Hotels, restaurants: how to make your property more eco-friendly?

We have already mentioned it several times on our blog. In recent years, sustainable tourism has become increasingly popular with travellers. It is therefore essential to move in this direction, whether in your hotel or your restaurant. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few ideas that are easy to put in place!

1- OFFER A LOCAVORE MENU

Whether you are a hotel or a restaurant, a menu that highlights local ingredients and dishes is a real asset!

At breakfast, in the hotel, offer your guests breads and pastries from a baker in your town. Dairy products can be bought from a farmer or a local business. Remember to offer fruit and vegetables harvested in your region.

This advice also applies to a restaurant. Change the menu according to the seasons and deliveries. An eco-friendly menu sometimes requires flexibility: don’t hesitate to offer new dishes depending on what comes in!

This locavore offer can be a real asset for your property: tourists love discovering local products.

2- MAKE ROOM FOR RECYCLING AND THINK ABOUT REUSING CERTAIN PRODUCTS

It is a fact: recycling has a significant impact on the environment. So think about installing a recycling system in your hotel or restaurant. You can also install a composting system to recycle plant waste from your kitchen.

Besides recycling, also invite your guests to reuse certain products available in the room. We are thinking in particular of bath and hand towels. For several years now, many hotels have been asking their guests to reuse these linens during their stay. Dirty towels are left on the floor so that housekeeping staff can replace them.

3- USE ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTS

Hygiene is a crucial element in a restaurant or a hotel. While the list of cleaning products can be long, it can also be 100% ecological. More and more brands specialize in ecological cleaning products, which are just as effective as traditional products.

You can also replace plastic garbage bags with eco-friendly garbage bags made from recycled material.

Ban plastic and disposable products as much as possible in your property. Forget plastic bottles and offer water carafes or glass bottles instead. The same goes for straws: there are now many alternatives, such as pasta straws, paper straws, bamboo straws…

4- CHOOSE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY EQUIPMENT

The equipment in your property can also have an impact on your energy consumption and on the environment.

In your restaurant as in your hotel, consider choosing lighting such as LEDs or eco-friendly fluorescent lamps. Besides their impact on the environment, they also help reduce your electricity bill!

In the rooms, install water-saving and flow-reducing systems on the taps and in the shower. In fact, offer only showers in your rooms rather than bathtubs.

5- OFFER SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES WITH LOCAL PLAYERS

Since the beginning of the pandemic, tourists have wanted to connect more with local players in order to discover a region or a city in a more authentic way.

As a hotel, partner with the tourist office or local players to offer unusual or sustainable activities to your guests. Artisan workshops, cooking classes, city tours or food tours… There are many ideas for local activities your guests will love.

If you are located downtown, offer bikes for rent so your guests can discover the city in a different way. This offer can be included in the room rate, for example.

6- TRAIN YOUR TEAMS

Last but not least: an eco-friendly approach succeeds when it results from a collective effort! It is therefore necessary to train your teams.

During short workshops, don’t hesitate to teach them certain eco-friendly habits and to inform them about the responsible alternatives to their everyday products.

You can also create a kind of Green team, which will make sure that the new eco-friendly resolutions are properly applied.

Also, don’t hesitate to involve your employees in this eco-friendly approach by asking them whether they have any tips or ideas for a greener property.

Julie
Communication Manager
In partnership with Amélie Manceau