From HTN -Stabauters – 4.22.2025
When the Earth Day of Earth 2025 arrives, the hospitality industry shows a growing commitment to environmental responsibility. From intelligent energy systems to AI-controlled food waste, hotels and resorts around the world are increasingly using technology to reduce their environmental impact. While these initiatives represent sensible progress, challenges remain – and much more has to be done to achieve the full sustainability potential of the sector.
Energy consumption is still one of the largest participants for the ecological footprint of a hotel. Many properties have adopted advanced energy management systems that use occupancy sensors, machine learning and real -time data analyzes to control the HLK and the use of lighting more precisely. These systems not only reduce electricity invoices, but can also reduce energy consumption with considerable margins. Examples of this are hotels that implement regenerative elevators, feed the energy back into the network, and solar arrangements on the roof, which are used for the heating and electricity generation of water. Large hotel brands have used intelligent tree management systems from providers such as Honeywell, Schneider Electric and Enseo, which optimize the settings in real time. Smart thermostats, movement-activated lighting and cloud-based monitoring platforms are increasingly standard in modern hotel operation.
Water protection also benefits from technical solutions. In addition to the low-flow fittings, hotels use real-time water monitoring tools and leakage recognition systems that are operated by IoT sensors. Some properties have installed Greywater recycling systems that treat and reuse wastewater from sinks and showers for non-potential applications such as sink toilets and irrigation. In Can Book Hotel in Spain, more than half of the water consumption of the property is obtained from harvested rainwater. The hotel also uses a natural plant filtration system to recycle 100% of its waste water. In larger resorts, digital water protocols monitor consumption via pools, spas and guest room, which enables quick identification of leaks or inefficient devices. Intelligent irrigation systems are now available in many resort properties, whereby the irrigation plans based on soil moisture sensors and weather forecasts are adapted to avoid unnecessary water consumption.
Reduction of food and material waste is another area in which digital tools have measurable effects. AI-powered platforms such as Winnow help the hotel kitchens to analyze food waste in real time and adapt the shopping and portion sizes accordingly. Marriott Hotels in parts of Europe used Winnow systems to reduce food waste by up to 25%, whereby the goals to further reduce food waste is reduced by up to 25%. Inventory tracking, intelligent labeling and excess donation programs are becoming increasingly common. Hotels also eliminate individual plastics, incorporate refillable toilentier dispensers and replace printed materials in the room with digital tablets and QR code. Biodegeters and composting programs on site help to manage inevitable food waste. Hotels such as six senses and 1 hotels have implemented in full waste from zero waste programs, including waste-sorting stations, reusable service goods and strict procurement guidelines to minimize packaging waste.
While the introduction of renewable energies is growing, it remains limited. A number of real estate has made considerable investments in solar or wind energy systems on site. Six senses Southern Dunes in Saudi Arabia, for example, runs exclusively with solar energy. Can book hotel in Spain is operational thanks to a large solar system outside the network. In urban environments, many hotels buy renewable energies from certified providers or use smaller installations such as solar pool heating. Some hotels also use energy storage systems to store excess electricity or reduce dependence on the network during peak times. However, the cost and space restrictions continue to limit a broader acceptance, especially in the case of older or independent real estate. Larger hotel groups also complete electricity sales agreements to secure loans for renewable energies that match the sustainability goals.
The commitment of the guest is increasingly addressed via digital platforms. Tablets and mobile apps in rooms can control the preferences of lights, temperatures and household forces and promote sustainable behavior. Some hotels offer loyalty points or donations for charity organizations for the environment as incentives for the department of daily housekeeping. Others provide real-time data for the energy or water consumption of a room to promote awareness. Hotels also integrate sustainability messages into digital directories and concierge apps with suggestions for local eco-tours or volunteers. Real estate such as Pullman and Mövenpick brands from Accor use Gamification functions to reward guests for sustainable options during their stay.
Several industry organizations and certification bodies play a key role in supporting these efforts. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) started the responsible retention initiative in order to reduce hotels when reducing their ecological footprint through implementable standards in energy, water and waste management. Certification programs such as Green Key Global, Green Globe and EarthCheck offer hotels structured framework conditions to burden and improve their sustainability practices. These certifications not only promote continuous improvement, but also offer a historical credibility for environmentally conscious guests. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance also supports the operators with training and benchmarking tools that match the UN targets for sustainable development.
Despite this progress, the path to sustainability in hospitality remains uneven. Smaller and independent properties often lack resources to invest in high-tech solutions. Even under large brands, the implementation according to the region or owner structure can vary significantly. The lack of uniform global standards makes it difficult to compare progress or to define best practice in this sector.
With regard to the future, continued investments in integrated strategies that combine energy, water, waste and guests will be essential. The technology remains a more powerful, but the commitment must go deeper. For hotels and resorts that want to work more sustainably, success not only depends on the tools that they take over, but also on the long -term values they accept. The earth's day serves as in good time that a lot has been achieved, but the work of building a more sustainable hospitality industry is still very work.