Sustainability and Innovation SIG

The SIG Sustainability and Innovations is a platform where members can join forces to devise teaching material, create research connections and collectively brainstorm on the best methods and approaches to re-think and reinvent a hospitality industry which is kind to the environment, healthy to its workers, pleasing to its guests, active in the community, and efficient for the operators and owners.

Our aim is to ensure that sustainability is anchored in the hospitality academic conversation through enhanced cooperation.

Chair
Willy Legrand
IU International University of Applied Sciences
[email protected]

Vice Chair
Faranak Memarzadeh
San Jose State University, US

[email protected]

ACCESS PAST SIG WEBINARS HERE

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Dear ICHRIE SIG Sustainability and Innovations colleagues,

I hope this email finds you all well.

Important news for our industry:

I was in touch with Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of the UN Tourism organization, as we are preparing a keynote for ITB Berlin next week and she mentioned that yesterday the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism (see https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7168162006083039232/) - with the deadline of the SDGs approaching soon, this international year recognizes the crucial role travel, tourism and hospitality play in building a better world for all.

Linking this to Group Assignment

Maybe this is not relevant to you, but just in case:

For the past years I have been working with students across the globe on how to activate the SDGs in the tourism, hospitality and culinary sectors. To do, I have used an exercise going over multiple rounds in developing clear, applicable criteria (objective, measurable, understandable, verifiable), to meet many of the 169 SDG targets applicable to the sector. This is done in a small group brainstorming effort. Better than ‘lecturing’ on what solutions are available out there, better than going over certification criteria and better than showcasing all the generational challenges we face, this exercise does it all at once and it is the students who do the discovering. I have attached a quick run down on how I do it. Happy to receive comments/feedback for improvements and glad if you can also use it of course.

I feel this news (2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism) is definitely a 'push' that legitimizes not only the task students have to complete but also the role this industry plays in sustainable development (of course, not ignoring the biases, dead angles and challenges this industry faces which must be discussed with our students as well).

Interesting article on Natural Climate Solutions (NCS)

This Perspective Paper published recently in Nature Communications on "The principles of natural climate solutions" (see: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44425-2) caught my attention. I know many of you are discussing the incredible potential of Nature-based Solutions in both mitigation and adaptation in tourism and hospitality (e.g. Mangrove restoration for coastal protection and decrease of hotel physical asset risks – see Iberostar Hotels as an example) in classes. This paper presents five foundational principles of natural climate solutions (NbS being one part only - see Box 1 on page 4) and fifteen operational principles for their practical implementation (see Fig. 2 on page 3), placing it wholly relevant to our class discussions. I hope you find it equally interesting.

Last but not least, next week is the ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel and tourism trade show and convention with 90,000 B2B trade visitors, 190 countries present and 24,000 attendees to the convention’s 4 stages. I am hosting and moderating on two stages and if you happen to be there – drop by the ITB Responsible Tourism Track (Hall 7.1a Orange Stage) and ITB Destination Track (hall 7.1b Blue Stage) – you can also get ITB digital only tickets for all livestreams (and sessions will be on Youtube the following day – lots on biodiversity, net zero, greenwashing, radical changes, tech etc.). I have attached the ITB quick facts on the convention only (not the trade show)

As for our SIG, we’ll try to set up our next meeting for post-ITB in April.

Greetings from Lyon, France

Willy

UPCOMING MEETING

Dear ICHRIE SIG Sustainability and Innovation colleagues,

I hope this finds you all well!

These last few months have been packed most notably with the ITB Berlin travel and tourism trade fair and convention – if you wish to check out the discussion, debates and keynotes on the ITB Responsible Tourism Day, see the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdkWkPxF54jlG2Sw3Y_g8JZF0PxxiInGT

Green claims, net zero, biodiversity restoration, radical changes in tourism are only some of the topics covered.

Upcoming Meeting

The purpose of this email is to ‘save-the-date’ – that is, our next SIG meeting will take place on Friday, 31May 2024 at the following times: 18:00CEST 17:00GMT 12:00EDT 09:00AM PDT

I am thrilled to then welcome Isabel Lissner, Business Product Manager & Senior Sustainability Manager (here on CC) at BeCause.eco (https://because.eco/) as our guest speaker on that occasion.

BeCause.eco has become, in the span of a few years, the company providing a single hub to connect the demand & supply for sustainability data and information flow. If you don’t know the company or what it does, it’s a must attend!

