Sustainability-oriented Service Innovation: an approach to resource-conserving at tourist accommodation

The International Centre for Responsible Tourism – Australia is undertaking a sustainable tourism project to measure the benefits and barriers for hospitality management, staff and guests to conserve resources using the sustainable hospitality solution ‘My Green Butler’. Our report explains the second year of the project where we expand the number of sites, increase our strategic partnership and grants and are able to report on progress at a ‘grassroots’ level. Background To achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals to cut carbon emissions to zero, and implement the overarching premise of the Sustainable Development Goals, much attention has focused on eco-technologies and renewable energy. However, these represent only two of the three methods we can apply. The third, to conserve resource use, is often ignored. Conserving means the deliberate action to avoid resource use (e.g. choosing to not shower twice a day), or reduce wastage while consuming (e.g. collecting shower water) or reduce consumption (e.g. taking a shorter 2-minute shower). It is consciously choosing a conserving action. This approach can be done in isolation of eco-technologies or enhance them. Eco-technologies tend to permit humans to continue to apply routines in a regular manner without the individual’s need to save resources. These tend to be favoured as it does not involve the inconvenience of persuading someone to adapt their behaviour. However, our challenges, accelerated by tourism growth, require all options to be considered at this time if we are to meet our goals. Conserving opportunities have been found to include: • Guest direct energy use saving by 12-33% electricity and 18-20% gas • 18% housekeeping energy use between check-out and check-in • Up to 4°C public space overnight heating • Natural ventilation and advice to guests can save 1°C average hourly heating/cooling • Frequent persuasive communication can help managers refine energy management beyond automated systems • Increase guest stay satisfaction In 2019 we have also been successful in winning a prestigious Australian Research Council ‘Discovery Grant’ for three years collaborating with Griffith University (Australia) and Surrey University (United Kingdom). This significant grant will permit us to expand sites in 2020. If you are running a tourist accommodation site and would like to participate in this project please contact Dr. Christopher Warren christopher@icrtourism.com