Sustainability is a term we increasingly hear in conversations about travel. Whether due to concerns over climate change or local issues around overtourism, travelers are becoming more concerned about the impact that their annual vacation might have on the environment.
According to the newly published Sustainable Travel Report 2023 from Booking.com, today’s travelers are seeking more eco-friendly options and looking to make sustainable choices during their trips. Data from more than 33,000 travelers across 35 countries and territories found that, among US travelers, 70% say they want to travel more sustainably over the coming 12 months.
However, it’s not just environmental concerns which are front of mind. There is also the perceived or actual expense of taking the eco-friendly option to consider, at a time of rising energy and living costs. Nearly half of the travelers surveyed believe that they have to choose between sustainability or spend, with 52% believing more sustainable travel options are too expensive. However, a reassuring 42% of travelers said they would be willing to pay more for certified sustainable travel options, upping their spending in order to receive the reassurance that they are doing good while enjoying their break.
The survey also found that almost half (47%) of US travelers believe there are not enough sustainable travel options available and 49% confess to not knowing where to find them. Given this, it’s important that those accommodations that have embraced a more environmentally friendly approach to running their properties let potential guests know about it.
For example, take Cat Mountain Lodge near Tuscon, Arizona. Their website lists such environmental measures as using barrels to harvest rainwater and having an underground tank to store gray water for irrigating their garden, which is planted with native species.
The survey found that respondents were generally trying to be environmentally conscious at home, with 51% using reusable shopping bags, 56% recycling waste and 53% carrying their own reusable water bottle. In-property, hosts and hoteliers can help their guests carry on with these good habits by making it clear what actions they should take – and why – for the benefit of the destination they are visiting. The Haus on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, New York, has a dedicated web page offering tips to cut energy usage – such as turning down the heating, switching lights off and unplugging devices – while also listing the property’s green affiliations and accreditations.
When away from home it’s hard to know exactly how to handle things like recycling, food waste and controlling heating and lighting sustainably. Having the information clearly provided (digitally of course, to avoid paper and printing waste!) helps guests feel comfortable with unfamiliar processes from the moment they arrive. Accommodation providers can give guests a helping hand to do the right thing by making sure they are well informed about how to get around on foot or by public transport (the survey found that 31% of travelers plan their sightseeing around greener transportation options) and recommending local stores where they can buy groceries and support local businesses.
One eviivo Collective property leading the way in sustainability is The Sanctuary, in Cornwall, UK. Here guests can enjoy comfortable and sustainable zero-carbon living at an award-winning off-grid eco lodge. Set in its own 12 acres of woodland and wildflower pasture and overlooking the beautiful Fowey Estuary, it shows its ‘Travel Sustainable’ status on Booking.com and holds a Gold rating from Green Tourism.
The sustainability ethos is fully employed at the property, which is insulated with sheep’s wool, has an earth roof, and uses triple glazed windows, skylights and sun tubes to flood the inside space with natural light. Completely off grid, it uses solar for electricity and heating, with water coming from a borehole. It also has an active recycling policy. Guests are encouraged not to bring plastic water bottles or, if they do, to exchange them for a complimentary, reusable metal one.
With an emphasis on engaging with the natural environment surrounding the property and getting active outdoors, The Sanctuary is showing the way forward for sustainable tourism, meeting the needs of guests, business and the planet.
Main image: The Sanctuary, Cornwall, UK