Statement of originality: I certify that this assignment/report is entirely my own work, based on my personal study and/or research and that I have acknowledged all material and sources used in its preparation, whether they be books, articles, reports, lecture notes, and any other kind of document, electronic or personal communication. I also certify that I have not copied in any part or whole or otherwise plagiarised the work of other students and/or persons. Retrieved from: http://people.uleth.ca/~selibl/Biol3200/Plagiarism.pdf

I confirm that I have read and understood the above definition of plagiarism.

I confirm that this portfolio is entirely my own work and that I have properly referenced all sources that I used

Melanevskaya Ulya

20.04.2021

 

Popularity of eco-hotels

How to make a hotel environmentally friendly

Eco-hotels all over the world

 

Introduction

The word “eco-friendly” has additional value with the development of industry. In the past several decades eco-friendly products or services have played an important role. The hospitality business is no exception. All over the world eco — hotels are prestigious and attractive for tourists. Eco-hotels have become especially popular over the past twenty years, when people began to think about causing the environment as little harm as possible. All eco — hotels are built from natural and sometimes also recycled materials. They use the energy of the sun, wind and water and do not pollute the soil and water bodies with industrial waste. The main location of eco-hotels is protected areas, natural parks.

The aim here is to investigate the main features of eco-friendly hotels. In order to understand the value of these hotels we need to analyse the main principle of construction and operation of eco-hotels is harmony with the environment. Many of these hotels educate their guests about ways to reduce their environmental impact. Some eco-hotels are huts or houses built using the technology of indigenous tribes living in a particular conservation area. There are many eco-hotels in the countries of Oceania and Central America. Eco-hotels are often located in impenetrable jungle, where the presence of a person is still considered a rarity. Others eco-hotels offer services in metropolitan areas, providing guests with clean water, food and natural materials for the decoration of rooms. People can always be sure that eco-hotels are designed in harmony with nature (https://

Their main idea of these hotels is to instill a sense of responsibility for environmental impact and minimize negative impact. The main difference from ordinary hotels is that they are located in natural areas, promote unity with nature and provide guests with conditions similar to living in the open air: natural products, clean water, natural materials used to decorate rooms.

The modern post-industrial society, despite the global financial crisis, and, in part, thanks to it, continues to rethink its relationship with the environment. Decrease in the extraction of minerals and a decrease in the consumption of all resources, an increase in the share of renewable types of energy — these are the main features of the transition from an anthropocentric model of thinking to an environmentally friendly model.

People, whose level of education and incomes are above average, are not indifferent to environmental problems. Some people are ready to pay «a little more» for «green» goods and services. Eco-friendly hotels are the answer to the high demand for recreation in natural surroundings, which has formed in the hotel market over the past two decades.

Such hotels are often located in protected natural areas with legal restrictions on the type of development, number of storeys, and function according to the principle of harmonious proximity with nature, without polluting the environment by the products of tourists’ vital activity. Nevertheless, even in large metropolitan areas, there are hotel facilities offering their guests 100% pure water, organic food and only natural materials for decorating rooms.

Guided by considerations of economy and marketing, many hotel chains also listened to the «green» ideas. Even the most expensive hotels in the world began to change incandescent bulbs to energy-saving ones and urge the use of bed linen and towels for several days in a row.

Today, more and more travelers go to travel agencies to book a room in an ecological hotel. Until now, prices for accommodation in eco-hotels are considered far from cheap. This is due to the special requirements that the hotel must meet during construction and operation.

 

Part I. Popularity of eco-hotels

Eco-hotels, as a separate form of recreation, appeared, because there was a rapid process of urbanization. People wanted to take a break from the noisy benefits of civilization in nature. On the other hand, the popularity of this trend can also be explained by the growing fashion for everything safe, environmentally friendly, and this is a concern not only for your health, but also for the environment.

However, people begin to come to a more conscious culture of consumption. The demand for eco-hotels will only increase. This format of the hotel business has a very good potential, the profitability of which can be comparable to the management of commercial real estate, especially given that our country has enormous natural resources for this. I think that we are still at the very beginning of the development of this direction. Many hotels are lodges or huts designed to resemble the dwellings of the indigenous tribes living in this conservation area. Here you will not find luxurious and richly decorated rooms. Many hotels only have a bed or hammock, a table and a couple of armchairs. The furniture, of course, is also made from natural materials: wood or stone. Among the additional services of such hotels — education in the field of ecology. Visitors are told about the flora and fauna of local ecosystems, taught how to reduce the harmful impact on the environment.

