Four Benefits of Sustainability for Holiday Accommodation Owners
Tourism is currently responsible for 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. As a result, demands for more sustainable travel options are getting louder and louder.
According to the Booking.com Sustainability Travel Report 2023, 73% of respondents want to travel more sustainably over the next 12 months, and 65% said they would feel better staying at a particular accommodation if it had sustainability credentials.
These figures make it clear that eco-friendly accommodation options are no just longer a perk – they are becoming an expectation for many travellers.
We all have a responsibility to lessen our impact on the planet, so future generations can still explore and discover natural wonders and beautiful spaces in a more environmentally friendly way.
However, beyond this, there are several benefits of sustainability for holiday accommodation owners.
Save money
Many of the sustainable changes you make to your property will require an upfront investment, but they will ultimately lead to lower running costs over time.
Taking measures such as improving your insulation, purchasing energy-efficient appliances, and installing a smart meter can help you reduce your energy consumption – and therefore your electricity and water bills.
Differentiate yourself
One of the major benefits of sustainability for holiday property owners is that it helps you to establish a competitive edge in a busy market.
Booking.com discovered in their research that over half of respondents (51%) believed there aren’t enough eco-friendly travel options available – and only 43% could remember seeing one listed on a website as sustainable.
Many major online listing platforms are now adding sustainability search filters to their website. By proving your credentials, you can appear in front of eco-minded travellers and establish yourself as an industry leader in a growing market.
Plus, you can also get your property listed on sustainability-focused websites too – like Earthstays!
Gain new bookings
As the sustainability movement continues to rise, a new group of eco-focused travellers is also emerging.
This group will be interested in travel opportunities that have less of an impact on the environment, such as using greener methods of transport and staying in environmentally-focused accommodation.
In a survey conducted by VisitEngland, 58% of English travellers said they would like to stay in green accommodation with awards or clear environmentally-friendly practices.
Booking.com’s research found that 43% of respondents were willing to pay more for accommodation with a sustainability certification. If you are willing to commit yourself to making your property more green, there is a whole new market you can start to engage with.
At Earthstays, we have partnered with Sustonica: an organisation that has created a sustainability certification program for holiday rental owners that helps travellers make informed decisions about where they stay. To be approved, you need to provide documentation and images that prove you meet their criteria. Any accommodation that has a Sustonica badge is automatically approved for a listing on Earthstays.
When you make sustainable changes in your property – and tell your guests about them – they will be grateful for your efforts as you have proven that you align with their values.
This will lead to glowing reviews, repeat bookings, and referrals to like-minded travellers: leading to higher occupancy levels for you.
Get ahead of future requirements.
Finally, with such a focus on climate action across all aspects of society, legislation around sustainability will likely become mandatory to make the short-term rental industry more environmentally friendly in years to come.
By taking action now, you are ahead of the curve and ready for future initiatives.
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We hope this blog has helped you see that, beyond helping the planet, sustainability brings a whole host of potential benefits to holiday accommodation owners.
If you would like to take your first steps towards making your property more sustainable, we would love to help.
Here are a few of our favourite resources that provide advice and support to make your property more sustainable:
https://earthstays.co.uk/how-to-make-holiday-accommodation-more-eco-friendly/
https://www.visitbritain.org/business-advice/step-your-sustainability
Earthstays is an eco-friendly holiday listings website for accommodation owners who want to have a better impact on the planet and provide guests with a greener travel experience.
Listings on our website are currently free, provided you meet a minimum of three of our ten sustainability criteria.
If you would like to learn more about advertising your property with us, please get in touch.