Sustainable Hospitality: Unlocking business value through eco-certification

With over 90% of travelers actively seeking sustainable accommodations, hotels must evolve to meet this growing demand by investing in eco-friendly practices that protect natural attractions, reduce resource consumption, and lower operating costs. Laying the foundation for these initiatives starts with measuring your full carbon footprint, including scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Establishing this baseline not only identifies the biggest opportunities for reduction but also allows hotels to track emission reductions over time.  

To build trust with guests and partners, hotels can then transparently disclose their climate action progress through recognized certifications like ClimatePartner certified. In this article, we’ll explore the most effective initiatives hotels are adopting to reduce their footprint, and how a recognized certification is key to converting your efforts into business value.

Conserve energy and reduce waste

Investing in sustainability is essential for the travel industry to protect the beautiful destinations that attract guests and minimize the environmental impact of tourism.

Hotel operations are resource intensive. This is especially true when it comes to water, energy, and waste management. From heating and cooling systems to irrigation, kitchens, spas, pools, laundry, and guest rooms, hotels can consume significantly more water than their local community. This resource use not only drives up operating costs but also contributes to scope 3 emissions, particularly through outsourced services like laundry and supply deliveries. Water reduction measures, such as installing more efficient showerheads and bathroom fixtures and encouraging guests to reuse linens and towels during their stay, help address both direct consumption and broader supply chain impacts. These initiatives can reduce laundry loads by up to 17%, supporting overall emissions reduction efforts.

Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, hotels consume significant amounts of energy, often sourced from high-polluting fossil fuels. In the United States, a single occupied hotel room consumes approximately 155 kWh of energy per day, over five times the consumption of the average U.S. household. This heavy reliance on purchased electricity results in substantial scope 2 emissions, which account for greenhouse gases associated with the generation of purchased energy. Transitioning to renewable energy not only reduces these emissions but also secures a more reliable and sustainable energy future. Currently, one in five hotels worldwide have adopted on-site renewable energy generators, while others are utilizing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to support clean energy without changing utility providers.   

Sustainability drives cost savings for hotels

Sustainability isn’t just the ethical choice—it’s a smart business move. In the United States, hotels spend nearly $2,200 per room each year on water and energy alone. Upgrading to energy-efficient lighting, cooling systems, and bathroom fixtures can reduce emissions by 30–40%, with upfront investments quickly recouped through long-term utility savings.  

Hotels with strong sustainability strategies not only reduce expenses but also attract a growing segment of eco-conscious travelers. More travelers are actively seeking green hotels and are willing to pay up to 38% more to make their trip more sustainable.  

Businesses are also embracing this shift, with many implementing stricter travel policies that prioritize eco-friendly flights and lodging. This shift in consumer preferences presents hotels with the unique opportunity to position their sustainability efforts as a value-added amenity that travelers are willing to pay a premium for. 

Build trust through transparency

A recent survey found that 59% of travelers want the ability to filter hotels by sustainability features, highlighting the importance of certifications in building consumer trust. Booking platforms like Google Travel have responded by introducing filters for “eco-certified” hotels—those that meet internationally recognized environmental and social responsibility standards.

To ensure credibility, certifications are verified by respected third-party advisory groups, such as Travalyst. Travalyst is a global coalition founded by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, to accelerate climate action across the travel industry. Travalyst works with major platforms including Google Travel, Booking.com, Expedia, and more to approve certifications that meet its rigorous sustainability criteria. In 2024, ClimatePartner certified became an officially recognized Travalyst-approved certification. 

ClimatePartner certified for hotels

To become ClimatePartner certified, hotels follow a streamlined process. First data surrounding your operational emissions is collected with support of our software tool, and our experts calculate your hotel’s total emissions across scopes 1, 2, and 3. Next, we use your carbon footprint report as the baseline to set achievable emission reduction targets and identify opportunities to lower your footprint. Remaining emissions are addressed by contributing to verified carbon offset projects.  

Finally, once your emissions are measured, reduced, and offset, ClimatePartner provides a unique certification label and climate-ID page to publicly showcase your sustainability efforts. Your information is submitted to BeCause, enabling Google Travel and other platforms to award your hotel the "eco-certified" label. Now, travelers using the filter will see your hotel listing, view your sustainability measures, and directly access your climate-ID page. 

Create advantage through certification

Sustainable practices are no longer optional—they're a strategic advantage. By adopting renewable energy and efficient resource management, hotels can lower operating costs, reduce their environmental impact, and appeal to a growing base of eco-conscious travelers. With a trusted certification like ClimatePartner certified, hotels can transparently communicate their sustainability commitments.

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