Accommodation
We’re working with some of the world’s leading travel and technology brands to help people make more informed decisions when booking accommodation.
The challenge
Research has shown that a variety of factors related to accommodation – from food miles and waste, to energy consumption and local employment – can significantly increase both the carbon footprint of a trip, as well as the impact on the local community and destination itself.
However, a lack of access to reliable, consistent information has been cited as a barrier to people making more sustainable travel choices. With a variety of approaches to measuring sustainability efforts, and many competing certification schemes available, travellers often don’t know what to look for or which labels to trust.
Travalyst’s role
Our goal is to help people make more informed travel choices and this starts with being able to find consistent sustainability information on the platforms they already use – platforms like our partners: Booking.com, Expedia, and Google.
Our coalition is working to collect data from accommodation providers based on a list of attributes – which can be found below – as well as information on their relevant certifications. This information is then displayed on property booking pages clearly and consistently across our partners’ platforms, so that users can begin to recognise and understand it.
This makes it simpler for people to find more sustainable places to stay.
The role of our Independent Advisory Group
We work with sustainability experts, academics and professionals from around the world who oversee all of our work to ensure it is credible and industry leading. Our Independent Advisory Group has reviewed and validated the existing list of accommodation attributes below, and will continue to support us in developing this work.
What users see
Here are some examples of what people see when they search for accommodation on some of our partners’ platforms:
Booking.com
Expedia
Certifications
Some of our partners display certifications that an accommodation has been awarded. Given the vast number of certification schemes and bodies in the industry, we have worked closely with our partners, and in conjunction with our Independent Advisory Group, to align on three criteria that certification bodies must meet in order to be displayed on our partners’ platforms. Find out more about our certifications initiative here.
Verification
It is important that the sustainability information that our partners collect from properties can be verified as true and accurate so that users are given reliable information.
Alongside our current attribute list and criteria for displaying third-party certifications, our Independent Advisory Group has also validated four initial methods our partners can use to verify the data they collect. These are:
- Checkbox claims: Use of a checkbox function where properties declare that they have filled in the information truthfully and that they understand that if they have not they will be in breach of the relevant platform’s terms and conditions.
- Customer verification: Use of a guest check-out survey or review where questions can be included to help understand if a guest saw something which the property declared was/was not there (appropriate for some, but not all, attributes)
- Third-party certification: As discussed above, the use of a number of third-party certifications that properties have been awarded; all of which have their own robust verification methods to ensure data accuracy.
- External audits: Use of the services of a third-party auditor to validate all attributes selected by the property.
In the long term
Our current attribute list and approved methods of verification will continue to evolve over time, and while we have taken an important first step, there is much more we need to do. In the long term, we will:
- Work together to develop our list of attributes to ensure a robust picture of sustainability
- Increase the number of properties that submit their information
- Develop and improve methods for verification of information to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness
- Share sustainability resources to encourage accommodations to become more sustainable – for example, Booking.com already provides its partners with a handbook and is working in collaboration with UN Tourism to provide free online courses across a number of key sustainability topics in hospitality
- Educate people on what to look out for when booking accommodation
Please get in touch for more information.
Accommodation attributes
Below is the list of attributes, reached in agreement with our Independent Advisory Group. The list aims to reflect the full spectrum of sustainability at a global level, and is continually updated and refined to present an increasingly accurate picture of measures to improve sustainability in the accommodation industry.
