HOTELS

Lyndall De Marco

Sustainable & Profitable
March 25, 2008

The tourism industry and hotels have a greater stake in the preservation of our environment than many other industries and that is why I am pleased to be able to contribute in a small way with my soon-to-be regular comments and suggestions.

Presently  I am the executive director of the International Tourism Partnership (ITP), which was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1992. The aim is to inspire global leaders in the travel and tourism industry on a non-competitive platform to share knowledge and resources, develop policy and actively implement programs and initiatives that have a positive impact on environmental, social and economic issues. Our 19 members comprise leading hotel brands. Prior to this I was a corporate director with Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts, where I was charged with the change from a traditional hotel company to that of a values-based culture. During that time I was involved in the opening of 10 hotels based on this new ethic and worked as general manager of hotels in Bangladesh, Borneo and Malaysia. I did enjoy my time as an hotelier and still today, it seems, I can continue but in a different way.
 
As a former hotelier I know only too well the pressures on the day-to-day operation and the green agenda is just another in a very long list. However the issue of green and sustainability is upon us and the issue simply is not going away. Today, more than ever, the hotel industry is under scrutiny. Sustainability is fast becoming a mainstream business issue. In the past, corporate philanthropy, or ‘giving back’ to the community, used to be the way a company looked to enhance its reputation externally. Today, even the most basic level of acceptable business practice requires a more sophisticated approach. Companies are judged on their environmental management, accountability, transparency, business ethics, socio-economic awareness and resource efficiency, as well as their financial results. 
 
Unfortunately, there are now many armchair environmentalists—customers, guests, suppliers are all involved, they all have an opinion and, unfortunately, they all need to be heard. So what is the solution to “being green?” I believe that as an industry hoteliers need to work together to address these issues and make a plan for the industry. ITP has been working with leading hotel brands for many years developing tools and strategies to promote sustainability. We work with many partners, especially those in the “conservation and environment world,” to expand our reach and to bring together other expertise that will help devise the important strategies.
 
There are no quick fixes. A certificate, an off -set program, a highly paid consultant will not turn a hotel green overnight. It is a process and it involves all stakeholders, including associates, management, leadership, corporate staff, owners, etc.. Most of all it requires commitment from the top down. There is a lot already being done by many people who are not “overnight wonders.” Perhaps as a first step you can go to the www.tourismparntership.org and download the “Going Green” document.
 
Over the coming weeks and months, I would like to bring you a few ideas that hopefully will help you in your quest for a more sustainable hotel operation. Maybe you too can believe, as I do, that sustainability and profitability CAN work hand in hand.

Posted by Lyndall De Marco on March 25, 2008 | Comments (8)