Today's Edition
RASHA TABEELA (ABU DHABI)
One year after launching the Hotel Sustainability Basics initiative, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed that Abu Dhabi hotels lead in the world in adopting the hotel sustainability standards set by the Council. Hotel Sustainability Basics is an independent programme for global sustainability certification that is overseen by internationally recognised entities that encourages hotels worldwide, regardless of size, to follow a 12-step programme to reduce carbon emissions, protect nature, and ensure that local communities benefit from hotels.
The WTTC noted that during the first year this programme, hotel sustainability basics were adopted by hotels in destinations around the world, including the Caribbean region, Mauritius, Colombia, Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan, Mexico, and Ecuador.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the WTTC, said: “The Hotel Sustainability Basics programme is a global programme to support the hotel sector in reducing carbon emissions, supporting local communities, and protecting nature, outlining a sustainable future for the sector.
“The Hotel Sustainability Basics programme is the only programme that supports hotels and encourages them to increase their environmental impact awareness. Interest is growing from countries committed to making a significant positive change in the field of sustainability in applying these basics.”
She added: “With our focus on the future, we aim to support those efforts and ensure that each step we take brings us closer to achieving the vision of sustainability in the hospitality sector. We expect thousands of hotels to adopt these basics this year.”
While thousands of hotels are expected to participate in this initiative in 2024, the programme has already achieved significant global success, with 1,300 hotels in over 30 countries adopting and implementing the Hotel Sustainability
Basics programme, from worldwide hotel brands to tourism companies.
The 12 steps, or sustainability standards, include measuring and reducing energy consumption; measuring and reducing water usage; reducing waste; measuring and reducing carbon emissions, avoiding single-use tools; replacing single-use decoration bottles; using green and eco-friendly cleaning materials; providing healthier food options; and supporting communities, among others.
The WTTC continues to enhance efforts to achieve sustainability in the travel and tourism sector and continues to adopt global partnerships to ensure the sector’s sustainable future.
The Council recently launched a partnership with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, where the Global Sustainable Tourism Council will establish a framework to develop more advanced standards for hotel sustainability and support the path towards a sustainable hospitality industry.