| Category | Attribute |
|---|---|
| Energy | LED lighting makes up for at least 80% of the property’s guest and public room lighting |
| Energy | All hotel windows are double glazed |
| Energy | Vegetarian menu options are offered |
| Energy | Vegan menu options are offered |
| Energy | Guest rooms have energy saving switches (e.g. keycard-controlled electricity) |
| Energy | Properties electricity is 100% renewable |
| Energy | Property has a food waste policy that includes education, food waste prevention, reduction, recycling, and disposal |
| Energy | At least 80% of food is sourced from property’s local region (e.g. within 50km from property location) |
| Energy | Property offers electric car charging stations |
| Energy | Property has installed insulation in its outer wall and roof structure |
| Energy | Property has installed dynamic/automatic sun shading for its guest room and common area windows |
| Energy | Property has installed smart lift software that introduces ‘stand-by’ mode which automatically turns off lighting and fan consumption in lifts |
| Energy | Property has installed a variable speed heat pump for its pool that allows the property to select a lower speed setting, saving energy in the process |
| Energy | Property has installed a pool cover to reduce evaporation and condensation, reducing the energy required to heat the swimming pool |
| Energy | Property has reduced laundry temperature to 60°C for its towel & linen laundry |
| Energy | Property has installed cooling systems that do not use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) but rely on hydrocarbons or natural refrigerants as ammonium or CO2 |
| Energy | Property has reduced energy consumption this year with at least 5% compared to previous year |
| Energy | Property has installed energy-saving thermostats that conserve energy when rooms or areas are not in use |
| Energy | Property has installed energy efficient appliances in its guest rooms, kitchen, laundry room and reception/offices |
| Waste | Single-use plastic amenities are replaced by a bulk dispenser |
| Waste | Single-use plastic water bottles are not offered |
| Waste | The property has installed water refill stations and encourages guests to use these instead of single-use plastic water bottles |
| Waste | Single-use plastic soda bottles are not offered |
| Waste | The property has reusable tableware (replacing single-use) |
| Waste | The property has reusable cups (replacing single-use) |
| Waste | Single-use plastic straws are not offered |
| Waste | Single-use plastic stirrers are not offered |
| Waste | Property has a recycling plan in place (e.g. in guest rooms, common areas, kitchen) for at least four waste types (glass, paper, plastic, organic) |
| Waste | Property safely handles and disposes its hazardous wastes |
| Waste | Property has paperless procedures in place both at the front desk as in the back office |
| Waste | Property has eliminated styrofoam food containers from its operations |
| Waste | Property participates in a soap donation programme for which it collects and recycles soap and donates it to regions in need |
| Waste | Property safely disposes its lightbulbs after these end up as waste |
| Water | Property only uses water-efficient toilets (e.g. low-flow toilets, dual flush toilets) |
| Water | Property only uses water-efficient showers (e.g. smart showers, low flow shower heads) |
| Water | A towel re-use programme is available to guests |
| Water | Guests can opt out for room cleaning (e.g. bed linen laundry is reduced) |
| Water | Property has drought-tolerant landscaping with reduces irrigation needs and water use |
| Water | Property collects rainwater to use for irrigation purposes in periods of limited rainfall |
| Water | Property has installed water-efficient faucets |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Wild (non-domesticated) animals are not displayed/interacted with while captive on the property or harvested, consumed, or sold |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | The property compensates for at least 10% of total annual carbon emissions by purchasing certified carbon offsets |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | 80% of the food products offered by the property is organic |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Green spaces such as gardens/rooftop gardens on the property |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Property offers bicycle rental |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Property offers bicycle parking |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Property uses only eco-friendly cleaning products |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Property offers only eco-friendly toiletries in guest rooms |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Property sources sustainable seafood, avoiding species on the “Avoid” list of the Marine Conservation Society Good Fish Guide |
| Biodiversity & Ecosystems | Property takes measures to avoid the introduction of invasive species, and prioritises the use of native species for landscaping. |
| Destination & Community | Local artists are offered a platform to display their talents |
| Destination & Community | Guests are offered tours and activities organised by local guides and businesses |
| Destination & Community | Property invests a % of it’s revenue back into the community or in local sustainability projects |
| Destination & Community | Property provides guests with information regarding local ecosystems, heritage and culture, as well as visitor etiquette |
| Destination & Community | Property provides its employees with health & safety training and keeps record of this |
| Destination & Community | Property monitors and reviews its employees’ wages and implements them against national living wage norms |
| Destination & Community | At least 80% of the property’s hotel staff is recruited among local residents |
| Destination & Community | Local residents are given equal opportunities for career advancement, including in management positions |
| Destination & Community | The property uses local, small and medium-sized enterprises to meet 80% of its maintenance, service, marketing & non-F&B supply needs |
| Destination & Community | Records of employee ages are kept and show absence of any form of child labour |
| Destination & Community | The organisation provides training to employees to identify, report and stop child sex tourism and sex trafficking |