We will spend one hour together which will be an opportunity to also explore the many ‘educational features’ the because.eco platform offers, particularly as it is THE platform that has taken the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative from being an Excel-based form to an online-based tool. I use the HCMI extensively with students and can explain how I find it to work best along the use of the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmark database.

Long story short, mark your calendar: May 31^st.

Speak soon and reach out anytime with feedback or requests of course!

Willy

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT!

I am excited to announce the launch of the 4^th edition of Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Principles of Sustainable Operations today! (https://www.routledge.com/9780367532505)

Hot off the press!

4^th edition of Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Principles of Sustainable Operations (https://www.routledge.com/9780367532505)

Extending over 800 pages and 19 chapters, this edition is perhaps the most comprehensive guidebook to creating a sustainable hospitality operation. Highlights of the new edition are:

111 new case studies and info boxes from a vast variety of hospitality players, featuring day-to-day as well as strategic best practices, calculations, and recommendations.
Newly designed chapters on Employees; Food Sourcing; F&B Management; Environmental Management Systems and KPIs; ESG, Environmental Accounting and Externalities; Investing and Financing; Stakeholder Relationships; and Challenges of Operating in the Global South
Each chapter links to specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and offers multiple in-class activities & projects for lecturers and students

With COP21 and the net zero imperative, 17 SDGs, dwindling global biodiversity levels and advances in ESG reporting, numerous topics are ripe to be explored, explained, and critiqued to stay on top of what matters to future proof the hospitality sector!

For those of you wishing to order a copy, please note that Routledge offers a 20% mid-year-sales discount, at the moment. Once the sale has ended, feel free to make use of our promo discount. CLICK HERE for more information.

Prof. Dr. Willy Legrand

This month on Hospitality Net

Moving the Needle on Sustainability: Cooperation in Hospitality

When Businesses Need to Cooperate…

Cooperation, collaboration, and partnership have mushroomed in the post COVID-21 business environment perhaps as a response that ‘together we are stronger and more resilient’ and possibly since tackling the global polycrisis means ‘joining forces and resources’ in achieving a common goal. In fact, while cooperation, collaboration and partnership all have a slightly different meaning, all involve the willingness to work together towards a common goal.

With this in mind, experts were asked the following:
1.          Are we effectively using cooperation in climate and biodiversity action to drive social change?
2.          What are the possible areas where greater cooperation is needed in the sector to advance sustainability performance?
3.          What are examples of best practices in regard to cooperation in the greater tourism and hospitality sectors? (providing information on the challenge tackled and outcome)

With a special thanks to all contributing experts:
Erin Meezan, Glenn Mandziuk MEDes. MCIP FRSA, Swantje Lehners, Stefan Gössling, Johanna Wagner, Benjamin Lephilibert, Xenia zu Hohenlohe, Elena Cavagnaro, Prof. Dr. Gabriel Laeis, Juliette Van Vleck, Henri Kuokkanen, Marloes Knippenberg, Megan Epler-Wood, Andreas Koch, Arjan van Rheede, Celine Vadam and Maribel Esparcia Pérez

Sustainability in Class: How to use the Hospitality Net World Panel on Sustainable Hospitality in Class?

There are so many possibilities, but one activity that has especially sparked curiosity, discussion and debates in class is the following:

Have students access the HospitalityNet World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality online (https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/36001926.html).

The panel tackles all sustainability issues (e.g. around energy, water, waste, food, facilities, communication, social, and strategy) and is supported by more than 100 industry professionals, consultants and scientific experts across many fields. The aim is to get sustainability anchored more than ever into the tourism and hospitality conversation and decision-making.

Next, scroll down the page and browse the various topics discussed and in small groups select one topic. Once you have read the topic being discussed, prepare a summary of the 5 (Five) expert’s positions which you will review and present in class.

In addition to the expert summary, students are required to provide their own thoughts on the topic by researching further – any points which you think the experts missed? Any new development since those viewpoints were written? Any industry best practices to share? Any research conducted by other academics which shed new light on the topic?

There is no paper to submit, the exercise is based on presentations, discussion and debates.

Of course, you can tailor this to your needs and, for example, require that students support their thoughts with additional research from scientific articles or possibly industry reports or news for example.

This is a great way to introduce your students to current topics and spark their curiosity!

Should you try this out – do drop me a line to see how it went and what further recommendations you may have.

