Socially responsible hospitality: Environmental and human imperatives

The Indian hotel industry has taken a hit of over Rs 1.3 trillion in revenue for the fiscal year 20-21 due to the Covid19 pandemic, as reported by a leading Indian publication in 2021. The hospitality industry faced the maximum brunt during the pandemic that resulted in loss of revenues, jobs and livelihood. In India, we did witness many hotels rising above the occasion and providing accommodation to the frontline workers during this period, a phenomenal example of social sustainability. Hospitality sector is a key contributor to global emissions and is vulnerable to impacts of climate change, particularly in areas that are fragile and prone to climate impacts such as sea level rise, heatwaves, wildfires, storms and floods. The sector has great opportunities to influence the social aspects in addition to being environmentally sustainable. Social sustainability is a key feature that drives resilience and supports local livelihood for the hospitality sector. LEED has made pioneering efforts in certifying hotels and other properties of the sector that are not only environmentally sustainable but have shown immense focus on the social sustainability aspects.

US Green Building Council (USGBC) works to promote cost-efficient and resource-saving green building design, construction and operations with the goal of protecting global environment and human health. The LEED® green building certification programme provides the framework for building and operating hotels sustainably. Green buildings use on average 26 per cent less energy, emit 33 per cent less carbon dioxide, use 30 per cent less indoor water and send 50-75 per cent less solid waste to landfills and incinerators. The opportunities for hospitality venues to integrate green building strategies into their design, construction and daily operations makes business sense and can be an important part of a company’s commitment to sustainability. In addition to driving environmental sustainability, LEED projects have a very large impact on society. For example, several hotels that are LEED-certified undertake measures on local rejuvenation of natural ecosystems, use of locally available materials and craftsmen, deploying services of local people leading to job creations, use of locally grown staples and food and many more.

ITC Windsor, spanning over 298,000 sq ft, is the first hotel in South India to earn LEED Platinum under the LEED for Existing Buildings programme. Smart planning and innovative technology, combined with an emphasis on responsible luxury led to important new benchmarks in energy and water efficiency, solid waste recycling and carbon reduction. Today, the property treats and recycles enough water to irrigate 65,000 trees annually, thus rejuvenating the local landscape and contributing to urban heat island reduction. The social impact up the hotel at the macro scale is immense. Its electrical energy demand is entirely met through renewable sources. Cooling demand is greatly reduced by having more than 60 per cent of its roof area covered with highly reflective materials. Also noteworthy, annual CO2 emissions have been cut by nearly 13,000 tonnes.

THE Nines, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust/ Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, IN Portland, Oregon USA, another masterpiece in LEED, has enhanced the guest experience in several ways. A rooftop atrium not only accommodates leisurely strolls, it boasts of a vegetable garden and production of fresh honey, thus promoting local food. An in-house butcher shop further insures quality and freshness of all prepared meats. Additionally, the project diverted 86 per cent of its construction waste from landfills and through recycling and composting initiatives, boasts a 60 per cent diversion rate for all trash. Other highlights include significant daylighting, water-conserving dual-flush toilets and, where feasible, highly efficient LED lighting and digitally controlled guest room thermostats.

 LEED-certified, Tambo Del Inka Hotel, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Urubamba, Peru, is located near Machu Picchu in an area known as the Sacred Valley. The project embraces comfort, culture and sustainability. Highlights include 100 per cent onsite wastewater treatment, 100 per cent non-potable irrigation and low-flow plumbing fixtures to conserve water as well as lighting and thermal comfort controls for occupant wellbeing. Over 1,000,000 sq ft vegetation was restored along the Urubamba River and regional lumber was used in both the structure and interior finishes.

Heritance Kandalama Hotel, Dambulla, Sri Lanka, is a 152-room five-star hotel in Dambulla, Sri Lanka that is spread over 253,000 sq ft and is erected on stilts to maintain the natural rainwater flow. Its natural surroundings were fully restored following construction. Eighty per cent of its roofs are planted with native vegetation. The property is located in the historic cultural triangle’s heartland and is flanked by two world heritage sites – making it an area of tremendous cultural and historical importance. 

The hospitality sector has great connect with people and plays a key role in changing lives and livelihoods. Environmental, social and economic sustainability are three key pillars on which the sector can thrive and contribute to the global sustainability agenda. 

Author Bio: Mili Majumdar is Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation, USss Green Building Council, USA