Sustainable Hospitality

  • As a sector, Hospitality can have a very powerful transformative affect. When people eat out, travel, holiday – even just... As a sector, Hospitality can have a very powerful transformative affect. When people eat out, travel, holiday – even just... As a sector, Hospitality can have a very powerful transformative affect. When people eat out, travel, holiday – even just... As a sector, Hospitality can have a very powerful transformative affect. When people eat out, travel, holiday – even just... As a sector, Hospitality can have a very powerful transformative affect. When people eat out, travel, holiday – even just...
    As a sector, Hospitality can have a very powerful transformative affect.  When people eat out, travel, holiday – even just for one night – it is an opportunity to experience a different way of life.   Clients often tell us about experiences they have had whilst traveling or visiting somewhere new.  Often, that experience can have a lasting and potent influence, raising aspirations and motivating change.  Tourism is responsible for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. (source: sustainabletravel.org).  Which is why, it is so important that the industry grows to be more sustainable. 
     
    If that experience compels a sustainable change, the more the better.  This influence reaches beyond the guests and diners. The hospitality industry has the power to have a lasting positive impact on lives, places and economies.

  • Research commissioned by ITP highlights that the hotel industry must reduce its carbon emissions by 66% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 to stay within the 2˚C threshold agreed at COP21.

    As of 2019, there are over 700,000 hotels and resorts worldwide, made up of 4 million hotel rooms.  10% of the total global workforce is employed by the tourism industry. (Deloitte, 2019). Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic around 173 million people were employed in the hotel industry (Condor Ferries, 2020).  Hospitality also has the great responsibility to ensure that its employees and their human rights are being respected.
     
    As this sector recovers from the pandemic, it is more important than ever that the re-growth is stronger and more sustainable; with more robust supply chains, protection to those left vulnerable from exploitation, and environmentally sound so that the sector does not exploit the finite resources of the planet.
     
    One of our earliest and longest running projects, is also the most sustainability driven ones…
  • Nestled in the spectacular Devon countryside, on the edge of the National Park, the re-imagined Fowlescombe Estate was borne out... Nestled in the spectacular Devon countryside, on the edge of the National Park, the re-imagined Fowlescombe Estate was borne out... Nestled in the spectacular Devon countryside, on the edge of the National Park, the re-imagined Fowlescombe Estate was borne out... Nestled in the spectacular Devon countryside, on the edge of the National Park, the re-imagined Fowlescombe Estate was borne out... Nestled in the spectacular Devon countryside, on the edge of the National Park, the re-imagined Fowlescombe Estate was borne out...
    Nestled in the spectacular Devon countryside, on the edge of the National Park, the re-imagined Fowlescombe Estate was borne out of an understanding, respect and stewardship for the environment.  Restoring the land and agriculture to be organic, re-establishing rare-breed sheep and cattle, renovating the many buildings of the estate, whilst generating all energy needs on site through renewables - all help to create a memorable and inspiring experience for many of the holidaying guests from all over the world.
     
    The transformative power of hospitality projects such as this one, go beyond the user experience.  As a working farm, with an Education and Visitors Centre, it is also hosted school visits, environmental and conservation groups, art exhibitions, as well as weddings and events.  The estate supports local industry and local skills, and national wildlife and conservation trusts, also supplying local produce to other local businesses, as well as further afield.
  • Another project, similar in motivation but greater in size, was for the owner of the Wasing Estate, who invited us... Another project, similar in motivation but greater in size, was for the owner of the Wasing Estate, who invited us...
    Another project, similar in motivation but greater in size, was for the owner of the Wasing Estate, who invited us to develop a concept and sustainability strategy.  Together with the hospitality consultant, the concept was to create an entirely sustainable guest experience.
    As the business primarily focussed on weddings, we calculated the wedding events alone had the potential to emit 2,500 tonnes of carbon per annum.  To offset only one year of their weddings, we calculated that this would require 10,000 acres of forest, which was 20 times the entire estate.  Whilst the land provided opportunities for re-wilding, re-forestation and sustainable agriculture, the change had to be combined with a core of the business.
    We developed a strategy of development, business and sustainability to achieve the goals, which would not only set the estate apart in a largely homogenous market, which also provided a long-term financial plan marked by the same ideals.  We also designed the concept for expanding the business, bringing older buildings back into sustainable and responsible use.
  • The wedding industry was particularly hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions. But out of this, coupled with an imperative need to... The wedding industry was particularly hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions. But out of this, coupled with an imperative need to... The wedding industry was particularly hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions. But out of this, coupled with an imperative need to...
    The wedding industry was particularly hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions.  But out of this, coupled with an imperative need to reform business and raise all standards, hospitality can only become greener.  We look forward to seeing this type of green-thinking taking root.
     
    Positively, due to the lockdowns the accessibility to quality outdoor space has been essential to maintaining high levels of mental health and well-being.   This has had a positive effect on certain parts of the hospitality sector.  Due to increased visitors, we are working for English Heritage to design a new café and visitors’ facilities on a site without any current provision. We are also designing the welfare and meeting facilities for the volunteer gardeners, essential in maintaining high-quality, and ecologically sensitive outdoor spaces.  As a large national charity and custodian of historically valuable property, English Heritage have a remit to provide sustainable development.  It is wonderful to be working with a provider on long term sustainability.