability Charge

In the ever-evolving hospitality industry, energy and sustainability have never been more critical. As environmental concerns grow and travelers become increasingly discerning and eco-conscious, hotel owners and operators must adapt in order to stay competitive, differentiate their services, and deliver an exceptional guest experience that aligns with shifting consumer preferences.

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways for hotels to embrace sustainable practices, all of which can enable savvy operators to gain an edge in a competitive market. Sustainable practices not only benefit the environment, but can also significantly reduce operating costs over time while enhancing guest reputation, creating a “triple bottom-line” situation that can pay dividends for years to come.

In this guide, we’ll explore the top sustainability trends for hotels and highlight 7 examples of how leading hotels are implementing them.

There’s no time to waste, so let’s jump in!

Embracing Renewable Energy Sources

As with many other sectors, the adoption of renewable energy sources is rapidly gaining traction in the hospitality industry. Hotels worldwide are investing in onsite solar panels, wind turbines, and advanced geothermal systems to reduce their carbon footprints, lower their ongoing energy costs, and future-proof their operations with an eye towards energy resiliency.

There is no one-size-fits all approach to renewables. Renewable projects must take into account a variety of factors that are often bespoke to an individual property, including regional weather and climate characteristics (like sunlight hours), the physical attributes of the building, the local grid mix, and government incentives that may exist. A good starting point is generally to conduct an energy audit to identify suitable renewable sources and then researching government programs that offer incentives and rebates that can defray project costs. Finding a skilled and experienced local partner to assist with project implementation is essential to ensuring local codes and requirements are met and that projects deliver value (and payback) as quickly as possible. In the absence of deploying projects onsite, partnering with renewable energy providers to incorporate clean energy into procurement through vehicles like Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) is another proven strategy.

On the whole, with renewables representing an ever-increasing proportion of the global power mix, and technology advancements and investments from the public and private sectors contributing to huge gains in affordability over the last 15 years, there’s never been a better time to take advantage of clean energy.

Looking for help making sense of incentive programs? If your hotel is located in the US, the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE) is a great place to start.

The Hotel Turning it into Action: Hilton Cape Town City Centre

In 2019, the Hilton Cape Town City Centre in Cape Town, South Africa (now the Hyatt Regency Cape Town) brought an advanced photovoltaic and thermal project online. The hybrid Solarus rooftop system is estimated to have production capacity of 23,590 kWh of electricity, and is capable of storing energy produced during peak sunlight hours and redistributing it to morning and evening, when guest demand for hot water heating peaks. The system is estimated to reduce the hotel’s annual carbon emissions by 200,000 kg per year.

HVAC Optimization and Commissioning

Monitoring and optimizing HVAC systems in large hotels and campus-style resorts is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency while also maintaining guest comfort. HVAC is a significant energy consumer in any property, but especially within large hotels that run 24/7, making monitoring and optimizing these energy-intensive systems key components of sustainable operations. Empowering engineering teams to continuously monitor HVAC systems is a simple practice to incorporate into regular operating routines that can yield energy savings of up to 15 percent – without any capital investment required.

Best practices that apply to nearly all systems include routine maintenance and regular commissioning to ensure that equipment is clean, in proper working order, and operating at peak efficiency. Onsite engineers should regularly clean filters, proactively check equipment for leaks, and inspect ductwork, as these simple tasks can keep critical building equipment in tip-top shape. Equally important is regular commissioning, which involves testing and adjusting systems to meet their original design specifications, identifying and rectifying inefficiencies, and ensuring proper system integration. For very large resorts or full-service hotels, having an advanced energy management system that sits on top of the BMS and central plant can aid in the commissioning process; these systems are capable of exposing and diagnosing inefficiencies and BMS configuration issues and providing recommended resolution steps that are easy for onsite engineers or controls vendors to implement, with minimal additional cost.

These low-cost/no-cost optimizations can add up significantly over time: just ask Hilton, an Aquicore partner since 2017. The leading global operator has saved $4 million dollars after successfully implementing Aquicore’s Advanced Analytics solution at numerous full-service hotels in its portfolio.

The Hotel Turning it into Action: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach

Located just steps from the beach with sweeping ocean and mountain views, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach is a top-rated, full-service hotel that caters to vacationers and business travelers alike. In 2022, Aquicore's analysis revealed a discrepancy between the primary chilled water flow and the secondary chilled water flow, leading the Aquicore team to carefully examine the property's pumping systems in partnership with the Hilton onsite engineer. The teams quickly discovered that the secondary pumps were operating at a constant flow, in part due to the original design of the system, and also as a result of subsequent energy conservation efforts made to reduce consumption by adding VFDs. Upon further investigation, the teams observed that the primary pumps were generating excessive pressure and overpowering some of the smaller secondary pumps. By closing several valves and opening another, and stepping down the pressure setpoint on the primary loop at the Aquicore team's recommendation, the Hilton onsite engineer was able to reduce overall pumping power, and the plant began to operate more efficiently.