Many eco-friendly hotels work with the local population. They train and hire them, and organize events that help visitors preserve and value local customs and contribute to the local economy. Food also often depends on the area in which the hotel is located and will correspond to the traditional menu. For example, an eco-hotel in Siberia will offer you fish, game, nuts and berries. In the highlands, guests will be offered lamb dishes and homemade cheeses. Some hotels have gone even further and offer guests to get their own food. That is certainly a complete unity with nature and living in the wild (https://www.travelline.ru/)

Among the additional services that eco-hotels offer guests is environmental education. Guests are taught to recognize the species of local plants and animals, and they are taught how to reduce harmful personal impact on the environment. Eco-hotels are closely linked with ethnographic tourism. Therefore, their guests often have the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of various nationalities. Eating in eco-friendly hotels often follows local traditions. If the hotel is located on the territory of the African savannah, then its guests will be offered local treats: couscous, Jerusalem artichoke porridge, buffalo milk. The hotel’s cuisine in the Siberian taiga will include products such as pine nuts, fish and game. Some eco-hotels also offer a rather extreme way of vacation, when the guest needs to get his own food on his own. Numerous reality shows in the spirit of «The Last Hero» made advertising for such hotels.

Most eco-friendly hotels offer only basic amenities and are designed for guests who place more emphasis on exploring natural beauty and outdoor activities than relaxing in the room. The philosophy of ecotourism is the principle of harmonious neighborhood with nature, in which human life does not pollute or deplete the environment and does not interfere with the usual way of life for the aborigines. Most eco-friendly hotels use only renewable natural resources or recycled products in the construction and decoration of rooms.

Eating in eco-hotels is most often traditional for the places where the complex is located. Dishes are prepared with local produce — fish from a nearby bay, vegetables from the garden, meat and milk from the hotel’s own farm or from farmers running a nearby farm.

Eco-hotels are not only hotels created in harmony with nature. There are several unusual hotels in the world that were built using exclusively recycled materials.

First of all, it must be organically integrated into the surrounding nature. This is achieved by using natural materials and respect for the landscape. Environmental friendliness in everyday life is important. Only biodegradable cleaning products, reusable dishes, minimum plastic.The same rules apply to the decoration of the premises. Eco-hotels are simple and eye-pleasing natural materials: linen curtains, textured wooden shelves, ceramic accessories. No pretentiousness and excesses in the setting. As a rule, eco-hotels choose natural, natural shades for interior decoration. And the most important thing is respect for natural resources. Use of renewable energy sources, separate waste collection, energy saving lamps, reuse of waste water (for example, for garden irrigation).

 

People who are accustomed to the traditional service of overseas hotels may not immediately get used to an eco-friendly lifestyle. For example, towels in eco-hotels are not changed every day, but every few days or at the request of guests — this allows more rational use of water and electricity. Also, in eco-hotels, air conditioning is usually not used.

Dr. Legrand names several key trends in the sustainable hospitality industry, such as: reducing food waste. For example, growing food locally, purchasing locally, and changing social norms so that “dish waste” is no longer considered acceptable (Benjamin Lephilibert). In addition to making guests remember to use water and towels, some hotels are turning to innovations such as showers that filter their own water (Inge Huybrechts). Avoiding disposable plastic products means not only recycling, but also reducing the amount of waste generated during their creation and disposal. A good start is to get rid of plastic water bottles and plastic bags (Jeanne Varney). Energy saving is effective and easy to apply, for example, by altering guest perceptions to encourage guests to adopt adaptive behaviors. One way is to replace the mini-fridge and coffee maker in each room with a common area in the outdoor guest space (Christopher Warren). Creation of a paperless hotel is made easier with a state-of-the-art property management system that simplifies operations and optimizes guest experiences while reducing carbon emissions (Terence Ronson). New construction uses a three-zero approach: using local building materials and skills (kilometer zero), prioritizing energy management and reducing emissions (zero carbon emissions), and introducing lifecycle management into the construction process. (no waste) (Matteo Thun). Ecotourists believe that it is important to take good care of the ecology and culture of the visited country in order to preserve the environment for future generations (.

These travelers choose sustainable modes of transport, buy food from local producers, and support a business that cares about the environment. There are many vegetarians among ecotourists.

Hotels offer a vegetarian menu, order cosmetics such as shampoos and shower gels from brands that do not test on animals. They compile a guide to local markets and tell where natural vegetables and fruits are sold in the city. They receive special documents that confirm that the hotel takes care of the environment. In Russia, it is not yet necessary to obtain a certificate to be called an eco-hotel. But some hotels are voluntarily tested and labeled. To do this, it is necessary to reduce the volume of waste and properly dispose of it, rationally consume electricity and water, and purchase eco-products.

