TBM Staff - Mumbai
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has achieved a significant milestone with over 5,000 properties in more than 80 countries now embracing its Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) program. This initiative represents a crucial step in promoting sustainable practices within the hospitality industry, demonstrating the sector’s readiness to adopt eco-friendly measures. Hotels across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific region have adopted the Basics program, which continues to receive extensive global support. Partnerships with tourism powerhouses such as Japan, the Philippines, and India highlight the programme’s expanding influence and commitment to sustainability.
The Hotel Sustainability Basics program aims to guide hoteliers in their initial steps towards enhanced sustainability. It is an independent verification program, supervised by renowned assessors Green Key and SGS, ensuring rigorous standards and credibility. The programme empowers hotels of all sizes with a comprehensive 12-step criteria aimed at reducing carbon emissions, improving energy and water management, and ensuring that local communities benefit from hotel operations. Leading hotel brands such as Jin Jiang, Louvre Hotels Group, Choice Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group, and Accor have adopted the program, setting a standard for the industry and demonstrating their commitment to sustainable practices.
In Japan, the Japan Tourism Board has partnered with WTTC through its Japan Sustainable Tourism Initiative (JSTi) to support the launch of Basics across the country. In the Philippines, Tajara Hospitality Group and Greenview have collaborated with WTTC to introduce the program through their annual sustainable hospitality event, PhilHost. India is also seeing significant support, with backing from WTTC Members such as The Indian Hotels Company Limited, Radisson India, WTTC India Initiative, Hotel Association of India, and MakeMyTrip. This concerted effort underscores the importance of sustainability within the Indian hospitality sector.
The Basics programme is now available in multiple languages, offering comprehensive resources in English, French, Spanish, and Japanese to meet international demand. This accessibility ensures that hotels worldwide can adopt the program and implement sustainable practices effectively. Julia Simpson, President & CEO, WTTC, emphasised the collective effort in promoting sustainable practices in the hospitality industry, stating that surpassing 5,000 verified properties demonstrates Travel & Tourism’s readiness to embrace sustainability globally. The program’s widespread adoption signifies a pivotal step forward for the Travel & Tourism sector, showcasing the hospitality industry’s readiness to embrace environmental stewardship and community engagement as core components of their operations.
