An associate member of Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), I headed to Athens, Greece, last week to attend the Green Key National Operator Meeting (NOM), an annual event where the status and developments of the Green Key programme are discussed. Representatives of 39 countries attended, as well as corporate partners and sponsors.
I learnt a lot during the three-day conference; especially about how environment and business can and should go hand in hand. On Sint Maarten, two sites – Princess Heights and Holland House – have received this prestigious eco-label and, hopefully, others will follow, because without more sustainable practices, we will likely endanger our valuable tourism-product.
Our tourism industry is of utmost importance to the economy of our country. We simply cannot live without it. The downside is that this can (and already has on Sint Maarten) result in high levels of pollution, waste and other negative environmental impacts. However, tourism can also make significant contributions to environmental protection as well as socio-economic development. This has not yet become the norm on our Sint Maarten.
Fortunately, it does seem that concern for our environment is slowly increasing. In other parts of the world where many of our tourists travel from, such as Europe and the US, “green thinking” is already integrated into many areas of business; including tourism.
Today, travellers are not just more environmentally aware but they also appreciate eco-minded businesses such as hotels and restaurants to a point where it affects their choices. Among the factors that affect these choices are eco-labels; for example, manytravellers would rather choose a hotel with an eco-label certification over a hotel without. Why? Eco-labels in tourism can act as incentives to encourage businesses to achieve significant improvements in their environmental performance.
Well-designed eco-label schemes provide a source of guidance through the criteria, evaluation and monitoring procedures to help enterprises improve their environmental procedures. This can result in decreased energy and water consumption, better education regarding staff and visitors, an increase in environmental and community minded activities and more.
This means that by choosing a hotel with an accredited and trusted eco-label, customers are sure that they are actively taking part in making the right choices for the environment, a choice that is becoming increasingly important to travellers worldwide. Added to this, eco-labels promote sustainable consumption patterns by providing eco-minded options and accurate information to their customers.
When traveling today, consumers are presented with a wide range of hotels from which to choose. There are mega-resorts, bed and breakfasts, economy and mid-scale hotels that offer more and more amenities as those of full service hotels, and the increasingly popular lifestyle and boutique hotels of all sizes. The growing supply of so many different types of hotels makes it all the more important for hoteliers to create a product that will stand out and be different from its competitors.
Besides distinguishing themselves, obtaining an eco-label can also mean increased profits, enhanced image, expanding marketing opportunities and more, for hotels and other enterprises. While it may incur initial costs, the process of becoming eco-label certified produces cost savings in the long run, which in turn may lead to increased profits. For example, one key aspect of any green certification program is energy management. As part of energy management, hotel managers may change all light bulbs to energy-saving choices. The initial cost to purchase the new bulbs may be significant, but the long-term savings will quickly offset those costs.
Being a green hotel is good business. One of the stipulations in most green certification programs, including Green Key, is that the hotel company must give back to and be involved in the local community. In addition, hotel management must provide some form of education to both employees and guests about protecting the environment. When employees, guests, and citizens within the hotel’s local community see this activity, they respond favourably. Instead of being seen as a corporation, the hotel will be seen as a good neighbour and one that cares about and gives back to guests, employees and the community.
Using green certification as a distinguishing factor for a hotel opens up opportunities to market the hotel to a different type of traveller. As the hotel market becomes increasingly competitive, management must not only try to differentiate its product, as mentioned above, but also try to attract new and different segments of the traveling population. Building a green hotel, or incorporating green practices into existing operations with green certification, is one way a hotel can do so. Travellers are also often willing to pay more for a certified “green” product. The Green Key eco-label for tourism facilities has been in existence for more than 20 years and has developed from a national initiative in Denmark to become the world’s leading eco-label for accommodation with now over 2,500 awarded hotels and tourism-related establishments in 55 countries.
Sustainability lies at the heart of Green Key, and with each establishment joining the programme, Green Key helps transform the tourism sector into a powerful tool for positive change.
Green Key officially aims to do the following:
- Increase the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable methods of operation and technology in the establishments and thereby reduce the overall use of resources.
- Raise awareness and create behavioural changes in guests, staff and suppliers of individual tourism establishments.
- Increase the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable methods and raise awareness to create behavioural changes in the hospitality and tourism industry overall.
Tourism providers and tourists alike are becoming more and more aware of the need to change everyday habits to protect today what we would like future generations to enjoy tomorrow. This is why not only the number of Green Key awarded sites is growing year after year, but also tourists’ awareness of the eco-label.
The United Nations has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. To celebrate, whether as a hotel, a business or an individual, you maybe can take some time to look into Green Key and other eco-labels, which will close the gap between the unsustainable practices we might have used yesterday and the sustainable ones we could be using today.
For persons interested in more information on Green Key or being certified, contact EPIC at www.epicislands.org; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 545-3009.