Eco-format hotels operate on the principle of harmonious neighborhood close to nature. It is the location surrounded by the forest, away from the bustle of the city and noise that is one of the main conditions of this format. As a rule, such hotels are located on the border with large nature reserves, parks and forests, which provides guests with a quiet and measured outdoor recreation, while maintaining the necessary comfort and infrastructure elements. Yes, there are hotels that deliberately minimize the «benefits» of civilization. For example, they deliberately give guests the opportunity to relax without the Internet. But these, in my opinion, are extremes. Arriving for several weeks or even days, guests have the right to count on the maximum comfort of their stay.

Another of the main criteria for the hotel’s environmental friendliness is the use of natural building materials and energy efficient technologies. Houses are built using safe, natural materials, the same approach is used in the design of the interior space and hotel rooms. An important element today is the use of energy efficient heating systems, energy saving, and, in principle, achieving maximum efficiency in hotel maintenance. For example, a partial transition to renewable energy, solar panels, energy-saving light sources, efficient heating.

 

 

 

Part II. How to make a hotel environmentally friendly

The hotel industry got into the fight to protect the environment many years ago with a reusable towel program. Chains are gradually replacing plastic cocktail tubes with biodegradable materials (paper and bamboo), or instead of in-room water bottles they offer guests water from a cooler on the floor. California (the USA) plans to completely abandon the use of individual disposable plastic containers for cosmetics.

Sustainable hotels are usually designed respecting the environment and the area where they are located. In many occasions, they implement to their facilities efficient lighting systems, low pressure water installations and try to generate their own energy.

Green hotel practices are considered to be one of the environmentally friendly initiatives that aim to eliminate the negative impact on the environment by saving energy (e.g., by installing energy-efficient appliances and implementing renewable energy programs), reducing water consumption.

The environmental strategy is a plan of action on how the organisation should manage environmental protection, stakeholder pressures, and market opportunities. Corporate environmental performance is the measure of a company’s impact on the natural environment.

Instead, bathrooms will use reusable volumetric dispensers. Operators and owners pay more attention to rational water use, using special shower heads and modern models of washing machines, and energy saving — in new hotels they are introducing motion sensors that track activity and turn off the account on their own if there are no signs of movement.

More and more people around the world recognize the importance of protecting the environment, which is why the eco-chic style is now more popular than ever. While the younger generation favors unusual, sustainable accommodation options, classic hotels and hotels in historic buildings are fading into the background.

How to make a hotel environmentally friendly?

• Saving natural resources

An eco-friendly hotel should use natural resources sparingly using modern technologies. It is desirable that the building has many windows that facilitate the penetration of natural light into the room. This significantly reduces electricity consumption. In addition, energy efficient equipment and modern water and air purification systems should be installed inside the hotel complex.

• Renewable energy sources

Some hotels go further and install solar panels, wind turbines and rainwater storage tanks on their property. The use of alternative energy sources allows you to reduce the consumption of natural resources, which means — a negative impact on the environment.

• Organic products

People should pay attention to the food that is offered at the hotel. The hotel menu should include dishes made from natural, seasonal products, preferably locally sourced. Farm support has two useful functions at once: social and environmental. This is especially true when it comes to developing countries or third world states. Firstly, it enables the local, often impoverished, population to earn money for a living, and secondly, it reduces the negative impact on the environment by refusing to take long transportation from other countries.

• Landscaping and closeness to nature

Of course, a huge plus for the hotel is the green area and proximity to nature, as well as a large number of plants inside the building. Flowers and trees clean the air of harmful impurities and produce a lot of oxygen.

• Waste sorting

It is important that the hotel tries to minimize the amount of its waste and takes care of the recycling of the waste it generates. This goal is achieved through separate collection of recyclable materials and composting of food waste. In addition, fresh food, which is often thrown into trash cans by hotels, can be given away to those in need.

• Green initiatives

The hotel’s environmental performance also matters. Many hotels are deprived of vast green gardens and a warm climate, but they implement various environmental programs, donate money to «green» organizations and carry out socially significant events.

• Eco-friendly materials

The hotel should be built using sustainable materials: wood, stone, cork, straw, lime, glass or clay. The same goes for interior decoration. Organic dyes and natural fabrics (linen, cotton and silk) are also welcome here. Natural materials are safe for human health and allow the building (and therefore you) to «breathe». It is also important that the hotel is cleaned with environmentally friendly cleaning agents.