Working in partnership, the Aquicore Building Systems Engineer and Hilton's onsite engineer were able to implement the changes at each hotel tower. The project was fully completed by Hilton engineering without any additional CapEx or OpEx spend, yielding a massive annualized savings of $753,000/year and 586,000 kg CO2e.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

It’s no secret: hotels generate a significant amount of waste – almost 300,000 tons per year, to be exact. From hauling to disposal, waste is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. But how to curtail it?

Foundational to any waste reduction program is conducting regular waste audits. Audits catalog the types and amounts of waste generated, helping flag areas where waste can be reduced or recycled more effectively and enabling managers to identify and communicate any improvements in performance.

Reducing and even eliminating single-use items is another key waste management strategy; many of today’s hotels now replace single-use plastics like bottles and straws with reusable or biodegradable alternatives, and offer bulk dispensers for shower toiletries instead of individual bottles.

Comprehensive recycling initiatives are another long-standing crucial element. Hotels can implement single-stream recycling programs for materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metals, providing clearly labeled bins in guest rooms, common areas, staff cafeterias and break rooms, and behind the scenes. Strong partnerships with local recycling and waste management facilities are crucial to ensure that these materials are processed correctly.

Food waste management is also an increasingly significant focus, with the hospitality industry generating over 79,000 tons of food waste annually. Efforts to reduce food waste may include better inventory management, donating excess food to local charities, adopting composting programs for organic waste, and implementing next-generation food digesters that process food waste on site into greywater that can safely be disposed of down the drain or filtered and repurposed for green space irrigation. Designing menus specifically to reduce waste in the kitchen and post-service can also reduce food waste as much as 50%. And according to a 2018 study, making food waste a priority is good for the environment and for business: every $1 spent on reducing food waste saves $7 in return.

Finally, staff training and guest engagement are essential components of a well-rounded waste management program. On-the-ground staff should be trained on a hotel’s waste reduction practices and recycling procedures, helping to ensure adherence while empowering individuals to identify new opportunities for waste minimization down the road. Partnering with organizations focused on sustainability in hospitality and tourism, such as Green Key and EarthCheck, can bolster these efforts.

Engaging and educating guests about the hotel's waste reduction efforts is equally vital. Informing guests on how they can contribute to a hotel’s sustainability goals during their stay, such as opting out of daily linen changes or switching to reusable items, fosters a collaborative approach that measurably improves outcomes. To wit, foregoing daily towel washing can reduce laundry loads (and associated energy and water usage) by 17%.

The Hotel Turning it Into Action: The Westin Boston Seaport District

The Westin Boston Seaport District has long had a comprehensive waste management and recycling program. The hotel employs single-stream recycling throughout guest and staff areas, and cleaning staff, who have all received comprehensive training on waste and recycling practices, use dual-compartment carts to separate materials. The Westin also partnered with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine to divert leftover food from landfills, sending 1,800 pounds of edible food to food insecure residents of the Boston area in the program’s first 6 months. On the whole, waste management efforts at The Westin have reduced its average monthly disposal costs by over 37%.

Water Conservation

Water conservation is crucial in the hospitality industry, particularly in regions facing water scarcity. Hotels can minimize their impact by implementing water-saving technologies like low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, efficient outdoor water irrigation systems, and greywater recycling to significantly reduce water usage. Merely incorporating low-flow fixtures such as faucets, shower heads and toilets can reduce water usage by at least 20%.

For hotels located in the United Kingdom, where mandatory L8 requirements geared at preventing the formation of Legionella have traditionally necessitated a program of regular tap flushing, implementing a remote pipe monitoring system can help mitigate water and energy wastage, all while ensuring safe water conditions for building occupants and making it easy for operators to stay in compliance. By eliminating costly and wasteful unnecessary flushing regimens, hotels can measurably conserve water, along with the energy and carbon required to heat it.

The Hotel Turning it into Action: The Mandarin Oriental Jumeira

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has set an aggressive 2030 target to reduce water intensity by 40%. In 2022, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira in arid Dubai installed water-saving taps in the front- and back-of-house restrooms. The project was an almost instant success, yielding water consumption savings of 50% within just one month.