And now the topics as of January 2024:

Shaping the Future of Hospitality: Continuous Improvements or Radical Changes?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000209.html)

Developing and Valuing Hotels: still ignoring climate risks?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000208.html)

Meaningful Guest Experience: Is Sustainability the Secret Ingredient?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000207.html)

Accessing Green Finance in Hospitality: Key to Transformation?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000195.html)

Moving the Needle on Sustainability: Cooperation in Hospitality

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000187.html)

Hotels and the Perfect Storm: Dealing with the global polycrisis

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000176.html)

Beyond Hospitality: Should Individuals have a Personal Carbon Allowance?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000169.html)

Circularity: The sustainable hospitality frontier?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000162.html)

30x30 target: Where does the Hotel Sector stand?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000152.html)

Global standards vs. local realities – how to make it work in hospitality?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000145.html)

The Best Sustainability Resources: Knowledge for Responsible Hoteliers

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000143.html)

The Decade of Decarbonisation & Restoration: Needed Actions in Hospitality

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000141.html)

Hospitality Supply Chains: Massive footprint or a force of good?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000128.html)

The price of hotel sustainability: willing-to-stay and willing-to-pay?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000126.html)

The solutions nature provides: how can hotels contribute and benefit?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000113.html)

Sustainability-driven legislation: setting the right conditions for hospitality?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000094.html)

Responsible travel: How do we make booking sustainable hotels easier?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000088.html)

Running out of energy: An underestimated threat to a "people's business"?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000078.html)

The (Green) Recovery Imperative: Hospitality Re-Set Or Bouncing Forward?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000070.html)

The Future of Sustainability Certification: Micro-Certification?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000057.html)

Hygiene and Sustainability: How to make both work?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000054.html)

Sustainability Gives Hotels An Edge In The War For Talent. Or Does It?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000040.html)

How can sustainability be communicated beyond clichés and greenwashing?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000036.html)

Who makes hospitality sustainability happen: Governments, Industry, Consumers?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000024.html)

Climate Emergency And The Hospitality Industry: Are We On Track?

(https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000020.html)

Meaningful Guest Experiences: Is Sustainability the Secret Ingredient?

Travelers are increasingly aligning their journeys with their values – sustainability matters but increasingly with a desire for a transformative or regenerative experience. The now-mainstreamed initiatives of hotels – from water-saving schemes to extensive recycling programmes – though commendable, only scratch the surface of the potential role they play in promoting a meaningful guest experience.

Is there an unfulfilled potential to enhance meaningful guest experiences that the hospitality industry is missing?

With this in mind, Maribel Esparcia Pérez and I asked experts the following:

What is a meaningful guest experience for you?
Do you have examples of best practices in regard to sustainable hospitality and meaningful guest experiences?

Access the feedback here:

Meaningful Guest Experience: Is Sustainability the Secret Ingredient?

(See: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000207.html)

Personal insights and experiences are shared from experts with supporting examples – great read all around and thank you to:

Glenn Mandziuk MEDes. MCIP FRSA, Sarah Habsburg-Lothringen, Andreas Koch, Natasha Montesalvo , Arjan van Rheede, Marloes Knippenberg, Henri Kuokkanen, Elena Cavagnaro, Peter Varga, Nicolas Dubrocard, Chalana Perera, and MariaPia Intini

And for those who may have missed this one, during the summer we tackled:

Accessing Green Finance in Hospitality: Key to Transformation?

The hospitality industry increasingly considers factors such as erratic weather patterns and extreme events in their expansion strategies in risk-prone areas. These risks could introduce vulnerable elements to investments, in terms of financial loss, physical risks and reputational damage. And it's not just about how should the industry build but moreover if it should build at all?

With this in mind, experts at the Hospitality Net World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality answer one or more of the following questions:

1.          As hotel asset valuations are increasingly linked to sustainability features and environmental risk exposure, do you foresee this trend changing the overall approach to hotel development and, if so, how?

2.          Data suggest that the luxury hotel construction pipeline is unaffected by climate change concerns. What mitigation strategies needs to be adopted by the hospitality sector at this point to live up to the promise of decarbonization?