There is a certain specificity in the management of such a hotel. This can be the introduction of various programs, where the emphasis is on saving natural resources, electricity and water, the use of organic products and safe household chemicals, waste-free production. The menus of restaurants or cafes mainly feature organic farm products from farms and farms located near the hotel, there is a choice of vegetarian dishes.

One way or another, one of the main principles of eco-hotels is to provide guests with the highest possible comfort while minimizing the harmful impact on the environment. I also believe that such a hotel should be as «friendly» as possible for its guests. For example, this should concern the possibility of resting in such a place with pets (Profi.travel)

 

Part III. Eco-hotels all over the world

Eco-friendly or “green” hotels are a promising business. A proactive shift towards sustainable practices that are resource-friendly, renewable energy and waste recycling can boost hotel revenues.

More than 400 hotels worldwide have received the US Green Business Council’s Quality Seal for Green Buildings, Hotels and Stadiums — LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient and Green Design) certification. A recent Cornell University study shows these hotels are more profitable than conventional hotels.

For example, hotels can reduce energy and water consumption by more than 20 percent if they install water-saving fixtures and ask their guests to use towels and bed linen for more than a day.

The eco-friendly Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn is located in the tropics on an organic coffee plantation. The building was constructed using innovative technologies and materials from recycled sources, as well as equipped with an underground electrical system.The pulp of coffee fruits together with organic waste is sent for processing in compost pits. The processed coffee pulp here also serves as a fertilizer.Organic vegetables and fruits from the private garden are served at the table. To support the region’s economy, only local residents work on the plantation and in the hotel.

Royal Hotel Park, Singapore

Every fourth level of the 16-story «Royal Park» Parkroyal on Pickering is a lush garden with terraces, many crystal clear cascades and waterfalls. Natural wood, stone, pebbles and huge glass structures are used in the interior of the hotel.

Green spaces occupy 15 thousand square meters, the hotel also uses environmental technologies: light, motion and rain sensors, energy saving and recycling systems, solar panels and rainwater harvesting technology. Parkroyal on Pickering was named one of the seven hotels of the future according to Forbes.

Chateau Mcely is the first «green» hotel in the Czech Republic to be awarded the European Ecolable label and the «Best Eco Hotel in the World 2008» by the World Travel Awards. The Chateau Mcely castle (a noble estate of the 17th century) was reconstructed and became a luxurious five-star eco-hotel.It is located on a hill among the centuries-old trees of the St. George Forest, an hour’s drive from Prague. The 23 rooms of Chateau Mcely are supplied with electricity from renewable sources, waste is sorted, and waste water is filtered through its own treatment system.The collected rainwater is used to irrigate the English Castle Park. The restaurant’s menu includes dishes prepared with products from local suppliers.

Even during the construction of the Bardessono Hotel in the Californian village of Napa, about 93% of the generated building waste was immediately sent for recycling. The building itself is entirely constructed from recycled materials.The rooms are decorated with recycled wood, the roof is equipped with reflective materials and solar panels. To reduce energy costs, a lot of glass was used during the construction: huge windows provide natural light to the 62 rooms.All rooms are equipped with tracking sensors that work to turn on / off heating. The lobby is decorated with a vertical garden. In order to save water and minimize its waste, a drip irrigation system is used for watering plants.

Soneva Fushi Ecological Complex is located on the private tropical island of Kunfunadu. In order to feel the unity with nature and forget about the benefits of civilization, the island has a policy of «No news, no shoes», i.e. shoes are rented upon arrival. There is no need for it until the moment of departure.

The hotel is plastic-free and, like the rest of the island, uses glass-bottled water and has bags and bags made from environmentally friendly materials. Since 2008, the waste has been sent to its own recycling center. As a result of processing, fertilizers and biogas are obtained from waste, and building materials from glass.

The Feynan Ecolodge is located in the Dana National Wildlife Refuge, where traces of the Stone Age have survived. The 26 rooms are furnished in oriental style with clay walls and ceilings.Electricity is supplied to the hotel by the sun, so there are no outlets in the rooms, and at night all rooms and the territory of the villa are illuminated with handmade candles. Ekovilla directs part of the funds received to protect endangered species of animals and plants of the reserve.

The Eco Hotel Verde, 400 meters from Cape Town Airport, is considered environmentally neutral. During its construction, most of the cement was replaced with extra strong plastic. The operation of water supply, heating and electricity systems is controlled and regulated by a powerful server.Window shutters protect the premises from direct sunlight and act as solar panels. Using fitness equipment, hotel guests also generate energy, which is used to operate the elevators.Greens and vegetables for the restaurant are grown in their garden using the hydroponic method. This saves about a third of the amount of water that could be used for irrigation. Guests who did not turn on the air conditioner and used towels for two consecutive days receive a discount upon check-out.

