Cumbria Tourism on how to make your hospitality business more sustainable
The need to be more planet friendly is an increasing priority for those running businesses, and never more so than in hospitality.
Cumbria Tourism recently held a webinar entitled ‘What does sustainability mean for tourism and hospitality,’ which was attended by businesses from across the sector. Here, we share some of the insights and advice on how to make your business greener.
Host Gemma Procter, Cumbria Tourism’s sustainability officer, set out ideas and advice to help guide those keen to make change.
Grant Seaton, Senior Commercial Manager at The Cumberland, said: “We know it’s important to make our businesses more sustainable, but many people feel unsure where to start when faced with so many demands and possibilities. Cumbria Tourism has provided a clear practical guide on how to get going.”
The Lake District and Cumbria attract millions of visitors every year, but without a move to more sustainable tourism, we risk eroding the natural beauty, which draws them in the first place. According to Cumbria’s Carbon Baseline Report 2019 visitors to Cumbria contribute 49 per cent to the county’s consumer-based carbon footprint. This includes 36 per cent from visitor travel to and from the county, and 13 per cent from visitors while they are here.
But if you run a hotel, café, holiday let or other hospitality business there is a great deal you can do to bring about and lead change, says Gemma.
Sustainable tourism really means tourism that does less harm and more good, she said. “It’s not just about reducing your carbon footprint, it’s also about looking for where there are opportunities for having a positive impact as well.”
A good place to start is to measure the carbon footprint of your business. This will help you prioritise changes and give you a baseline to measure progress. There are free carbon calculator tools available online including from Cumbria Action for Sustainability.
Wise and sustainable energy use will make a significant difference to the impact of your business. Among many measures you can consider are draught proofing and insulation, and thermostatic controls on radiators. You can turn radiators down between guest stays, as empty rooms can be kept at 14 degrees without dampness.
Lighting is another area for some quick wins, including installing LEDs which are much cheaper and longer lasting than other bulbs.
Reducing water usage will bring savings too. There are options such as push taps or infrared controls on basins, aerated shower heads, and water efficient washing machines and dishwashers.
One of the biggest contributors to your hospitality carbon footprint lies with the food you serve and where it comes from. It is useful to review your supply chains to understand the impact of the products your business uses or supplies.
Buying local is key and telling your customers exactly which producers you are using and where they are located is a great way to both meet growing expectations from the public on this issue, as well as influencing and educating your audience.
Reducing food waste creates another positive impact, and saves you money on the purchase and disposal.
As a hospitality leader you are in a strong position to promote sustainable ways for your visitors to explore the county such as lake cruises, buses and trains, discounted tickets, cycle hire, horse riding and guided tours. You can point out electric car hire and charging points. Travel to Cumbria has a significant carbon impact but incentivising visitors to make longer stays reduces the amount of travel per visit day here.
Cumbria Tourism advises providing guidance on ‘respecting, protecting and enjoying’ the area and explaining to your customers what steps you are taking to be sustainable. Increasingly customers value planet friendly services and want to feel they are supporting businesses which are working towards a sustainable future.
For many more practical ideas plus guidance, links for grants and tools such as carbon calculators, please see Cumbria Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Business Toolkit.