3.          And more blatantly: Should the industry refrain from developing new hotels in risk areas?

Access the experts’ input:

Developing and Valuing Hotels: still ignoring climate risks?

or here: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/viewpoint/125000208.html

Thank you to all contributors for the views and experiences:
Marloes Knippenberg, Johanna Wagner, Sarah Habsburg-Lothringen, Daniel Ruben, Dr Jonathon Day, Swantje Lehners, Dr. Frauke Fischer, Peter Varga, Elena Cavagnaro, Trevor Girard and Chalana Perera.

HYB 2024 HOSPITALITY ESG EDITION: Unlocking the ESG Innovation Stack in Hospitality

Free Book Download: https://www.hotelyearbook.com/

30 short articles from industry professionals, expert consultants, supply chain service providers and researchers organized under six themes:

The Rise of Net Positive Movement: Climate Resilient & Regenerative Hospitality
From Strategy to Regulation: Navigating the ESG Landscape
Operational Efficiency and Sustainability: Harnessing Technology & Education
The Built Environment: Innovative Architecture, Design & Carbon Conscious Practices
Validating Sustainability: Assurance, Certification and Awards
Shaping ESG Practices: Collaboration for a Better Future

And in addition, a section on Roadblocks to Overcome where c-level executives answer the following question: “If there was one major roadblock you could remove towards a net positive journey in the hospitality industry, what would that be?”

In today’s competitive environment, ESG lies at the core of business strategy. Crucial to advancing sustainability is to leverage innovation. Thus, the "innovation stack" refers to a collection of technologies, methods, and strategies that, when effectively combined, can lead to more resilient, adaptive, and future-ready hospitality businesses.

The key lies not just in individual practices, but equally in the access, scalability, and application throughout the value chain.

Sustainability and Innovation SIG Resources

SIG Meeting, Wednesday, 24th January 2024

“Interactive Sustainability: The Net Positive Hospitality Simulation” (https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/net-positive-hospitality-simulation/) with guests Claire Whitely, Head of Environment at Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, and Tim Rogmans, Managing Director at Sim Institute

WATCH THE WEBINAR

SIG Meeting, 17 November 2022

SLIDES FROM SIG PRESENTATION

SIG Sponsored Webinar, 30 June 2022:

Sustainability on the Ground: Practices, Education & Resources with Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior Vice President Sustainability, Security and Corporate Communications at Radisson, Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, Technical Assistance Advisor at The Long Run and/or Delphine Malleret King, Chief Executive Office at The Long Run

CLICK FOR THE PLAYBACK

Articles & Research:

Sustainability in Hospitality, Hospitality.net

The Best Sustainability Resources: Knowledge for Responsible Hoteliers, Hospitality.net

Beyond Hospitality: Should Individuals have a Personal Carbon Allowance?, Hospitality.net

Drone Food Delivery is Taking Off, a Press Release from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Books:

The Hotel Yearbook: Sustainable Hospitality 2020 – Available for Free Download

Social Entrepreneurship in Hospitality: Principles and Strategies for Change, 1^st edition, 2020 Routledge

Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Principles of Sustainable Operations, 3^rd edition, 2017 Routledge

Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Principles of Sustainable Operations, 4^th edition, 2022 Routledge

Videos:

UN World Oceans Day: What are the Oceans Worth? Everything in Hospitality!

Websites:

World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality

Hotel Sustainability Basics

Circularity: The sustainable hospitality frontier?

FREE Online Sustainability Courses:

Press Release for The Long Run FREE Online Courses

The Long Run

Reports

Circle Economy Presents: The Circularity Gap Report 2021

Dear industry professionals, academics, researchers, colleagues and friends, (apologies for cross-posting)

WithCOP28 UAEgoing on (and some results on financing loss and damage), it’s an opportunity to bridge climate risks to the development and valuation of hotels – it’s tricky with some uncomfortable questions.

The hospitality industry increasingly considers factors such as erratic weather patterns and extreme events in their expansion strategies in risk-prone areas. These risks could introduce vulnerable elements to investments, in terms of financial loss, physical risks and reputational damage. And it's not just about how should the industry build but moreover if it should build at all?

With this in mind, experts at the Hospitality Net World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality answer one or more of the following questions:

1.          As hotel asset valuations are increasingly linked to sustainability features and environmental risk exposure, do you foresee this trend changing the overall approach to hotel development and, if so, how?

2.          Data suggest that the luxury hotel construction pipeline is unaffected by climate change concerns. What mitigation strategies needs to be adopted by the hospitality sector at this point to live up to the promise of decarbonization?

3.          And more blatantly: Should the industry refrain from developing new hotels in risk areas?