Hacienda Tres Rios is located in the jungle where 18 rivers flow into the ocean. The hotel controls the use of natural resources. All rooms are designed to be out of direct sunlight.A special compressor, which is cooled with water from a deep well, helps to reduce the energy consumption for air conditioning. The hotel refused to use plastic and drinking water; only desalinated sea water is served to its guests.

A part of the profits received by «Hacienda Tres Rios» is spent on the reforestation program: with its help, already 80 thousand trees have been planted.

The eco-friendly SPA hotel Rixos Eskişehir in the Turkish city of Eskisehir was created thanks to natural geothermal springs. Natural lighting of the hotel’s SPA center is provided by domed roofs with zenith windows. The hotel’s main building is illuminated using solar and wind energy.A geothermal pump is used to heat the rooms. All waste is collected separately and sent for recycling.

Ecohotel Refuge du Gouter, located on a cliff, is considered the highest hotel in Europe and one of the most environmentally friendly. The main material for the construction of the hotel’s frame was wood: spruce, white fir and larch.The facade of the building is protected by stainless steel sheets. The hotel is equipped with wind generators and solar panels. Their energy is also used to melt (http://www.horeca-magazine.ru/)

 

CONCLUSION

Recent studies have revealed that taking care of our environment is already one of the conditions of survival for people. When traveling, it is more difficult to stick to eco-friendly habits such as separate waste collection or energy conservation. Therefore, more and more travelers are choosing eco-hotels.Sustainability is a special philosophy, and it manifests itself in every little detail.

And the hotel business, in turn, is developing in this direction. Eco-hotels appear everywhere, including on the territory of Russia: in Altai, Crimea, Kamchatka.

As far as we know, eco – hotels are located in natural areas. As a rule, the purpose of such hotels is aimed at harmonious coexistence with nature. An eco-hotel can be either cottages in a conservation area, or wooden huts, or even a halt with tents. Conveniences in such establishments are minimal, for the most part.

Irina Bosshard, an independent tourism and hospitality consultant, emphasizes that today corporate clients certainly prefer hotels that actively and successfully participate in sustainable development programs. The largest hotel chains, such as Mariott or Radisson, simply cannot imagine doing business without building environmental strategies. Ms Bosshard notes that this trend will only grow, including in the Russian market, which has not yet reached the western level, but has come a long way in recent years (http://prohotel.ru/)

In other words, there is a reciprocal process: leading hoteliers are introducing more and more «green» technologies and programs. In some countries «green» hotels are united in specialized associations.

It should be noted that in Russia green complexes began to appear relatively recently. In most cases, they are designed by foreign companies and also use foreign technologies. Basically, eco — hotels and complexes in our country are located in the area of ​​the city of St. Petersburg, in Altai, as well as on the shores of Lake Baikal and in the Krasnodar Territory. The Kavkazskie Mineralnye Vody region has great potential for the construction of an eco — hotel in this region. Mineral springs, mountains — laccoliths, clean air, all these factors indicate the prospects for the development of the eco-complex (http://www.horeca-magazine.ru/)

It is not only fashionable to be “green for a hotel,” but also economically profitable, as it significantly saves costs. More hotels, both large and small, adopt green methods, and travelers like it. Research has also shown that many people are increasingly considering the sustainability of a hotel when planning their vacations. Business is not easy. But with regard to hotels, we can say with confidence that they are implementing their environmental programs not just for the “common good” and reducing the invisible “carbon footprint”, but because it simply saves money. There is hope that this trend will continue to develop in the future.

 

REFERENCE LIST

1. http://prohotel.ru/
2. https://hotelier.pro/
3. https://umhos.ru/
4. https://hotel.report/
5. http://www.horeca-magazine.ru/
6. https://www.frontdesk.ru/
7. https://www.travelline.ru/
8. https://журналотель.рф/
9. report
10. ru
11. https://lenta.ru/news
12. http://www.finmarket.ru/
13. travel
14. ru
15. https://vele-rosse.com.ua/
16. https://pro.villeroy-boch.com/
17. https://www.forbes.ru/
18. http://zvt.abok.ru/

Appendix 1

Green Travel Trends 2020

Appendix 2.

Green ideas for hotels

MAIN GUIDE PART 1: IN—TEXT REFERENCING — тут находим, как в тексте оформлять ссылки

 MAIN GUIDE PART 2: THE REFERENCE LIST — здесь, как оформлять в библиографии

 Плюс внимательно читаем файл «Требования к оформлению эссе»