Today’s travelers are not just looking for comfort — they’re looking for meaning. According to Booking.com’s 2023 Sustainable Travel Report, over three-quarters of global travelers want to travel more sustainably. For hotels, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity: how do you reduce operational costs while also making sustainability a memorable part of the guest experience?
The answer lies in the small details. When sustainability is thoughtfully woven into the guest journey — visible, participatory, and rewarding — it becomes something that travelers remember, talk about, and even seek out again. Below are a series of real-world and creative ideas that hotels can adopt right now to enhance sustainability, reduce waste, save money, and improve guest loyalty.
🛏️ Housekeeping by Request: A Greener Stay with Real Rewards
One of the most impactful yet easy-to-implement initiatives is offering guests the choice to skip daily housekeeping. Programs like IHG’s “Greener Stay” allow guests to opt out of cleaning in exchange for tangible benefits, such as 500 loyalty points. This simple option helps reduce water, energy, and detergent use while also easing the workload on housekeeping teams. For guests, it’s a small act that feels good — and when paired with a visible incentive, it becomes a positive part of their stay rather than a service cutback.
The message matters. Instead of just saying “help us save water,” show them what their choice supports: fewer emissions, better use of staff time, and a reward that recognizes their contribution to sustainability.
🧼 Reuse with Recognition: The Power of the Towel Card
The humble towel reuse card remains one of the most recognized — and underappreciated — sustainability tools in hospitality. But to make it more than a formality, hotels should take it a step further by connecting action with outcome. A simple message like “Thanks to guests like you, we saved over 10,000 liters of water last month” gives meaning to an otherwise silent decision.
When guests feel that their choices matter, they’re more likely to participate. And when those choices are acknowledged — even just through signage — it strengthens the emotional connection between your brand and your visitor.
🧳 The Eco Welcome Kit: Thoughtfulness They Can Take Home
Today’s guests are increasingly aware of their footprint — and love discovering brands that make sustainable living easy. Swap out traditional paper guides and mini toiletries for a minimalist welcome kit: a bamboo toothbrush, a refillable water bottle, a QR code for a digital map, and a note that says “Everything here is reusable, biodegradable, or recyclable.”
This kit can either be complimentary or offered as part of a “sustainable upgrade.” Many hotels report that guests are happy to pay a little more when it comes with meaningful, low-waste extras. It also reduces waste left behind in rooms — especially one-night stays.
The bonus? It turns sustainability into a part of your branding, especially if you include products with your logo or local partnerships.
🚿 Real-Time Impact: The Shower Challenge
Gamifying sustainability can increase participation without any additional cost. In the guest bathroom, a waterproof sign can prompt guests to reduce their water usage by challenging them to take a 5-minute shower. Frame it as a fun, community effort — something like, “Can you beat the average guest time of 4:48?”
This approach is especially effective with younger travelers who are used to feedback loops, timers, and participation-based engagement. Even if only a fraction of guests take it seriously, the initiative sets your hotel apart as playful, modern, and committed.
📲 Sustainable Storytelling Through Digital Touchpoints
Use your existing tech — Wi-Fi login pages, digital room tablets, or TV welcome screens — to tell your sustainability story. When guests log in, display a short note: “This room is powered by 100% renewable energy,” or “Skip cleaning, save water, earn points.”
Digital messaging is low-cost, easy to update, and scalable across your entire property. And it reinforces that every small choice — including how they connect to Wi-Fi — is part of a bigger, greener vision.
It also adds a modern, professional layer to your sustainability communication, which can otherwise get lost in paper signage.
🍽️ Conscious Dining as an Experience
In the restaurant or via room service, highlight the sustainable choices your kitchen is making. When a dish is vegetarian, locally sourced, or low-impact, let your guests know. A note on the menu or tray card can read, “This dish supports Swiss farmers and emits 60% less CO2 than imported beef.”
You’re not just serving a meal — you’re telling a story. Guests who align with those values are more likely to reorder, leave positive reviews, and talk about their experience afterward.
🎯 Final Thought: Make the Guest the Hero
When it comes to sustainability, your guests don’t want to be lectured — they want to feel included. They want options, recognition, and the chance to contribute in a way that feels effortless.
That’s the power of small actions: skipping a towel change, drinking from a rice straw, or logging in to learn about the impact they’re having. These aren’t cost centers — they’re value generators.
When sustainability is personal and participatory, it becomes part of the experience. And when your guests feel like they’ve made a difference, they’ll remember you for all the right reasons.
