SUSTAINABILITY AND BWH HOTELS GB
As anyone in the hospitality industry knows, hotels can have a big environmental footprint. From the countless gallons of water used each day to the mounds of waste produced. It is no wonder that sustainability is top of mind for many eco-conscious business owners. Fortunately, there are several ways to make your hotel more sustainable. Implementing even a few simple best practices can significantly lower your carbon footprint and save you money.
Why be sustainable?
We know our guests are increasingly interested in supporting sustainable businesses. Not only guests but our corporate clients are selecting hotels based on their sustainability credentials.
Laura Dudley Head of Sustainability at ArrangeMy says –
We are finding that this is based on to supplier pressure and larger organisations who already have a clear Route to Net Zero. With certain companies having set targets for Net Zero 2023, we are noticing a significant increase in demand and requests for assistance, support, and advice on how to incorporate sustainability into travel programmes.
More of our clients are asking for us to have credentials to support our ESG strategies and actions plus a clear carbon reduction plan. For hotel searches we are being continually asked how travellers and bookers can compare hotels against hotels based on sustainability practices and accreditations – this highlights how important and valuable sustainability accreditation is for the industry, as can be seen from the results of our survey -->
So, whether you are looking to boost your bottom line or win goodwill from guests, making your hotel more sustainable is a smart move. But we know it is not always easy to reduce your environmental impact. That’s why we are here to support you in achieving your sustainability goals.
Rest Accreditation
At BWH Hotels we wanted more than a tick box accreditation scheme, so we are proud to be working with Quality in Tourism to offer the REST Accreditation scheme to BWH Hotel Members.
The REST scheme was devised to assess and measure hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses, offering independent assessments, objective investigations and recommendations for change. The scheme was developed in response to growing consumer demand for an independent quality mark, alongside requests for a grading that supports business' RFP processes.
Developed by a team of experts, who boast a practical and in-depth knowledge of the industry, the scheme is fit-for-purpose and widely endorsed.
To make REST even easier for you to achieve, we have secured excellent pricing for the accreditations, making the scheme a very cost-effective option for our hotels. First year accreditation is only £350 per hotel.
How does REST Work
The REST scheme is based on 3 pillars: Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable. The REST accreditation is applicable whether you cater for delegates in a conference venue, a corporate hotel for business travellers or leisure accommodation for all.
We are looking for best practice, to see that you are doing as much as you can do in your environment, the scheme is evidence based so as you work through your workbook, gather evidence on the initiatives you are doing, such as social media screenshots, invoices, photographs of efforts.
Once you are ready to start you can find the resource documents below and in the QIT portal, we recommend setting yourself up a Green Team and sharing the workload, section by section.
Although designed to be objective, there is plenty of room for you to demonstrate your superstar business qualities and gain extra recognition for a specific area of the business (or two!). But remember we need to see the evidence; this is more than a tick box exercise.
Contact us to sign up today – sustainability@bwhhotels.co.uk or sign up here, you will then receive a link to the QIT portal to get started.
Carbon Calculator – Zero Carbon Services
The carbon calculator has been built by Zero Carbon Services for BWH Hotels GB and for 2025 is completely free of charge to all hotels.
This tool enables you to calculate and understand your carbon emissions, and show practical ways you can reduce them, saving you money and enabling your business to thrive along the way. Once you have completed your information you will get reports on your carbon usage, and it will generate your carbon footprint.
There is also a Toolkit once you have completed your information which gives helpful hints, tips and supplier information to help you navigate.
To access the portal, register here https://bw.zerocarboncalculator.com
Once all hotel data is submitted, we will be able to incorporate this into our ICH data and create a Climate Action Plan and Footprint for us as a brand in GB.
Sustainabilty Resources
REST Resources
- Workbook Guidance
- Risk Assessment Guidance
- Risk Assessment Template
- Accessibility Policy Template
- Hotel Access Policy Template
- Diversity and Inclusion Policy Template
- REST Workbook pdf version
- REST Workbook word version
- Human Trafficking Training
- Redesigning Hospitality Venues
- Essential Energy Saving Tips for Hotels
- Definitive Guide to Scope 1 and 2
Carbon Calculator Resources
Sustainable Supply Resources and Information
www.replacer.com - How to replace and eliminate unsustainable items in your hotel.
This free platform enables you to see alternatives to anything you need for your hotel, from napkins and menus to shampoo bottles and pens.
You can find out not only how to reduce your carbon emissions but also how to reduce costs. The platform shows you how you can reduce and eliminate and will also link you to suppliers who have been Eco Certified by Replacer so you can be confident you are purchasing from an ethical source. This also helps with your accreditations too!
https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org
Sustainability Archives - UKHospitality
Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England - GOV.UK
We will continue to add resources to here as we get them, if you know of any great initiatives we can share with the hotels please send them over to us to include.