Promoting Indoor Air Quality

Ensuring good indoor air quality is vital for the health and comfort of guests, especially in our post-pandemic era. Poor air quality can create an unpleasant indoor environment and exacerbate underlying health issues, including allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Strategies to maintain and improve air quality include Installing high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and purifiers that can significantly reduce airborne contaminants; implementing advanced ventilation systems to ensure a constant flow of fresh air and reduce the concentration of indoor pollutants; using low-VOC paints, carpets, and furnishings to minimize the release of harmful chemicals; incorporating indoor plants to naturally purify air while enhancing design and aesthetic appeal; and ensuring routine cleaning and maintenance of HVAC systems and filters to keep systems at comfortable temperature setpoints and prevent the accumulation of dust and mold.

*via* *Wikimedia Commons* *by (MDSI NY)*

The Hotel Turning it into Action: The 1 Hotel South Beach

One of the earliest entrants in the 1 Hotel’s eco-friendly family of luxury properties, the 1 Hotel South Beach was among the first to integrate biophilic design principles, incorporating living nature installations into their indoor and outdoor spaces to promote better air quality and create a calming environment. Their 12,000 plant green wall makes for a striking and memorable guest experience while also reducing the building’s environmental impact.

Intelligent Lighting and Efficient Equipment

It is a truism at this point that switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the simplest yet most effective ways for buildings to reduce energy consumption. For 24/7 facilities like hotels, these seemingly simple upgrades can have an often outsize impact. LED bulbs, for example, can use up to 90% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, helping hotel managers save on utility bills, cut down on waste, and free up engineering staff time to focus on more valuable tasks (rather than replacing light bulbs). Intelligent lighting controls that adjust brightness and adapt usage based on natural light or occupancy can further enhance energy efficiency and drive additional energy and cost savings.

Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, like HVAC systems and ENERGY-STAR-certified commercial laundry machines, can also result in additional energy savings. Hotels can further optimize energy usage by conducting regular maintenance on equipment to ensure it is in proper working order, installing motion sensors to automatically detect occupancy and turn lighting and equipment on and off when spaces are not in use, and empowering building engineering staff to adopt energy-efficient best practices in daily operations (more on that in a later section!)

The Hotel Turning it into Action: The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida is an iconic resort complex for visitors to nearby Walt Disney World®, Universal Orlando® and SeaWorld® Orlando. When it underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, it made a point to modernize the lighting in its 54 hallways and newly-refurbished lobby. With the hallways and lobby lit 24/7, the LED lighting upgrade alone was projected to save approximately $132,000 in the first year, representing a project payback of 9 months, and was further estimated to save $500,000 over four years. But the renovations didn’t stop there. After being purchased by Xenia Hotels and Resorts, the resort kicked off another modernization project to double its existing ballroom capacity and install customizable LED lighting to the new, state-of-the-art event space. Now that’s a bright idea!

Sustainable Design and Construction

Sustainable design has long been a cornerstone of modern building construction, and hotels are no exception. Incorporating principles such as LEED certification and using green building materials can reduce a hotel's environmental impact and lower ongoing operating costs while also enhancing the guest experience. Embracing sustainable construction practices from the top down (and ground up, as it were) can help hotel developers and operators holistically bring together many of the concepts already discussed above, as green building design is defined by reduced energy and water consumption, improved indoor air quality, better integration of natural light and ventilation, more indoor and outdoor green spaces, eco-friendly interior design that contributes to guest satisfaction, and less waste.

The Hotel Turning it into Action: The Proximity Hotel

The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina was the first hotel in North America to achieve LEED Platinum certification by integrating features like rooftop solar panels that cover 60% of the hotel’s energy needs, geothermal heating for the restaurant’s refrigeration, and sustainable materials like bamboo, reclaimed walnut, and 90 percent post consumer recycled reinforced steel. A whopping 46 percent of construction materials were sourced regionally. The hotel also features North America's first Regenerative Drive model of the Otis Gen2 elevator, which reduces net energy usage by generating and capturing energy on descent and transmitting it back into the building’s internal electrical grid. These features have significantly reduced the hotel’s energy costs; according to the USGBC, the property uses 39% less energy than a conventional hotel. While the upfront costs of incorporating these features were not insignificant, owner and developer Dennis Quaintance expects to save $140,000 per year on energy expenses as a result, while burnishing the hotel’s reputation as a national leader in green design.

Final Thoughts

The future of hospitality lies in embracing energy and sustainability trends that bridge the gap between environmental stewardship and financial performance. Adopting renewable energy, optimizing HVAC systems, reducing waste, conserving water, ensuring good indoor air quality, implementing intelligent and energy-efficient systems, and continuing to embrace sustainable building design principles are all down payments for a more sustainable and operationally resilient tomorrow. These initiatives not only deliver major environmental benefits but can help hotels stay in lockstep with traveler preferences – truly, a win-win situation for people, the planet, and the bottom line. Here’s to a greener future for hospitality!