Four benefits of certification

1. It reassures guests that your claims are credible

65% of travellers surveyed by Booking.com would feel better about staying in a particular accommodation if they knew it had a sustainability certification. A recognised third-party certification adds credibility to your sustainability initiatives. It reassures travellers that they’ll be staying somewhere that recognises environmental and social best practices as part of their business.

2. It can help you identify gaps in your plans

The requirements of certification can help you prioritise key improvement areas or address things you hadn’t thought about yet. By achieving certified status, you can be sure that you’re on the right track.

3. Certified properties are more likely to have a more positive impact on the environment

A 2017 study from TUI, conducted in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, evaluated the environmental and social benefits of sustainability certifications across 330 hotels. They found that, compared to the non-certified properties, sustainability certified properties achieved:

• 10% lower CO2 emissions per guest night
• 24% lower waste volume per guest night
• 15% less total water use per guest night
• Higher guest satisfaction scores overall

4. It can help make your team feel more engaged

When it comes to achieving and maintaining certification, everybody at your property will need to work together to implement the required standards. This gives your teams a shared purpose and a goal to collaboratively work towards.